From today, We tweet our old tweets in detail history of the 1st Muslim invasion of Mahmood Ghazni of Somnath in thread form. Followers asked us frequently to tweet on Ghazmi's Somnath invasion. This will be a long thread. 
995 years ago on 6-1-1026 Ghazni(Afghanistan) Amir (ruler) Mahmud Ghaznavi looted,broke Linga & damaged Somnath temple in his 16th invasion of India. Mahmud Ghazni born to unmarried slave couple Sebuktigin & Zabuli on 2-10-971.His parents were slaves of Ghazni ruler Alp Tigin
10th century Ghazni ruler Alp Tigin freed his slave Sebuktigin who was father of Mahmud Ghazni.Alp Tigin made Sebuktigin his son-in-law.10-11th century Ghazni Amir (ruler) Mahmud Ghazni was of very strong physique in his youth. He was ugly because of smallpox scars on his face.
In 975 AD Ghazni Amir Alp Tigni died.His son Ishak became Ghazni Amir.He was weak. So Alp Tigin son-in-law Sebuktigin became Amir on 10-4-977. In 996 Ghazni Amir Sebuktigin died.He made his son Ismail his successor as his mother was of noble family instead of his elder son Mahmud
Crown prince Mahmud became rebel against his younger stepbrother Ghazni Amir Ismail.Mahmud attacked Gazni & defeated his brother in 998 AD. In 998 AD Mahmud Ghazni became Amir (ruler) of Gazni area of today Afghanistan.He sent his defeated stepbrother to prison & then killed him.
11th century Ghazni ruler Mahmood was fond of liquor & music. As there were no good singers & musicians in Ghazni,he brought them from India. In the time of Ghazni (Afghanistan) ruler Mahmood,there was a large population of Hindus in Ghazni.Most of them were Sama & Bhatti Rajput.
In the time of 11th century Ghazni ruler Mahmood Ghazanvi, there were many Hindu in his army forming special units.His elephant force mostly manned by Hindu. Two Hindus Tilak & Sundar were high ranking military officers in army of Ghazni (now in Afghanistan) Amir (ruler) Mahmood.
11th century Ghazni Amir (ruler) Mahmood Ghazni invaded western India frontier states & Indian states 16th times in 26 years between 1000 AD to 1026 AD. In his last & 16th invasion of India, he attacked, looted & damaged the Somnath temple in Saurashtra province of Gujarat.
As per Skanda Puran section Prabhas Khand Somnath Linga was founded by Chandra dynasty king Soma in ancient time. He built temple with gold. As per mythological books, Lanka king Ravan built Somnath temple with silver, Shri Krishna with wood & 11 century king Bhimdev with stones.
In 11 century Somnath prosperity was on peak. It treasures wealth were full of gold,sliver,jewellery,ornaments,diamonds,jades,pearls,ruby,silk.11th century famous Persian historian & scholar Al-Biruni accompanied Mahmood Ghazni in his Somnath invasion.He described Somnath temple.
In the 11th century Somnath temple gold bell had a gold chain weighing 200 Maunds(4000kg.).Temple had 500 Devdasi & 2000 Brahmin Pujari (priests). Somnath temple had 2500 villages all over India which were given in donations by kings/rulers/landlords for expenses of the temple.
In 11th century Somnath Shivlinga was bathed with the Ganga river holy water daily. A chain of Kavadia (couriers) was set up to supply Ganga river holy water to Somnath temple daily.
In 1023 AD Ghazni ruler Mahmood began preparations for his Somnath invasion with intention to be world top rich by looting Somnath temple. In 1023-1025 Mahmood Ghazni recruited volunteers by giving them promise of good share in loot of treasure,slaves & women in Somnath invasion
On 18-10-1025 Ghazni ruler Mahmood began his expedition to destroy Somnath. He left Ghazni with 30000 soldiers & 54000 volunteer soldiers. On 9-11-1025 Mahmood Ghazni army arrived at Multan. He distributed 50000 Dinars to volunteers for expenses & spent Ramzan month in Multan.
On 26-11-1025 Mahmood army left Multan.Each soldier was given 2 camels to carry water & 20000 camels were loaded with supply to cross desert. Mahmood Ghazni army reached Lodurva near Jaisalmer & siege fort. Its ruler was Rawal Amarsinh who was a cousin of Gujarat king Bhimdev.
In 1025 AD Mahmood army attacked Lodurva fort at night violating battle rule of no war at night. Amarsinh fought very bravely but lost battle. Mahmood Ghazni won Lodurva in Rajasthan on way to Somnath. He looted town, damaged fort & temples and advanced in direction of Gujarat.
At beginning of December 1025, Mahmood Ghazni army reached Abu & camped in foot of mountain & rested. In mid-December, he marched to Patan. At end of 1025 AD, Mahmood Ghazni's army arrived at Gujarat capital Patan. Gujarat king Bhimdev Solanki in shameful cowardice act fled away.
In 1025 Mahmud Ghazni army entered Gujarat capital Patan without any resistance.He looted city & damaged temples.His army obtained food & water & marched.His army arrived at Modherak (Modhera) which was big city.20000 Rajputs voluntarily gathered there sans leader to resist him.
In Dec. 1025 Mahmud Ghazni who was en route to Somnath was the first time resisted in Gujarat by 20000 volunteer Rajput soldiers at Modhera. Mahmud's army defeated 20000 Hindu Rajput warriors at Modhera. It was an unequal battle.20000 Rajputs sacrificed their lives for Dharma.
In 1025 Mahmud Ghazni won Modhera.Mahmud amazed to see Kund (water pool) surrounded by 1000 temples & sun temple in Modhera.He damaged them. At beginning of Jan.1026, Mahmud's huge army reached Delvada near Una in south Saurashtra via Bhal area.He ordered to destroy Delvada fort.
In January 1026 Mahmud Ghazni's army looted Delvada town near Somnath, killed people & destroyed temples.He marched to Somnath which was 1 day away.On 6-1-1026 Mahmud's huge army reached Somnath after very difficult roadless journey of 80 days from Ghazni(Afghanistan) to Somnath.
Prior 19 century,movement of army from one place to another was difficult as there no roads & bridges over rivers There were only cart track. In 1025-26 Mahmud Ghazni's army crossed mountains through passes,rivers by boats & barges & desert by camels & reached Somnath in 80 days.
Mahmud Ghazni army composed of 30000 cavalry,54000 irregular soldiers,10000 Bhishti, cooks, Maulavi,writers,historians,servants & 50000 camels.On Thursday 6-1-1026 Mahmud Ghazni reached Somnath. He ordered to attack Somnath on same day without wasting time as next day was Friday.
Somnath temple had no fort nor army when Mahmud Ghazni attacked.There was a high compound wall like small fort & security guards to defend.On 6-1-1026 Somnath security guards,Brahmins & citizens defended Somnath small fort bravely against Mahmud army in hope of arrival of help.
On night of Thursday when Mahmud army resting in camp,10000 soldiers of Sorath ruler Ra'Navghan arrived in Somnath under Nagar army chief Mahidhar.On Friday 7-1-1026 Mahmud prayed Namaz with soldiers & encouraged them by giving emotional lecture & attacked Somnath defence walls.
On Friday 7-1-1026 Hindu guards, soldiers, Brahmins succeeded to defend Somnath small fort after a fierce battle till the end of that day war. On Saturday 8-1-1026 Mahmud Ghazni's army again attacked Somnath temple walls & succeeded to enter into fort gate.
Mahmud Ghazni's army killed the human wall of pilgrims, travellers, priests, Brahmins, employees, old, children, women & monks in the compound of Somnath temple. About 50000 were killed in 3 days on both sides. The temple area filled with corpses.
On Saturday,8-1-1026 Mahmud Ghazni with his sons, Amirs,chiefs entered in Somnath temple with his soldiers shouting battle cry 'Allahu Akbar'. Mahmud Ghazni ordered to break the upper part of Shivlinga & to send the lower part with all its coverings & trappings of gold to Ghazni.
On 8-1-1026 Mahmud Ghazni army looted Somnath temple's gold,silver,jewellery,diamonds,pearls,gem stones,silk worth 100 million Dinar then. Mahmud Ghazni looted treasure of 100 million Dinars/210 million Rupees then. He kept 20 % of loot remaining 80 % distributed to his soldiers.
After Somnath victory, Mahmud Ghazni stayed there for 18 days & gave rest to his army.He caught young as slaves & destroyed nearby temples. When Mahmud was in Somnath,his spies brought news that Sambhar king Vishaldev Chauhan & Malava king Bhoj Parmar obstructed his return march.
Mahmud was shrewd, intelligent & master of military tactics. When he heard news of resistance on 2 return routes he opted 3rd route of Kutch.On 24-1-1026 Mahmood Ghazni began his homeward march.His plan was to travel via today Porbandar,Harshad,Morbi,Kutch,Sindh,Multan to Ghazni.
On 24-1-1026 Mahmud left Somnath for Ghazni.He reached Gandhavi fort near Harshad.Its 3 sides surrounded by sea where king Bhimdev hid. When Mahmud reached Gandhavi fort, Gujarat king Bhimdev Solanki again fled away to avoid a fight. Ghazni army looted fort & advanced to Kutch.
From Gandhavi fort Mahmud Ghazni went to Kutch.Sama rulers of Kutch paid tribute & gifts to him.His army marched to Sindh via Kutch desert. In 1026 Mahmud reached Sindh where he lost direction in desert.His many soldiers died due to water scarcity & epidemic.He arrived at Mansura
In 1026 Mahmud Ghazni army was attacked by Kasbati Khalif of Ismaili sect at Mansura. Though Mahmud soldiers were tired, they defeated Khalif. Mahmud Ghazni's army on way back to Ghazni was attacked by Jats in Punjab who looted camels & horses from him except Somnath treasure.
On 2nd April1026 Mahmud Ghazni returned to Ghazni after 165 days of the Somnath invasion in which his only 2000 soldiers survived to return Ghazni alive. He brought two pieces of Somnath Shivlinga & Somnath temple wooden doors with him to Ghazni.
One piece of Somnath Shivlinga was fixed on the doorstep of the main gate of Jami Masjid of Ghazni according to the order of Sultan Mahmud Ghazni & another piece of Somnath Shivlinga was thrown in horse race ground of Ghazni city.
In April 1026 Mahmood Ghazni brought Somnath temple beautifully carved wooden doors which were fitted in his tomb after his death in 1030. In 1027 Mahmood attacked Punjab Jats to revenge & punish them for their attack & loot of camels & horses when he was returning from Somnath.
In 1030 Mahmud Ghazni became seriously ill due to abdominal disease.He put his huge treasure in the palace compound.He went there in Palakhi.Mahmud watched his huge treasure in sleeping position from Palakhi & wept loudly in repentance.He recalled innocent killings & destruction.
In evening of 30th April 1030 Ghazni (Afghanistan) Amir (ruler) Mahmood Ghazni died.He had seven sons and three daughters. Ghazni Sultan Mahmood Ghazni was honoured by the title of 'Kahf-ud-daula wa al-Islam' by Caliph Al-Qadir for his Somnath invasion.
11th century great Persian poet & 'Shahanamah' author Ferdowsi Tusi wrote a poem criticizing Mahmood Ghazni's lower-class parents & his greedy nature. In 1130 Ghor ruler Alaudin attacked Ghazni & defeated Mahmud's grandson. He looted & killed citizens and destroyed Ghazni city.
181 years old painting of Ghazni town in #Afghanistan was painted in 1840 AD.
173 years old painting of the view of Ghazni town in #Afghanistan was painted in 1848 AD.
108 years old painting of Ghazni Sultan Mahmud Ghazni listening 'Shahnamah' from its writer great Persian poet Ferdowsi was painted in 1913 AD.
714 years old painting of Ghazni Sultan Mahmood Ghazni & his soldiers attacking a fort was painted by Rashid al-Din in 1307 AD
173 years old painting of Mahmood Ghazni tomb at Gazni.Doors seen are of Somnath temple which he took with him from Somnath in 1026 AD.Doors were fitted in Mahmood tomb in 1030 AD. In 1842 General Nott British Indian army returned India from Afghanistan with Somnath temple doors.
In 1026 Mahmood Ghazni took Somnath temple carved wooden doors with him to Ghazni which were fitted in his tomb after his death in 1030 AD.Before British army expedition to Afghanistan in 1842 AD, it was declared by British to encourage Hindu soldiers to bring back Somnath doors.
On 6-9-1842 General Sir William Nott army won Ghazni.He took Somnath doors from Mahmud Ghazni tomb as per Governor-General Lord Ellenborough order.General Nott British Indian army returned India from Afghanistan with Somnath temple doors which were given guard of honour in India.
In 1842 Governor-General of India Lord Ellenborough decided to hand over Ghazni Somnath doors to Somnath temple through Gaekwad Baroda state. Gov.General Ellenborough's decision to return Somanth doors to Hindu was criticized & protested in England that it hurt Muslim feelings.
In 1843 AD British MP Vernon Smith introduced a resolution in Britain Parliament prohibiting returning of Somnath temple doors back to Hindus. On 9-3-1843 a long debate began in Britain Parliament on MP Vernon Smith resolution on Somnath doors. It was passed by 242 VS 157 votes.
Somnath temple doors were not returned back to Hindus as per Britain Parliament resolution of 1843 AD & they were kept in Agra fort museum.Two followers say that Somnath temple doors still in Agra fort museum.If it is true,we request Govt.of India to shift them to Somnath museum.
A piece of Somnath temple doors brought by British army from Ghazni (Afghanistan) is preserved in National Army Museum in London. For more information please visit
collection.nam.ac.uk/detail.php?acc…
collection.nam.ac.uk/detail.php?acc…
This tweet thread on the history of Mahmood Ghazni's invasion of Somnath is ended.
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