| The
earliest historical reference to the temple does not lead us much beyond the 10th century
A.D. Moolraj (A.D. 942-997), the Solanki ruler of Anabilavada-Pattan, bad paid a visit to
Somanatha and had also worshipped there after defeating the Chudasama ruler Graharipu or
Grahario I who molested the pilgrims going to the celebrated shrine. In A.D. 1025 Sultan Mahmud of Ghazni, having, heard the stories
circulated by the Hindus that the invader could have destroyed no idol in India, had the
idol of Somanatha been pleased with them, descended upon this temple with his iconoclastic
zeal to dispel the false belief of the Hindus. |
