The Krishna Key

by Ashwin Sanghi

Saini spelt out the name for Chhedi and, turning to Radhika, said, ‘Zakariya was a Persian traveller and wrote a book titled Asaru-l Bilad wa Akhbaru-l’ Ibad, in the thirteenth century,’ said Saini. ‘Translated, the title means Monuments of Countries and Memoirs of Men. He has provided a vivid description of the Somnath temple and the destruction of it by Ghazni.’ ‘Ah! Here it is,’ said Chhedi, searching the relevant extract on his tablet. ‘Zakariya says that Somnath is the celebrated city of India, situated on the shore of the sea, and washed by its waves. Among the wonders of that place was the temple in which was placed the idol called Somnat. This idol was in the middle of the temple without anything to support it from below, or to suspend it from above. It was held in the highest honour among the Hindus, and whoever beheld it floating in the air was struck with amazement, whether he was a Musulman or an infidel. The Hindus used to go on pilgrimage to it whenever there was an eclipse of the moon, and would then assemble there to the number of more than a hundred thousand.’ ‘Continue reading the extract,’ said Saini. ‘He will go on to describe how rich Somnath was.’ Chhedi continued. ‘Zakariya says that everything of the most precious was brought there as offerings, and the temple was endowed with more than ten thousand villages. There is a river—the Ganges, which is held sacred between which and Somnat the distance is two hundred parasangs. They used to bring the water...