The Dynastic History of Northern India (Early Mediaeval Period) v1.c11.86.1

v1.c11.86.1

considerable time before the visit of Mas‘ūdī. An interesting fact noticed by this traveller is about the famous idol of the city ‘known by the name of Multan.’¹ ‘The inhabitants of Sind and India,’ he tells us, ‘perform pilgrimages to it from the most distant places ; they carry money, precious stones, aloe-wood and all sorts of perfumes there to fulfil their vows. The great part of the revenue of the king of Multan is derived from the rich presents brought to the idol of the pure aloe-wood of Kumār, which is of the finest quality, and one *man* of which is worth 200 dīnārs.’ Financial necessity was therefore one of the important reasons why this idol was allowed to flourish in a city which was probably predominantly Moslem.² But there was another reason. Mas‘ūdī says that ‘when the unbelievers march against Multan, and the faithful do not feel themselves strong enough to oppose them, they threaten to break their idol, and their enemies immediately withdraw.’ Al-Mas‘ūdī leaves us in no doubt that amongst these unbelieving enemies of Islam the Ba’ūrah (Pratīhāra?) king of Kanauj was the foremost.