[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Foreign](https://indike.org/pramana/inf) › [Islamic world](https://indike.org/pramana/inf.isl) › [Persian](https://indike.org/pramana/inf.isl.fa) › [History (Ghaznavid, Ghurid, Ilkhanid, Timurid)](https://indike.org/pramana/inf.isl.fa.tarikh) › [حبیب السیر](https://indike.org/pramana/inf.isl.fa.tarikh.habib-al-siyar) › [Habibu-s Siyar of Khondamir (extracts)](https://indike.org/pramana/inf.isl.fa.tarikh.habib-al-siyar~en-elliot) › 13.2 # حبیب السیر 13.2 Habíbu-s Siyar of Khondamír (extracts) 13.2 - **Language:** English ### [13.2](https://indike.org/pramana/inf.isl.fa.tarikh.habib-al-siyar~en-elliot.13.2) Historians agree that Somnat is the name of a certain idol, which the Hindus believe in as the greatest of idols, but we learn the contrary of this from Shaikh Faridu-d din 'Attar, in that passage where he says: "The army of Mahmud obtained in Somnat that idol whose name was Lat." According to historians, Somnat was placed in an idol-temple upon the shore of the sea. The ignorant Hindus, when smitten with fear, assemble in this temple, and on those nights more than 100,000 men come into it. From the extremities of kingdoms, they bring offerings to that temple, and 10,000 cultivated villages are set apart for the expenses of the keepers thereof. So many exquisite jewels were found there, that a tenth part thereof could not be contained entirely in the treasury of any king. Two thousand Brahmans were always occupied in prayer round about the temple. A gold chain, weighing 200 mans, on which bells were fixed, hung from a corner of that temple, and they rang them at appointed hours, so that by the noise thereof the Brahmans might know the time for prayer. Three hundred musicians and 500 dancing slave girls were the servants of that temple, and all the necessaries of life were provided for them from the offerings and bequests for pious usages. - [Previous: 13.1](https://indike.org/pramana/inf.isl.fa.tarikh.habib-al-siyar~en-elliot.13.1) - [Next: 13.3](https://indike.org/pramana/inf.isl.fa.tarikh.habib-al-siyar~en-elliot.13.3) - [Up: 13](https://indike.org/pramana/inf.isl.fa.tarikh.habib-al-siyar~en-elliot.13) --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/inf.isl.fa.tarikh.habib-al-siyar~en-elliot.13.2](https://indike.org/pramana/inf.isl.fa.tarikh.habib-al-siyar~en-elliot.13.2) · Pramāṇa