The Legacy of Muslim Rule in India c10.s2.6

c10.s2.6

Aurangzebs policy of religious persecution of Hindus, in particular his destruction of temples, evoked universal Hindu discontent. It was an old practice, commencing from Muhammad bin Qasims invasion of Sind,⁵⁵ to destroy temples during wars and in times of peace and convert them into mosques, and was continued throughout the medieval period. Aurangzeb also did the same in course of his wars in Bihar, Kuch Bihar etc. But when he started destroying temples in peace time on an unprecedented scale, he started a wave of general resentment and opposition. The history of resistance to such cases of temple destruction pertains to the whole country, but primarily to Gujarat, Mathura, Delhi, Banaras and many places in Rajasthan. Soon after the order (about demolishing temples) was issued, reports of the destruction of temples from all over the empire began to arrive.⁵⁶ To make sure that his orders were faithfully carried out Aurangzeb instructed that reports of destruction of temples by *faujdars* and other officials, were to be sent to the court under the seal of the Qazis and attested by pious Shaikhs.⁵⁷