History of Krishna Janmasthan (birthplace), Mathura

Temple dedicated to Krishna was built at the Krishna Janmasthan (birthplace), Mathura by his great grandson Vajranabh, thousands of years ago.

Mathura was a very pious and prosperous city, with hundreds of temples, which were centres of worship, education and social service.

Around 1017, Mahmud of Ghazni attacked and plundered Mathura. Ghazni's scribe, Al Utbi describes in his Tarikh-i-Yamini, wrote, "In the centre of the city there was a huge and magnificent temple, which the people believed wasn’t built by men but by the angels... Any description of the temple, either in words or in pictures, would fall short and fail to convey its beauty." Mahmud of Ghazni wrote, "if any one wished to construct a building equal to it, he would not be able to do so without spending a hundred million dinars, and the work would occupy two hundred years, even though the most able and experienced workmen were employed." He ordered to burn all the temples and demolish them. He plundered gold and silver idols and carried away a load of hundred camels. Local people faught a tough battle. Thousands of Hindus were killed and enslaved.

Abdullah, in the reign of Mughal emperor Jehangir, mentions in Tarikh-i-Daudi the destruction of Mathura and its temples by Delhi Sultan Sikandar Lodi in 16th century. Lodhi again killed and enslaved many Hindus. Lodi had prohibited Hindus from bathing in the river and shaving of heads on the banks as well. In the reign of Jehangir, in 1618, Raja Veer Singh Deva Bundela of Orchha had built a temple at the cost of thirty-three lakhs. A French traveller Tavernier visited Mathura in 1650 and had described the octagonal temple built in red sand stone. Italian traveller Niccolao Manucci who worked in Mughal court has also described the temple.

Mathura governor Abdun Nabi Khan on the order of Mughal emperor Aurangzeb, killed large number of innocent Hindus and destroyed several temples and he built the Jama mosque on the ruins of the Hindu temples. Abdul Nabi Khan was killed by people in 1669. Aurangzeb attacked Mathura and destroyed that Keshavdeva temple in 1670 and built the Shahi Eidgah in its place.

The major purpose of repeated destruction of our temples was to create fear and enslave Indians. But Hindus never gave up and kept on reclaiming.

India got freedom in 1947, but these encroachments continue even today. If we wish to regain self-confidence, all these signs of victory of foreign rulers need to be removed. Temples should be restored as places of worship, learning and social service.

Let’s raise for this national cause.