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Sun Mundir |
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Hindus ruled over Multan for a thousand years or so but they have not left much which can be described here. They might have built many buildings or edifices, may be of great interest and importance but it appears that almost all of these edifices might have been destroyed during the battles fought .latter on. There are, however, three places of considerable antiquity of that period references of which are found in many books and travelogues. The most important place of the Hindu period was the "Sun Mandir" It was the most acknowledged of worship throughout the sub-continent as referred to in many books. It was situated on the old Fort site. There is however no trace of it now. Ancient visitors to Multan recorded many interesting accounts of the Sun Mandir, three of which are reproduced below.
Abu Rehan's story regarding the discovery of the gold based on the writings of Ali bin Mohammad Abu Mohammed Hindui is reproduced asunder: .
"Mohammad Qasim arose, and, with his generals, courtiers, guards and attendants, went into the temple, where he beheld an idol made of pure gold, its two eyes being of bright red rubies Mohammad Qasim, mistaking the idol for a man, drew his sword, intending to severe the head from the body; bul the Brahmans, prostrating themselves before the conqueror, exclaimed: "O true Commander, this is the image which was made by jibawaii, King of Multan, who concealed beneath it, in a reservoir. a treasure exceeding all limits and computation, and then departed". The Arab general thereupon ordered the idol to be removed, and an underground chamber was discovered , in which were found two hundred and thirty maunds of gold and forty huge jars filled with gold dust. On enquiring the cause of the great wealth of the city and the flourishing condition of its Mohammad Qasim was informed that it was due to the offerings made to the idol, which were brought from all parts of India.
Al-Masudi, of Baghdad, who visited the valley of the Indus in 303 A.H. (915 AD), and wrote his much admired work "The Meadows of Gold", about the year 330 A. H. (942 AD), has left us a glowing account of the condition of Islam in South Asia in the beginning of the tenth century.
Speaking the idol, AI-Masudi says: "People living in the distant parts of Sindh and Hind travel to it to perform pilgrimage, and, in fulfillment of their vows and religious obligations, they make offerings of money, precious stones, perfumes of every kind, and aloe wood before it. The sovereign of Multan derives the principal part of his revenues from the valuable offerings made to the idol. When the faithful are harassed by the unbelievers marching against Multan, they bring out the idol and threaten to break it in pieces, or reduce it to ashes, and the assailants are thus induced to withdraw forthwith"
Istakhri recorded about the idol "Multan as being held in great veneration by the Hindus, who flock to it from all parts of India on religious pilgrimages, and make large offerings which are spent on the temple and its devotees. The temple of the idol is about 300 feet high, is spoken of as a strongly built edifice, situated in the market, the most thickly populated part of the town, between the streets of the ivory dealers and coppersmiths quarters. the idol, stood in the center of the building under a cupola, around which lived the ministering priests and worshippers. It was set on a platform of brickwork, and was made of wood (no longer of gold, be it observed) in human shape, covered with red Cordova leather, and seated with the legs bent in quadrangular posture, the hands resting on the knees with the fingers all closed. Its two eyes of two red rubies, and its head was surmounted with a golden crown
Another place was "Suraj Kund" (the pool of sun). It is about five miles to the South of Multan on the Bahawaipur Road. It was a place of great antiquity with the Hindus. It was a pond 132 feet in diameter and 10 feet deep when full of water. Sawn Mal the Sikn Diwan surrounded 'it with an octagonal wall.lt was a place of pilgrimage till 1 947 and two fairs were held here annually. One on the 7th of the Vanishing moon of Bhadon, and the other on the 7th of the rising moon of Magh, the numbers having references to the seven hours of the Sun's Chariot, according to the Hindu mythology or the seven Rishies. According to the Hindu Pur-ans the Sun God (Suraj Devta) manifested here and had declared that whosoever shall bath in this tank, his sins will be forgiven and he will be benefited both in in this world and in the next. It is a neglected place now as it has lost all its charm. Third place, a shadow of which can be seen even today is the Mandir Parhaidpuri. This Mandir, according to Hindu Puranas, was made of pure gold. The supporting columns and the roof was also that of gold. But something happened and due to some unknown cause the ground sank below. Then on the same site a new Mandir was constructed but it contained only one golden column. The Mandir is supposed to be intact till 1848. During the seige of 1848 it was greatly damaged and unroofed due to the famous gun powder blast. It was however, restored to Hindus in 1902 when the present Mandir which is intact even today, was constructed If legends can be relied upon then, the story of Prahlad from whom the temple took its name is interesting "Prahlad" son of Raja Harankishab who held sway over this country condemned the gods and forbade the paying of homage in their name. His son Prahlad Bhagat refused to obey, whereupon the father ordered a pillar of gold to be heated with fire so that Prahlad might be bound to it. When the twilight came and the servants attempted to bind Prahiad to the pillar, it burst in two and out sprang the god Vishnu in the form of a man-lion who laid the King across his knees and ripped him open with his claws. The temple is situated close to the shrine of Bahawal Haq.
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