Part 3 of the thread on ‘Ramanuja is a History’ tracing the identity of the Muslim invader who ransacked Melkote temple in the 11th century. jayasreesaranathan.blogspot.com/2018/07/ramanu… Ramanuja is a history – 3 (Muslim invasion at Melkote)
There is a mausoleum on the banks of Tonnur lake (Thondanur) of ‘one of the fanatical followers of Ghazni’ – and recorded by Francis Buchannan. Coming to know that it was that of ‘Martyr’, Tipu Sultan enlarged it using the materials of a Hindu temple 
Annual Report of the Mysore Archaeological Dept 1939, published the details of this Darga and identified the person as “Syed Salar Masud’. Urs held in the month of Rajjab
There is a mausoleum for the same person ‘Syed Salar Masud’ in Bahraich in UP, The urs also in the same month. This person was the nephew of Muhmud of Ghazni, instrumental in destruction of Somnath. Invaded India in 1031 and died at Bahraich.
He was killed by a confederation of Hindu kings led by Suhal Dev. Suhal Dev is hailed as a National hero as he was probably the first one to have killed an invader. His statue was unveiled by the BJO President @AmitShah @narendramodi
How could two mausoleums exist for the same person at 2 different places, at UP and at Thondanur? It is because Firoz Shah Thuglaq built mausoleums for all the accomplices of Salar Masud who died at various places of India & declared them to be of Salar Masud.
The Persian hagiography, ‘Mirror of Masud’ says that Salar Masud, the nephew of Mahmud of Ghazni entered India in 1031 CE with an army & spread to different parts causing destruction on the way, stealing temples and wealth.
Of them Sulutanu-e-Salateen and Mir Bakhtiar went south to Kannor and Mir Bakhtiar was killed during a fight with the local army. Thondanur tomb is likely to be that of Mir Bakhtiar who moved to Thondanur / Melkote after ransacking Kannur.
Alupa dynasty ruling Kannur was known to have traded with Romans from 2nd century onwards and with Arab countries from 7th century onwards. The wealth and temples this region including Kannur must have been well known in the Arab world
Number of old temples on the coastal route to Kannur from Malwa. Malwa made a friendly treaty with Salar Masud. So the invaders crossed Malwa safely and came through coastal route ransacking temples on the way. Hero stone at Barkur is likely to be of a local hero who fought them.
Probable route of the Ghazni followers from Malwa to Kannur
Cross-checking this with the history of the region in 1030s: The Hoysala history of this period is silent for 20 years between 1027 and 1047– the period when Salar Masud invaded India and died and his accomplices ran through the Hoysala domains.
A corroboratory incident appears in the times of Ereyanga. He marched to Malwa & set on fire Dhara (today’s Dhar in MP) the capital of Malwa. The inscriptional evidence of this attack places on record the anger against Bhoja, the king who made friendly treaty with Salar Masud!
Map shows the route of Mir Bakhtiar and Ereyanga (From his capital at Dvarasamudram). Baleyapattana is likely to be Balewad .The southernmost inscription of Bhoja occurs just N of Nashik. One can judge the extent of the free –ride the fanatic followers of Ghazni could have had.
Part 1 of this thread on Ramanuja's life can be read in this thread … It focuses on doubts raised in the life of Ramanujacharya and proves why they are wrong.
Part 2 of this thread detailing the time period of Ramanuja in Karnataka and the Muslim ruler in N India in the corresponding period can be read here: jayasreesaranathan.blogspot.com/2018/07/ramanu… …
