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besides Somesvara, or Somanáth, which was the name of the SIVA demolished by MAHMUD, were destroyed
RELIGIOUS SECTS
the coming of the Prophet, and transported to India. The Brahmanical records, however. refer it to the time of KRISHNA, or an antiquity of 4000 years. KRISHNA himself is said to have disappeared at this place."
"When the Sultan arrived at Neherwaleh (the capital of Guzerat), he found the city deserted, and carrying off such provisions as could be procured he advanced to Somnáth: the inhabitants of this place shut their gates against him, but it was soon carried by the irresistible valour of his troops, and a terrible slaughter of its defenders ensned. The temple was levelled with the ground: the idol Somnath, which was of stone, was broken to pieces, and in commemoration of the victory a fragment was sent to Ghizni, where it was laid at the threshold of the principal mosque, and was there many years." [See also Journ. As. Soc. Bengal, VII, p. 883 ff., XII. p. 73 ff. Journal of the Bombay Branch R. A. S., II, 11-21. Asiatic Journal for 1843, May and Novbr.]
These statements shew that the idol was nothing more than a block of stone of very moderate dimensions, like the common representation of the type of SIVA. FERISHITA, however, has converted it into something very different, or a colossal figure of the deity himself, and following Colonel Dow's version of that compiler, the historian of British India gives the following highly coloured account of a transaction which never took place. "Filled with indignation at sight of the gigantic idol, MAHMUD aimed a blow at its head with his iron mace. The nose was struck off from its face. In vehement trepidation the Brahmans crowded round and offered millions to spare the god. The Omráhs, dazzled with the ransom, ventured to counsel acceptance. MAHMUD, crying out that he valued the title of breaker not seller of idols, gave orders to proceed with the work of destruction. At the next blow the belly of the idol burst open, and forth issued a vast treasure of diamonds, rubies and pearls, rewarding the holy perseverance of MAHMUD, and explaining the devout liberality of the Brahmans!" (Vol. I, 491.)
