A thousand years later, Somnath still stands in glory, but where is the dust that swallows the invader Ghaznavi who destroyed the temple?
This year marks 1000 years since the attack on the Somnath Temple in Gujarat by the plunderer Mahmud Ghaznavi. Mahmud Ghaznavi of Ghazni repeatedly attacked to loot the Somnath temple. He took away a huge amount of wealth and treasure from here to his kingdom. Over time, the Somnath temple still stands tall today due to its faith and restoration, while the invader who attacked the faith of this temple and looted immense wealth has found a place in the pages of history merely as a plunderer. Even if historians have given Muslim invaders a place as great warriors in Indian history, when we turn those same pages today, the truth reveals itself.
Despite repeated attacks by Muslim invaders, this temple of Lord Shiva in Somnath, Gujarat, still stands proudly today. This temple is worshipped as the first among the 12 Jyotirlingas of India. According to the Rigveda, one of the four Vedas of Hinduism, this temple was built by the Moon God himself. According to mythological tales, it is in the area of the Somnath Temple that Lord Shri Krishna left his body, which further increased the significance of this region. Even a thousand years after Ghaznavi’s attack, the Somnath Temple has become a symbol of resilience and unshakable faith. Meanwhile, where are the invaders who cast an evil eye on this temple?
Why did the Muslim plunderers want to destroy the Somnath Temple?
Despite repeated attacks by Muslim invaders, the Somnath Temple remained unshaken. While the Muslim invaders who wished to demolish this temple still rue the fact that they could not damage it, and the temple still stands with its chest puffed out just as it was at the time of its construction. If the Muslim plunderers only wanted to loot here, they could have perhaps done so easily and left, but their objective was also to break the faith of Hindus through this temple. Not just Ghaznavi, but many Muslim plunderers like Alauddin Khilji and Mahmud Begada tried to destroy it but failed. The reason behind this was that they wanted the title of ‘Butshikan’—the idol-breaker—which is considered a good status in Islam. Not only that, during the wars with Pakistan in 1965 and 1971, Muslim invaders repeated the same actions that their ancestors had taken a thousand years earlier. The result was the same old story. Both times they had to face defeat.
Where is Mahmud Ghaznavi?
Despite enduring so many attacks, while the Somnath Temple stands proudly in its place, one might also wonder what happened to those tyrants who looted this temple and tried to demolish it? Mahmud Ghaznavi is no longer in this world. He died in 1030 CE in the city of Ghazni, Afghanistan. Meanwhile, Ghazni’s tomb in the Roza village of Ghazni still lies covered in dust. The ruins of his palaces and forts still lie in a dilapidated state. The empire of Ghazni has ended. But the Somnath Temple continues to shine with its historical wealth and a golden canopy and kalash weighing over 500 kilograms.
Somnath Temple
The Somnath Temple is a revered Hindu shrine located in Gujarat, India, dedicated to Lord Shiva. Historically, it is one of the twelve *Jyotirlingas* and is famed for having been destroyed and rebuilt multiple times, most notably by Mahmud of Ghazni in 1026 CE. The present structure was reconstructed in 1951, symbolizing resilience and faith.
Mahmud Ghaznavi
Mahmud Ghaznavi refers to Sultan Mahmud of Ghazni (971–1030 CE), a ruler of the Ghaznavid Empire based in modern-day Afghanistan. He is historically significant for his military campaigns into the Indian subcontinent, which expanded his empire and facilitated cultural exchange. His reign also transformed Ghazni into a major center of Persianate art, literature, and Islamic learning.
Ghazni
Ghazni is a historic city in eastern Afghanistan that served as the capital of the powerful Ghaznavid Empire from the 10th to 12th centuries. Under rulers like Mahmud of Ghazni, it became a major center of Persianate culture, Islamic learning, and military power, launching expeditions into the Indian subcontinent. Today, the city is known for its surviving architectural remnants, including two iconic minarets and the ancient citadel of Ghazni, though many sites have suffered damage in recent conflicts.
Alauddin Khilji
Alauddin Khilji was not a place but a powerful ruler of the Khilji dynasty who reigned over the Delhi Sultanate from 1296 to 1316 CE. His reign is historically significant for its military conquests, which expanded the empire across much of the Indian subcontinent, and for his ambitious administrative and economic reforms, such as strict market price controls.
Mahmud Begada
Mahmud Begada was a 15th-century Sultan of Gujarat, renowned for his military conquests and ambitious architectural projects. His legacy is most visible in the city of **Champaner**, which he made his capital, and its surrounding **Pavagadh Hill**, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site featuring impressive mosques, palaces, and fortifications from his reign.
Roza village
Roza village, located in the Fergana Valley of Uzbekistan, is historically significant as the birthplace of the 15th-century ruler, scholar, and poet Mirzo Ulugbek. It is most famous for housing his simple, revered mausoleum, which has been a site of pilgrimage and local cultural heritage for centuries. The village reflects the region’s deep connection to the Timurid Renaissance and Central Asian Islamic history.
Gujarat
Gujarat is a state in western India with a rich historical and cultural heritage, known as the birthplace of Mahatma Gandhi. Its history spans ancient Indus Valley Civilization sites like Lothal, medieval trade ports, and the influence of various dynasties and religions. Today, it is celebrated for its vibrant festivals, traditional handicrafts, and significant industrial development.
Afghanistan
Afghanistan is a landlocked country in Central Asia with a rich history as a crossroads of ancient trade routes and empires, from the Silk Road to the Greco-Buddhist kingdoms. It is home to significant cultural sites like the Minaret of Jam and the remains of the Bamiyan Buddhas, which reflect its diverse historical layers of Buddhist, Persian, and Islamic influence. In recent decades, the country has faced prolonged conflict, which has impacted both its population and cultural heritage.
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