The Rashtrakutas and their Times c20.117

c20.117

Theoretically Hinduism no doubt regards idols as mere visible symbols of the Divine, but the great paraphernalia of idols, their worship, temples, and establishments began to engender during our period an imperceptible feeling that the visible idol was everything, and the greatest importance began to be attached to its sanctity and safety. This was rather regrettable, for very often the feeling worked against national interests. Hindus could have ousted the Muslims from Multan had they not been compelled to retire by the threats of the Muslim garrison to break the famous idol of the sun in that city, if it was beseiged. (89) If the philosophy of idol-worship were properly understood at the time, this threat could not have deterred the Hindus; another idol could have been installed in the proper religious manner to replace the destroyed one. Idol destruction by Mahmud of Ghazni would not have unnerved the Hindu opposition, if the philosophy of the idol worship were properly understood in our period.