The Krishna Key

by Ashwin Sanghi

‘So the one built by Bhimdev is officially counted as the first?’ asked Chhedi. ‘Yes,’ replied Saini. ‘The second temple was built by the Vallabhi chieftains who were Yadavas. This temple was probably constructed in the seventh century.’ ‘What happened to it?’ asked Rathore. ‘In the year 725 CE, Junayad—who was the Arab governor of Sindh—sent his armies to destroy the temple. Thereafter, the Pratihara king Nagabhata II reconstructed the temple in the ninth century. This third temple was a substantial structure built from red sandstone,’ said Saini. ‘Ah. So this was the one that was destroyed by Ghazni?’ asked Chhedi. ‘Precisely. In 1024 CE, Mahmud of Ghazni, in what would be central-east Afghanistan today, attacked Somnath, after crossing the Thar Desert. After looting all the riches of the temple, he destroyed most of it—including the main Shiv lingam,’ said Saini. ‘The fourth temple was then constructed by the Paramara king, Bhoj of Malwa and the Solanki king, Bhima of Anhilwara, sometime in the eleventh century.’ ‘Who destroyed that one?’ joked Chhedi. ‘Actually, no one,’ replied Saini. ‘The wooden structure had to be replaced due to wear and tear. King Kumarpal of Pali replaced the wooden structure with a stone one—so that would have been the fifth temple.’ ‘I’m assuming that someone razed the fifth temple,’ said Radhika blandly. Saini smiled. ‘Unfortunately, yes. In the year 1296, the temple was once again desecrated and eventually destroyed by the Turkic Afghan, Sult...