Maha kumbh 2025: Naga sadhus fought with aurangzeb Kashi Vishwanath Jyotirling in 1664
Maha kumbh 2025 ,People are always curious to know about Naga Sadhu. Even in the Mahakumbh Mela, Naga Sadhus remain the main center of attraction. Naga Sadhus generally live isolated from civilization and are rarely seen. Maha kumbh 2025 is one of those rare events where common people get a chance to see them. During this time, they wear various types of ornaments, tridents, damru, and rudraksha. Today we will know some unknown facts about the Naga Sadhus…
The Naga saints (sages) or Nagas are the most talked about ones at Kumbh Mela. There are various discussions about them, but did you know? These saints not only took up arms to protect Hinduism but also sacrificed their lives. There is a mention in the medieval history of India when they fought against the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb. As it is claimed, during Aurangzeb’s reign, many temples were demolished and mosques were built in their place
Similarly, history mentions that the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb also tried to demolish the Kashi Viswanath Temple. But he could not succeed in his attempt because of the Naga saints. Aurangzeb’s Mughal army attacked the Kashi Viswanath Temple for the first time in 1664. But the Naga saints protected the temple and defeated Aurangzeb’s army.
this defeat of the Mughals. Author James G. Lochtefeld describes this defeat of the Mughals in the first volume of his book ‘The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Hinduism.’. According to this book by James G. Lochtefeld, the Naga sadhu’s of the Mahanirbani Akhada in Varanasi fought against the army of Aurangzeb. In this battle, the Naga sadhu’s were victorious and the Mughals were defeated. James G. Lochtefeld found this historical event in a handwritten book in the archives of the Mahanirbani Akhada in Varanasi. He describes this event in his book as the ‘Battle of Jnanavapi.’.
Aurangzeb’s attack on the Kashi Biswanath Temple in 1664 is also mentioned in the historical book ‘History of the Dasnami Naga Saints’ by Yadunath Sarkar. Yadunath Sarkar writes that the Naga saints fought a fierce battle to protect the religion and the temple. According to him, the battle lasted from sunrise to sunset. In the end, the Dasnami Naga saints proved themselves to be heroes.
After the first attack on the Kashi Vishwanath Temple failed, four years later, in 1669, Aurangzeb attacked Varanasi. This time, the Mughal army destroyed the temple to the ground. Aurangzeb knew that the temple was associated with the beliefs and sentiments of Hindus, so he ensured that it could not be rebuilt. He built the Jnanavapi Mosque in the temple’s place. This mosque still stands in the temple complex. According to local folklore and oral stories, around 40,000 Naga saints sacrificed their lives while protecting the Kashi Vishwanath Jyotirlinga at that time.
Historian Ibrahim Eraly, in his book ‘Emperors of the Peacock Throne: The Saga of the Great Mughals,’ describes how during Aurangzeb’s reign, all the temples around Ujjain were demolished and 300 temples in Rajasthan were demolished; in this book we find many examples of temple demolition. In September 1667, Aurangzeb issued a ‘farman’ to demolish the Kalka Temple in Delhi. The reason given for the demolition of the temple was that a large number of Hindus had gathered at the temple. This was reason enough for Aurangzeb to order his army to demolish the temple. David Ayalon, who studies Islamic history and civilization, describes how Aurangzeb forcibly converted Hindus to Islam and destroyed Hindu temples.
The Saga of the Great Mughals’ describes how during Aurangzeb’s reign, all the temples around Ujjain were demolished and 300 temples in Rajasthan were demolished. In this book we find many examples of temple demolition. In September 1667, Aurangzeb issued a ‘farman’ to demolish the Kalka Temple in Delhi. The reason given for the demolition of the temple was that a large number of Hindus had gathered at the temple. This was reason enough for Aurangzeb to order his army to demolish the temple. David Ayalon, who studies Islamic history and civilization, describes how Aurangzeb forcibly converted Hindus to Islam and destroyed Hindu temples.
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