Hindu Temples That Were Victims Of Mughal Destruction

BY- JAYA CHOUDHARY

The Hindu right is particularly hostile to Islam, especially given Muslim dominance over the Indian subcontinent for much of the previous millennium. The anger stems from a genuine history of minority rule, which has included the demolition of significant Hindu temples. Some Islamic buildings are said to be built immediately on top of demolished temple ruins. Unfortunately, Muslim invaders not only destroyed Hindu temples but also Buddhist sites and Jain temples, causing the whole Dharmic culture to suffer. Hinduism continued in many regions of India and was especially strong in rural areas, where most temples were still standing. However, the historical record shows that certain Muslim rulers targeted important Hindu temples in metropolitan centers in order to emphasize their dominance in some parts of the subcontinent.

As per popular beliefs, thousands of temples were demolished by the invader, but here is a list of some of the most famous ones.

Modhera Sun Temple

One is guaranteed to leave their hearts with a duality of thought, when they visit Modhera Sun Temple in Mehsana, Gujarat. It's a combined sense of anxiety and surprise. The perfection of this Modhera jaw-drop construction and the hard labor of hundreds will amaze you. One will also be anxious to know that all of their majesties have been swept down by Mahmud Ghazni with one stroke of devastation. Apparently, Mahmud Ghazni stole the original idol which had been sculpted in gold, then kept in a deep gold-coated hole. Before it was rebuilt lately, the temple was finally demolished by Alauddin Khilji.

The perfection of this Modhera jaw-drop construction and the hard labor of hundreds will amaze you. Wikimedia commons

Ram Janmabhoomi Temple Ayodhya

The land dispute between Ayodhya is a decades-long political, historical and socio-religious conflict in India. The controversy is centered on a tract in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh, the native of the Hindu god Ram among the Hindus. But, one of the Mughal generals of King Babur, Mir Baqi, is claimed to have destroyed the Ramah temple and constructed on the premises a mosque named the Babri Masjid. In the "mosque-temple," Muslims inside the mosque and Hindus outside, the two groups were worshipped. Lord Ram Temple in Ayodhya, some claim, was pulled by Babur to the ground, but some believe the temple was demolished by earlier Islamic leaders because the buildings of the Mosque were not built in that era. There was certainly, however, a temple and people from generations worshipped Lord Ram.

Somnath Temple

The Somnath temple, a symbol of Hindu defiance and fortitude in the face of barbarous attack, was demolished six times by Islam leaders, but it was rebuilt each time by Hindus, and it still exists today. No other temples were demolished and rebuilt as often as Somnath on the list. Junaid, the Sultanate of Delhi, Mahmud Ghazni, and the final one by the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb, were the victims of the catastrophe. It is reported that numerous pre-Islamic Arab pilgrims came to this temple as God was their moon god. There's also a fascinating narrative of Muslim conquerors believing that the devil's idols were held in the temple of Al-Lat and other places, which is why it was repeatedly sacked.

The Somnath temple, a symbol of Hindu defiance and fortitude in the face of barbarous attack, was demolished six times by Islam leadersWikimedia commons

Krishna Janmabhoomi Temple

In Mathura Holy City, Uttar Pradesh lies the temple of Sri Krishna Janmabhoomi, popularly known simply as Krishna Janmabhoomi, Krishna Janmasthan, or Kesava Deo. The story dates back to 1017 when Mohammed of Gaznavi plundered and demolished the beautiful Krishna Janmasthan Temple. Then under the Maharana rule, Vijayapal Dev of Mathura was constructed around 1150. Later, Aurangzeb ransacked the city of Mathura on January 1670 and demolished the Keshava Rai Temple. This temple was the birthplace of Lord Krishna, one of the most important temples to the Vedic religion, and in its stead, he constructed a Shahi Eidgah mosque. In fact, on the elevated plinth of the Janmastha temple, which had been demolished by Aurangzeb, the Shahi Eidgah was built. Priests were killed, trying to defend the Temple of Krishna Janmasthan. Priests were hanged who sought to leave the Murtis God of Krishna.

Hampi Temples

The splendor of the booming Hampi capital city in Karnataka came to an extreme conclusion when the Mughals invaded the city, its palaces, its decorated gates, and its many temples. The empire was dominant under Krishnadevaraya, the Emperor, around 350 kilometers from Bangalore. The sudden, stunning and utter devastation of Vijayanagar by the marauded invaders of Mogul reduced the city to rubble. After the battle of Talikota, the Empire of Vijayanagar collapsed at Hampi, the capital of the big empire. Whether religious or civic, the main structures were inflamed by Muslim forces or pulled on the ground.