With Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Somnath and the "Somnath Swabhiman Parv," discussions have once again intensified about that chapter of history when Mahmud Ghaznavi attacked the sacred Somnath Temple. The question remains: how much gold and treasure was looted in that attack, and what is its value today?

Somnath Temple and Mahmood Ghaznavi and Gold : Prime Minister Narendra Modi's recent visit to Somnath once again reminded the nation of the glorious yet painful history that has shaken India's faith and self-respect for centuries. During the "Somnath Swabhiman Parv" at the sacred Somnath Temple in Gujarat on Sunday, January 11th, PM Modi said that our ancestors sacrificed everything to protect this temple nearly 1,000 years ago. He also said that the flag flying at the Somnath Temple today sends a message to the entire world about India's power and its ability to achieve anything. With this address by the Prime Minister, a major historical question came into focus: how much treasure did Mahmood Ghaznavi loot from the Somnath Temple?

A center of faith and a target of attacks

The Somnath Temple, located on the seashore in Prabhas Patan, Gujarat, is one of the 12 sacred Jyotirlingas dedicated to Lord Shiva. Since ancient times, the temple has been a major pilgrimage site due to its location at the confluence of the Kapila, Hiran, and Saraswati rivers. The temple has been attacked several times throughout history, but the most famous attack was by Mahmud of Ghaznavi in ​​1025-26 AD. According to historians, during that period, the Somnath Temple was not only religiously but also economically prosperous. This was one of the reasons why the Somnath Temple was a frequent target of invaders.

How much gold was looted?

Various historical and research sources indicate that Mahmud Ghaznavi looted gold and other precious items worth crores and billions of rupees from the Somnath Temple. According to official figures, according to the official website of the Somnath district, Ghaznavi looted approximately 20 million (2 crore) gold dinars. Some accounts put this figure even higher, at up to 100 million dinars. Many historians estimate that approximately 6 tons of gold alone was looted from the temple. This does not include silver, diamonds, jewels, and other precious items.

Not only gold, but precious heritage was also looted

The plunder of Somnath wasn't limited to coins. It's said that Ghaznavi also took the temple's 56 massive pillars, thousands of gold and silver statues, the massive gold chains attached to the temple bells (which reportedly weighed around 6,700 kg), and the main gate made of sandalwood. Furthermore, during the plunder, Ghaznavi also smashed and destroyed many statues.

How much is that treasure worth today?

At today's rates, the price of gold is around ₹140,000 per 10 grams. Consequently, the current value of 6,000 kg of gold is estimated to be over ₹84,000 crore. The value of 20 million gold dinars in today's purchasing power is estimated to be in the billions of dollars. However, experts believe that the significance of this plunder was not just about money, but also about cultural and spiritual destruction. It is also discussed in many places that the invaders plundered not only for money, but also to instill fear in the people.

Somnath remained standing even though it kept falling apart

The Somnath Temple was destroyed several times, both before and after Mahmud Ghaznavi's reign—it witnessed attacks by rulers like Alauddin Khilji and Zafar Khan. But each time, the temple was restored. Several kings also rebuilt the temple during their reign. After independence, it was reconstructed through the efforts of the then Deputy Prime Minister, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, and in 1951, President Dr. Rajendra Prasad performed the consecration ceremony.

The invaders became history, Somnath remained immortal

In his speech, PM Modi said that many invaders, from Ghaznavi to Aurangzeb, thought they could destroy Somnath with the power of the sword, but over time, they were consigned to the pages of history, and Somnath still stands firm. In his words, Somnath is not just a stone structure, but a living symbol of India's faith, identity, and civilizational pride. The Somnath Swabhiman Parv is a celebration of this spirit, reminding us that India's faith can never be destroyed.

PC:Money9