Mahmud Ghaznavi - An Analysis
The Turks arrived in the Abbasid Empire in the 9th century as palaces guards and hired soldiers, but soon came to the role of king-maker there. The Turk invasion in India was completed in two stages. The leader of the first phase was Mahmud Ghaznavi and the second was Mohammad Ghori. After the Arabs, the Turks invaded India. The Turks were an uncivilized and barbaric race inhabiting the northwestern borders of China.
The Ekturk chieftain named Alaptagin established an independent Ottoman state in Ghazni. Alaptagin's slave and son-in-law Subuktagin took possession of Ghazni in 977 AD. Mahmud Ghaznavi was the son of Subuktagin. Mahmud Ghaznavi was the ruler of Khorasan during his father's time. After the death of Subuktagin, his son and successor Mahmud Ghaznavi ascended the throne of Ghazni in 998 AD. At this time Mahmud Ghaznavi was 27 years old. His capital was Ghaznavi.
Reasons for the attack:
- Promotion of Religion - The main objective of Mahmud Ghaznavi's invasion was to achieve the success of Hindus so that the period of imperialism could run in Central Asia. His attacks were not intended to establish a permanent Muslim empire in India. The historian Havell states that 'he also looted Baghdad mercilessly like the Somnath Temple if he hoped to get so much money from there'.
- Major Campaign - According to Henry Elliot, Mahmud Ghaznavi attacked India 7 times. The Khyber Pass, which was called the Gateway of India, was won by Subuktagan. After crossing this pass, Mahmud Ghaznavi invaded India.
- The first invasion of Ghaznavi occurred in 1001 AD on the royalists. During the time of Chenab Mahmud Ghaznavi, this kingdom was extended from some river to the Hindukush mountain. Kabul, Punjab etc. areas included contemporary rulers.
- In 1010, Mahmud looted Nagarkot and defeated the Union of Hindus in the Talwadi War in 4040 AD.
- In 1014 AD, the Chakraswamy temple of Thaneshwar was looted.
- Unsuccessfully tried to win Lohkot (Loharin) fort in Kashmir in 1015 AD. This was the first defeat of Ghaznavi's army mainly due to unfavorable weather. After this, he unsuccessfully tried to conquer Kashmir in 1024 AD.
- In 1019 AD, Mahmud laid siege to the Kalinjar fort. Because, the ruler of here, Vidyadhar Chandel (described by Muslim writers as the most powerful ruler), formed a union with the new ruler Trilochanpal of Kannauj and Trilochanpal, the royal ruler of Punjab. The chief of this association was Vidyadhar.
- Mahmud Ghaznavi laid siege to the fort of Gwalior (Kalininger), but the decisive power test could not take place. Vidyadhar was the only Chandel ruler who was not defeated by Mahmud and a treaty was struck between the two.
- At the same time, Punjab was merged with the Ghaznavi Empire in 022 AD. Aiyaruk was appointed Subedar of Punjab.
- In 1025 AD, Mahmud attacked Somnath temple of Gujarat. The contemporary Chalukya ruler Bhima was the first to have the temple rebuilt after Gajnavi left.
- In 1027 AD, he came to India to punish the Jats of Sindh. Mahmud Ghaznavi died in 1030 AD.
The following scholars lived in the court of Mahmud Ghaznavi
- Abu Nastra Utbi - It was this invading court historian who mentioned most of the attacks of Mahmud Ghaznavi from 1000 AD in his book Tithi Yamini or 'Kitab Yamini'.
- Khwaja Ahmed- This was the wazir of Mahmud Ghaznavi. Khwaja Ahmad handled administrative tasks efficiently under Mahmud's absence for 18 years. Later Mahmud Ghaznavi had his wazir imprisoned in an Indian fort.
- Abul Fazl was the author of Ba'ihaki-tithi A. Subuktaginaka. This is called the Peps of the East by Liverpool. The earliest mention of Sultanate Yagin painting is found in the 'History of Ghaznavis' written by Baihaki.
- Firdausi - This historian wrote a poem in Persian on the order of 1000 verses Shahnama Mahmud Ghaznavi.
- It was Alberuni-royalty. It debated with Brahmin priests in Ghaznavi.
- Farabi was a scholar of philosophy.
- Mahmud Ghaznavi's court poet Farukhi mentions the Nigarkhana (Chitra Vithika) built by Lahore in Mahmud. It also has a Shabih or individual figure of Mahmud Ghaznavi. He was the first Sultan to have his portrait painted.
- On the Navar River, Mahmud built the Barh-e-Sultan Dam and a university, library and museum in Ghazni.
- Amongst the Muslim rulers, Mahmud Ghaznavi was the first to coin coins in Indian way. These coins were called Delhiwala whose weight was 56 grains.
Alberuni
Nickname - Abu Rehan; Title - Vidyasagar (conferred by Indian Brahmins); First Muslim Indologists
Special-Alberuni was the first Muslim who learned Sanskrit and studied the Gita and Puranas.
Special-Alberuni was the first Muslim who learned Sanskrit and studied the Gita and Puranas.
Book-
- Kitab-ur-Rehla or Kitab-ul-Hind or Tehathkiq-e-Hind or Min Makala. This book is called the mirror of the V century.
- Evolka - Created this book after migration to India. Alberuni composed about 443 works.
- Kitabas Saydna - This is a book of medicines written by Alberuni which was translated by Bakr in Persian.
- Translation - English translation of Kitab-Ulatra-Hind written in Arabic was done by Edward Sachau in 888 AD, Rajinikanth Sharma in Hindi.
- Alberuni was the political advisor to Khwarism Shah of the Mamuni dynasty.
- When Mahmud Ghaznavi won Khwarism, he found Alberuni as a prisoner of war.
- Mahmud appointed Alberuni to the post of regent.
- He came to India with Mahmud in 1018–19 AD.
- Alberuni lived for 10 years in India and wrote the book 'Kitab Ul Hind' around 1030 AD. Alsaruni was a philosopher, mathematician, sociologist, physician and astrologer. He translated the Yoga Sutra of Patanjali into Arabic. He considered the Yogasutra as equivalent to Sufism. Alberuni studied the numerology and astrology of Kapil. Plato and Aristotle are also mentioned in his book. Alberuni was very much influenced by the Gita.
Survey of India of Kitabul Hind-Alberuni
There are a total of 80 chapters in this book, in which the maximum description is about astronomy. Stanley Lanepool has called Kitabul Hind a magical island of completely impartial research amidst the world of colliding swords, burning cities and looted temples.
It has given details of many cities of India including longitudinal. However, Alberuni did not write anything about the states of South India and very rarely mentions the political life of the time.
Social Status-
- Chatavarna describes the Varna system in Indian society. They refer to paired alphabets. According to him Brahmins and Kshatriyas were one pair (couple) and Vaishya and Shudra were the other pair. The category of untouchables under the four varnas were 8 Antyajas called Allam-Gallams.
- Social discrimination was at its peak at this time. The Brahmin had the right to have four wives, Kshatriya three, Vaishya two and Shudra one wife. Alberuni states that there was no tatrak in the marriage. The widow did not remarry. Inter-caste marriages were prevalent only among the Antyajas.
Education-
- According to Alberuni, Vikramshila, Nalanda, Udhapur, Kashmir and Benaras were the major educational centers at this time. According to him, "There are many books available to Hindus in relation to every branch of science." Children used to use chalk and slate in school. According to Alberuni, "In north-India people used to write tree bark while in south India palm leaves were written."
- The original subjects of literature at this time were 'Kattni-matam' (thoughts of the intermediary) and 'Samay-matrak' (autobiography of a prostitute). Damodar Gupta, a minister of the king of Kashmir, wrote a book called Kuttani-Matam and Kshemendra (990-1065 AD) Samay Matraka.
Religion-
- The two major festivals of Alberuni are Ramnavami and Shivaratri. According to him, there was also differentiation in religion because educated people were monotheists while uneducated (common people) was Bahdevists. He describes the Vaishnava sect as the most popular religion. The Vaishya and Shudra did not have the right to read the Vedas.
Architectural
- It is known from the description of Alberuni and Utbi that Kannauj was very elaborate and magnificent.
Economic Condition-
- It was advanced at this time. There was a concentration of wealth in the temples. This was a type of bank at this time. This is why the first target of the invaders was the temple itself. Usury was prohibited in society and only Shudras were allowed to do so.
Political situation-
- Alberuni mentions the political situation nominally. At this time India was divided into small states and the weakness of one state was the means of power of another state.
