196 SKETCH OF THE 



destroyed by the early Mahommedan conquerors* Most, if not all of them, 

 also are named in works, of which the date cannot be much later than the 



this place shut their gates against him, but it was soon carried by the irresistible valour of his 

 troops, and a terrible slaughter of its defenders ensued. The temple was levelled with the ground : 

 the idol Somnath, which was of stone, was broken to pieces, and in commemoration of the victory, 

 a fragment was sent to Ghizni, where it was laid at the threshold of the principal mosque, and was 

 there many years." 



These statements shew that the idol was nothing more than a block of stone, of very moderate 

 dimensions, like the common representation of the type of Siva. Ferishta, however, has converted 

 it into something very different, or a colossal figure of the deity himself, and following Colonel 

 Dow's version of that compiler, the historian of British India gives the following highly coloured 

 account of a transaction which never took place. " Filled with indignation at sight of the gigantic 

 idol, Mahmud aimed a blow at its head, with his iron mace. The nose was struck off from its 

 face. In vehement trepidation, the Brahmans crowded round and offered millions to spare the 

 god. The Oinrahs, dazzled with the ransom, ventured to counsel acceptance. Mahmud crying out 

 that he valued the title of breaker not seller of idols, gave orders to proceed with the work of des- 

 truction. At the next blow the belly of the idol burst open, and forth issued a vast treasure of 

 diamonds, rubies and pearls, rewarding the holy perseverance of Mahmud, and explaining the 

 devout liberality of the Brahmans !" (Vol. I. 491.) 



* The twelve Lingas are particularised in the Keddra Kalpa, of the Nandi Upapurdna, 

 where Siva is made to say — " I am omnipresent, but I am especially in twelve forms and places." 

 These he enumerates, and they are as follow : 



1. Somandtha, in Saurashtra, i. e. Surat, in its most extensive sense, including part of Guze~ 

 rat, where, indeed, Patana Somnath, or the city of Somnath, is still situated. 



2. Mallihdrjuna, or Sri Saila, described by Colonel Mackenzie, the late Surveyor General. 

 Asiatic Researches, Vol. 5th. 



3. Mahdkdla, in Ougein. This deity of stone was carried to Dehli, and broken there upon the 

 capture of Ougein, by Altumsh. A. D. 1231, — Dow. According to the Tebhat Akberi, the shrine 

 was then three hundred years old. 



4. Omkdra is said to have been in Ujayin, but it is probably the shrine of Mahadeo, at Omkdra 

 Mandatta, on the Nurmadd. 



5. Amareswara is also placed in Ujayin: an ancient temple of Mahadeo, on a hill near Ujayin, 

 is noticed by Dr. Hunter, Asiatic Researches, Vol. 6th, but he does not give the name or form. 



