Firishta's History (Gulshan-i Ibrāhīmī) 331.5

331.5

In another place in Kashmeer was a temple built by Raja Bulnat, the destruction of which was attended with a remarkable incident. After it had been levelled, and the people were employed in digging the foundation, a copper-plate was discovered, on which was the following inscription: — “Raja Bulnat, having built this temple, was desirous of ascertaining from his astrologers how long it would last, and was informed by “them, that after eleven hundred years, a king “named Sikundur would destroy it, as well as the ‘other temples in Kashmeer.” The King was surprised, though vexed, that the Hindoo prophet should have predicted the truth, and declared, if they had placed the plate against the wall, he would have preserved the temple to belie the prophet. Having broken all the images in Kashmeer, he acquired the title of the Iconoclast, “Destroyer of Idols.” Among other good institutions of Sikundur was the prohibition of vending wine, and the relinquishment of all export duties. At length, in his old age, having contracted a violent fever, he sent for his three sons, Ameer Khan, Shady Khan, and Mahomed Khan, to whom he gave his blessing; and declaring Ameer Khan his successor, with the title of Ally Shah, he died A.H. 819, after a reign of nearly twenty years.