Somnath Jyotirlingas

Introduction

Somnath is an ancient city in Gujarat, India located on the western coast. It is home to the Somnath Temple, one of the 12 Jyotirlingas of Shiva. The temple is believed to have been constructed by the moon god Som himself, and it has a long and storied history.

History

The exact origins of the Somnath Temple are unclear, but it is believed to date back at least a millennium. The temple was destroyed and reconstructed multiple times over the centuries.

In 1024 CE, the temple was first sacked by Mahmud of Ghazni who looted its riches. It was rebuilt in 1169 CE by Kumarapala. In 1299 CE, Alauddin Khalji’s army destroyed it again. It was reconstructed in 1308 CE and continued to function until 1395 CE when it was demolished once more.

The temple was ordered to be destroyed by Emperor Aurangzeb in 1702 CE. By the 19th century, only ruins remained.

The current temple was reconstructed after India’s independence beginning in 1951 CE. The ruins were demolished and the temple rebuilt in the Maru-Gurjara style using some of the old carved stones. It was inaugurated in 1995 CE.

Architecture and Significance

The rebuilt temple has a Kailasa Mahameru plan with a pillared mandapa and over 200 relief panels. The shikhara is 15 meters high and the temple houses a 10 ton kalasha.

The temple is considered one of the holiest sites for Shaivites as it is the first of the 12 Jyotirlingas. It is also a significant pilgrimage site located on the sacred Saraswati River.

The temple attracts a large number of devotees and tourists not just for its religious significance but also for its storied history and architecture. It is an important symbol of Hindu resilience and revival.

In summary, the Somnath Temple is an ancient and sacred site that has been destroyed and rebuilt multiple times. Through its turbulent history, the temple has endured as a symbol of faith for Hindus and today stands as a magnificent example of Hindu religious architecture.

The original construction date of Somnath Temple

The exact date of the original construction of the Somnath Temple is unclear and debated. According to various sources:

• Excavations at the Somnath site have revealed a settlement dating back to around 1500 BCE. However, this does not prove the existence of a temple at that time.
• The name Somnatha, referring to Shiva as the “Lord of the Moon,” begins to appear in texts from the 9th century CE. This suggests that a temple may have existed by that time.
• The Chaulukya (Solanki) king Mularaja is believed to have built the first temple for Soma at the site sometime before 997 CE, though some historians believe he may have renovated an earlier smaller temple.
• Post-1950 excavations of the Somnath site have unearthed the foundations of a 10th-century temple, notable broken parts and details of a major, well decorated version of a temple. This is believed to be the one destroyed by Mahmud of Ghazni in 1025 CE.
• B.K. Thapar, the archaeologist who excavated the site in 1950-51, stated that there was definitely a temple structure at Somnath-Patan in the 9th century, but none before.

In summary, while there are indications of a settlement as early as 1500 BCE, the earliest firm evidence for a temple at Somnath comes from the 9th to 10th centuries CE. The original construction date is believed to be sometime in the late 9th or early 10th century, though some scholars argue for an even earlier date. However, conclusive evidence is lacking and the exact date remains uncertain.

When was the first Somnath temple destroyed?

The exact date of the original construction of the Somnath temple is unclear, with estimates ranging from the early centuries of the 1st millennium CE to the 9th century CE. However, the first historically recorded destruction of the Somnath temple was in 1024 CE by Mahmud of Ghazni.

According to historical sources:

• The earliest evidence for a temple at Somnath comes from the 9th to 10th centuries CE. The temple was likely constructed sometime in the late 9th or early 10th century.
• The first historically recorded destruction of the temple was by Mahmud of Ghazni in 1024 CE during the reign of Bhima I of the Chaulukya dynasty.
• Several Islamic historians like Al-Biruni and Gardizi, who accompanied Mahmud’s campaign, recorded the sack of Somnath in 1024 CE. They mention Mahmud looted a huge booty of gold and riches from the temple.
• Archaeological excavations have unearthed the foundations and ruins of a 10th century temple at Somnath, believed to be the one destroyed by Mahmud of Ghazni in 1024 CE.
• The temple was later rebuilt by the Chaulukya king Kumarapala in 1169 CE. It continued to function, though it was destroyed several more times – in 1299 CE by Alauddin Khalji, 1395 CE by Muzaffar Shah, and 1665 CE by Aurangzeb.

In summary, the first historically verified destruction of the Somnath temple was in 1024 CE by Mahmud of Ghazni, who looted huge wealth and desecrated the temple. Though the original construction date is uncertain, archaeological evidence suggests an existing temple by the early 10th century.

Why did Mahmud of Ghazni attack Somnath temple?

Mahmud of Ghazni attacked the Somnath temple in 1025 CE for primarily material reasons rather than religious zeal. The wealth accumulated at the temple over centuries made it an attractive target for plunder.

The Somnath temple was a major pilgrimage site and one of the richest temples in India at the time. It was renowned for its enormous wealth in the form of gold, jewels, and precious objects donated by devotees and patrons over centuries. For example:

• Al-Utbi, an advisor to Mahmud, mentions in his work Tarikh-e-Yamini that the temple had “unheard-of treasures”.
• Ferishta, a 16th century historian, wrote that the city of Somnath was the “richest in Hindustan” and was “consecrated to Vishnu” with abundant wealth.
• The temple’s wealth was a legendary attraction and had deterred most previous invaders.

Mahmud of Ghazni was primarily motivated by the prospect of plundering this accumulated wealth. Sources mention that he looted booty worth 2 million dinars from the temple. Some historians argue:

• Mahmud’s raids were “undertaken for material reasons” rather than religious fanaticism, according to Romila Thapar and Richard Eaton.
• Indian historian Mohammad Habib states that there was no imposition of jizya or “forced conversions” during Mahmud’s rule, suggesting his raids were motivated by “love of plunder”.

While Mahmud did destroy idols and desecrate the temple, the primary motivation seems to have been looting the enormous wealth accumulated there. The legend of Mahmud “breaking the jyotirlinga into pieces” likely grew over time to paint him as an “idol-breaker.

In summary, Mahmud of Ghazni’s attack on the Somnath temple in 1025 CE was driven largely by the prospect of plundering its famed riches. Material greed, rather than religious zeal, appears to have been the primary motivation behind the raid. The accumulated wealth at the temple, spanning centuries of donations, made it an attractive target for Mahmud.

What happened to the Shiv Lingam after Mahmud of Ghazni’s attack on Somnath Temple

According to Islamic historical accounts, Mahmud of Ghazni attacked the Somnath Temple in Gujarat in 1024 CE. During the attack, Mahmud is said to have personally destroyed the main Shiv Lingam in the temple.

The key details are:

• Somnath Temple was a major pilgrimage site and one of the richest temples in India at the time due to centuries of donations and offerings.
• Mahmud’s invasion of Somnath was motivated primarily by the prospect of looting the temple’s legendary wealth. Religious zeal does not seem to have been the main motive.
• During the attack, Mahmud is said to have personally destroyed the main Shiv Lingam in the temple. Some accounts mention that he hammered the lingam to pieces.
• The stone fragments of the Shiv Lingam were reportedly carried back to Ghazni by Mahmud and incorporated into the steps of the city’s Jama Masjid (Friday Mosque), which was built in 1026 CE.
• However, some historians have questioned these accounts, noting that Hindu sources give no information about Mahmud’s raids and that Muslim narratives were accepted uncritically due to a lack of Hindu sources. So the details of what exactly happened are uncertain.

In summary, Islamic historical accounts claim that after attacking and looting Somnath Temple, Mahmud of Ghazni personally destroyed the main Shiv Lingam there. He is said to have broken the lingam into pieces and incorporated the fragments into the steps of the Jama Masjid that he built in Ghazni. However, Hindu sources are silent on the raids and some historians question the Muslim narratives, so the exact details remain uncertain. The key point is that the Shiv Lingam was reportedly damaged or destroyed during Mahmud’s attack on the temple.

Who rebuilt the Somnath temple after Mahmud of Ghazni’s destruction?

According to the sources in the WebSearchResult, the Somnath temple was first rebuilt by the Chaulukya king Kumarapala after it was destroyed by Mahmud of Ghazni in 1024 CE.

Mahmud of Ghazni’s attack

In 1024 CE, Mahmud of Ghazni led an invasion of Gujarat and sacked the Somnath temple. The Muslim historians mention that Mahmud desecrated the temple and looted a huge amount of wealth from it.

The Chaulukya king at the time, Bhima I, fled his capital and took shelter in Kanthkot during Mahmud’s invasion. After Mahmud’s departure, Bhima I recovered his power but was unable to immediately rebuild the Somnath temple.

Reconstruction by Kumarapala

The Somnath temple lay in ruins for some time after Mahmud of Ghazni’s attack. It was later rebuilt by the Chaulukya king Kumarapala in 1169 CE, according to the sources.

An inscription from 1169 CE states that Kumarapala “rebuilt the decaying temple of Somnath in excellent stone and studded it with jewels.” This suggests that Kumarapala commissioned the reconstruction of the Somnath temple after it had lain in ruins for over a century.

Subsequent destructions

The reconstructed Somnath temple continued to function but was destroyed several more times:

• In 1299 CE by Alauddin Khalji
• In 1395 CE by Muzaffar Shah
• In 1665 CE by Aurangzeb

However, it appears that Kumarapala was the first to rebuild the temple after its initial destruction by Mahmud of Ghazni in 1024 CE.

So in summary, according to the sources, the Chaulukya king Kumarapala rebuilt the Somnath temple in 1169 CE after it had lain in ruins for over a century following Mahmud of Ghazni’s attack in 1024 CE.

Loot from Somnath Temple by Mahmud of Ghazni

Mahmud of Ghazni is infamous for looting the Somnath temple in Gujarat during his invasion of India in 1025 CE. According to contemporary Muslim historians and later accounts, the loot from the Somnath temple was immense. Some key points:

• Somnath temple was one of the richest temples in India at the time due to centuries of donations by devotees and rulers. It had accumulated “unheard of treasures” according to Al-Utbi, an advisor to Mahmud.
• Ferishta, a 16th century historian, wrote that the city of Somnath was the “richest in Hindustan” and was “consecrated to Vishnu” with abundant wealth.
• Muslim historians claim that Mahmud looted booty worth 20 million dinars from the temple – more than all the wealth he had accumulated from his previous loot of India.
• Mahmud reportedly not only looted the gold, jewels and other precious objects from the temple but also broke the jyotirlinga and desecrated the temple.
• According to some accounts, Mahmud had the stone fragments of the lingam carried back to Ghazni and incorporated into the steps of the city’s Jama Masjid, which he built after the raid.
• The temple’s sandalwood gates were also supposedly carried off to Afghanistan by Mahmud.

While some historians have questioned the iconoclastic narratives surrounding Somnath, there is no doubt that the temple was immensely wealthy at the time and Mahmud’s primary motivation for attacking it was to plunder that wealth. Material greed, rather than religious zeal, seems to have driven the looting and destruction of the temple.

In summary, Muslim sources claim that Mahmud of Ghazni looted an enormous amount of wealth – estimated at 20 million dinars – from the Somnath temple during his raid in 1025 CE. He not only carried off the gold, jewels and other precious objects but also desecrated the temple by breaking the jyotirlinga and removing parts of it. However, the exact details regarding the loot remain open to debate among historians.

Sources

1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahmud_of_Ghazni
2. https://www.myindiamyglory.com/2017/12/02/how-sultan-mahmud-allauddin-k
3. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Somnath_temple
4. https://www.britannica.com/place/Somnath