6_Glorious_Epochs_of_Indian_History

6TH GLORIOUS EPOCH
151
the famous temple of Somnath in Sourashtra, he did it with
such a huge army*" and with such terrible vows and declaran
tions that Raja Bheem of Sourashtra and Gujrath fled away*^
leaving the kingdom exposed to every sort of humiliation
and destruction at the hands of this appalling enemy, tainting
his own name of Bheem with everlasting shame. Naturally
the Hindus had no army left, sufficiently well-equipped and
well-organized to face this formidable Muslim assault.
Nevertheless even at this critical time the priests of the
Temple of Somnath offered to shoulder the responsibility of
protecting the sacred temple as best as they could. They
called upon the surrounding Hindu population to run to
their aid in the sacred cause of defending the temple and
their religion, and thousands of Hindus from far off regions
also, answered their call and ran to the rescue of tbe Temple
of Somnath. The battle was to be fought not for any ruler or
king; no Hindu soldier was to individually profit by it. It
was a crusade, pure and simple ! Moreover these thousands of
Hindu soldiers were not a trained and well formed army. It
was a conglomeration of Hindu crusaders that was collected
at the eleventh hour. Even then they fought ferociously and
desperately for tbe sacred cause without intermission or
relaxation, by day and even by night, with the well-organized
and stalwart Muslim soldiers ! While the Muslim army climbed
right upto the ramparts and barricades over the high walls
of the temple and even after it forced itself into the very
temple, the toughest of Hindu resistance continued unmiti­
gated**. Muslim blood, too, was shed profusely**. Not before
did Sultan Mahmud completely put down all resistence, could
he ever force his way right into the innermost chamber of
the temple and break the idol of Somnath with his own
hands**. In order to celebrate this fanatical act he took for
himself the title, 'Butshikan'—Iconoclast** !
MARTYRDOM OF FIFTY THOUSAND BRAVE
HINDU SOLDIERS
372. Even Muslim historians** write that at least fifty