Mahmud Ghaznavi's Brutal Somnath Attack: 50,000 Heads Severed, Shivling Desecrated

• Mahmud Ghaznavi attacked the prosperous Somnath Temple in Prabhas Patan, Gujarat, around 1025 AD, drawn by its immense wealth.
• Historical sources like 'Tarikh-i-Yamini' and 'Tarikh-i-Firishta' detail Ghaznavi's march and the fierce three-day battle against thousands of defenders.
• The attack resulted in heavy casualties, damage to the temple's sanctum sanctorum, and the plunder of idols, precious metals, and jewels.
• Accounts mention the desecration of the Shivling, with parts reportedly carried to Ghazni, though modern historians debate specific details.
• The Somnath attack significantly impacted the region's economic and cultural life, but the temple was rebuilt multiple times, symbolizing resilience.

Why It Matters: Mahmud Ghaznavi's 1025 AD attack on Somnath Temple was a brutal event of plunder and desecration.