Why Were Temples Destroyed


 
 
Concept Explanation
 

Why Were Temples Destroyed

Why Were Temples Destroyed: At the time of medieval period temples were actually the places built by the Kings as a mark of pride .when  other kings attacked they wanted to destroy their pride. Temples were destroyed by invading rulers as they were a symbol of the power, prestige and wealth of a king. The king was viewed as a representative of god. They were also a large store of treasure and riches. Thus, temples were viewed as targets that were to be attacked in the course of battles

Because kings built temples to demonstrate their devotion to god and their power and wealth, it is not surprising that when they attacked one another’s kingdoms they often targeted these buildings. In the early eleventh century, when the Chola king Rajendra I built a Shiva temple in his capital he filled it with prized statues seized from defeated rulers. Sultan Mahmud o Ghazni was a contemporary of Rajendra I.

During his campaigns in the subcontinent he also attacked the temples of defeated kings and looted their wealth and idols. But by destroying temples-especially the one at Somnath- he tried to win credit as a great hero of Islam. They were also a large of treasure and riches .Thus, temples were viewed as targets that were to be attacked in the course of battles. In the early ninth century, when the Pandyan King Shrimara Shrivallabha invaded Sri Lanka and defeated the king,he removed all the valuables like The statue of the Buddha made entirely of gold in jewels palace and the golden images in the various monasteries.

Theories of Medieval Temple Desecrations: There are two predominant theories of temple desecrations by medieval Muslim States in India. André Wink, a noted scholar of medieval Indian history, suggests that temple desecrations were motivated by Islamic iconoclasm. He cites the early Arabic literature on India which was notable for its derision towards the practice of polytheism (belief in or worship of more than one god) and idol-worship by its inhabitants.

Furthermore, he suggests that the early Islamic invaders were familiar with sacred Hindu geography and systematically targeted the key religious sites of Mathura, Banaras, Somnath, and Ujjain.

 

 
 
 


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