📌 Topic 05 of 6 · Chapter 07 · Early Medieval India & Rajputs
Mahmud of Ghazni & Muhammad Ghori
17 invasions of Mahmud, Somnath temple (1025 CE), First & Second Battle of Tarain (1191, 1192 CE).
⚔️ Mahmud of Ghazni (971–1030 CE)
Mahmud of Ghazni was the Sultan of Ghazni (Afghanistan) and son of Sabuktigin. He made 17 invasions of India between 1000–1027 CE. His primary motive was plunder — looting temples and cities to finance his Afghan empire.
Key Invasions of Mahmud:
| Year | Target | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| 1001 CE | Jaipal (Shahi king of Punjab) | Defeated Jaipal; Punjab annexed |
| 1008 CE | Anandpal (son of Jaipal) | Defeated Anandpal at Battle of Waihind |
| 1018 CE | Mathura and Kanauj | Looted Mathura temples; sacked Kanauj |
| 1025 CE | Somnath Temple (Gujarat) | Most famous raid; looted enormous wealth; destroyed the idol |
| 1027 CE | Jats of Sindh | Last invasion; punished Jats who had harassed his army |
⭐ Somnath Temple Raid (1025 CE): Mahmud’s raid on the Somnath Temple (Gujarat) is the most famous. He looted enormous wealth and destroyed the Shiva linga. The temple was rebuilt multiple times. The current Somnath Temple was rebuilt after independence — inaugurated by Sardar Patel in 1951. The raid became a symbol of Hindu-Muslim conflict in later historiography.
Mahmud’s Court:
- Al-Biruni — scholar who came with Mahmud; wrote Kitab-ul-Hind
- Firdausi — court poet; wrote Shahnama (Persian epic)
- Utbi — court historian; wrote Kitab-ul-Yamini
⚔️ Muhammad Ghori (1149–1206 CE)
Muhammad Ghori (Muizz-ud-din Muhammad bin Sam) was the Sultan of Ghor (Afghanistan). Unlike Mahmud who only wanted plunder, Ghori wanted to establish a permanent empire in India.
First Battle of Tarain (1191 CE):
- Fought between Muhammad Ghori and Prithviraj Chauhan III (Chahamana king of Ajmer)
- Prithviraj won — Ghori was wounded and barely escaped
- Prithviraj reportedly released Ghori — a chivalrous but strategically costly decision
Second Battle of Tarain (1192 CE):
- Ghori returned with a larger, better-prepared army
- Muhammad Ghori won decisively — Prithviraj Chauhan was captured and killed
- This battle opened North India to Muslim rule
- Delhi and Ajmer fell to Ghori
- Ghori left his general Qutb-ud-din Aibak in charge of India
- Ghori was assassinated in 1206 CE; Aibak founded the Delhi Sultanate
📝 Exam Tip:
• Mahmud of Ghazni = 17 invasions = plunder motive = Somnath (1025 CE)
• Al-Biruni = came with Mahmud = Kitab-ul-Hind
• First Battle of Tarain = 1191 CE = Prithviraj WON
• Second Battle of Tarain = 1192 CE = Muhammad Ghori WON = Delhi Sultanate begins
• Qutb-ud-din Aibak = Ghori’s general = founded Delhi Sultanate (1206 CE)
• Mahmud of Ghazni = 17 invasions = plunder motive = Somnath (1025 CE)
• Al-Biruni = came with Mahmud = Kitab-ul-Hind
• First Battle of Tarain = 1191 CE = Prithviraj WON
• Second Battle of Tarain = 1192 CE = Muhammad Ghori WON = Delhi Sultanate begins
• Qutb-ud-din Aibak = Ghori’s general = founded Delhi Sultanate (1206 CE)