History behind Somnath Temple

SOMNATH ONE OF THE GREATEST  TEMPLE OF INDIA- LOOTED & DESTROYED

Location: Prabhas kshetra, Near veraval, Junagadh, Gujarat

Somnath Temple is one of the greatest temples of India.  Somnath temple is also known as Prabhas Pattan and the Shrine Eternal. Somnath is first among the 12 Jyotirling shrines of Lord Shiva. Various other Ancient Hindu Scriptures mention Somnath Temple as pilgrimage site. There is one Triveni Ghat near Somanath which is convergence of three rivers- Kapila, Hiran and Saraswati.

Do you know about the story behind the loot and destruction of Somnath Temple by Sultan Mahmud, Allaudin khilji and Aurangzeb?

So let's discus and have a watch on the whole story.

One of the first few rulers involved in construction of Somnath Temple was Yadava King of Vallabhipura of coastal Gujarat around 649 CE. Nagabhata II, a gujarat Pratihar king, was on a pilgrimage to this site during the reign in 815 CE. He found the temple almost razed to the grounds. the temple was looted and destroyed by Al-Junayd, the Arab Governor of Sindh and Nagabhata resconstructed temple with red sandstone. Pilgrims including kings from far away places donated wealth including gold and precious jewels to Somnath Temple. So let's have a look on the ones who looted, destroyed and plunder somnath temple.

👉By Mahmud of Ghazni

Sultan Mahmud attacked India 17 times. His key objective was to spread Islam and to accumulate the country's vast wealth. He attacked Gujarat in 1025 during the reign of Bhima I. He plundered the Somnath temple and looted all the riches. The booty was worth 20 million dinars. He then razed temple to the ground and himself broke the Jyotirling into pieces. He pull out the sandalwood gates and take those back to Afghanistan.

👉 By Allauddin Khilji

About 275 years later, in 1296 the temple was destroyed by Allauddin Khilji and his army. Khilji had ordered massacare of Hindus and looting wealth from temples. After looting when khilji was going back to Delhi with Somnath temple booty, Shivling and hindu prisoners, jalore rajput Biram Dev attacked them. He defeated Ulugh Khan and snatched the booty along with Shivling.

An angry Khilji sent his army to jalore. The battle continued for 2 long years. Khiji's army ransacked the entire fort of Jalore, killed all Hindus and razed temples.

👉By Aurangzeb

Aurangzeb during his reign ordered destruction of temples at various places. Though Somnath temple was razed several times, Aurangzeb further ordered that if any temple including Somnath was reconstructed, that should be demolished again. When Aurangzeb army was about to raze temple, Hindus in large numbers rushed to the spot. As the Hindus outnumbered, Aurangzeb's men left the sight. But later he returned with a bigger army and succeeded in destroying the temple and looting the treasury.

This is all about Somnath Temple and how that temple was attacked so many times by various other kings. So hoping that you will find this blog interesting and informative.

Thankyou

Anshu