History of the Khaljis, A.D. 1290–1320 c7.s1.19

c7.s1.19

¹⁶ "Somnath, known to the Jains as Chandra Prabha, occupies an elevated site on the north-western corner of the city of Patan, on the western coast of the Gujarāt Peninsula overlooking the sea and close to the walls. In its present mutilated state it may be difficult to convey and very distinct or correct idea of Somnath......the whole of the buildings are most elaborately carved and ornamented with figures single and in groups of various dimensions." J.A.S.B. 1843 p. 73. The Arab geographer Damishqi gives a description of worship in Somnath. The best account of the temple and its wealth in the time Mahmūd of Ghazna has been given by Ibn Asīr, the author of *Kāmilut Tavārīkh*. The temple, he says, was a place of pilgrimage for the Hindus who congregated in thousands on occasions of eclipse. The shrine was endowed with more than 10,000 villages. The idol was washed with the water of Ganga which was brought all the distance from the north and in the temple were amassed jewels of the most exquisite quality and incalculable value. *Damishqi*: *Arabic text* pp. 170-71. Alberuni's *India*, Vol. II p. 104. *Kāmilut Tavarīkh*. Elliot, II, pp. 468-71. After the destruction of the temple by Ulugh Khan in 1299, Chudasena king of Jūnagarh (1270-1333) again restored the edifice as is evidenced by Khegnan's Girnār inscription. *Ind. Ant.* Vol. 54, 1925 Suppl. p. 32. Also see "Somnath as noticed by Arab Geographers". *Proceedings of the Indian History Congress*, 1943.