A review of the book 'Flight of Deities and Rebirth of Temples – Episodes from Indian History' written by Dr. Meenakshi Jain.
Meenakshi Jain’s "Flight of Deities and Rebirth of Temples" is a compelling exploration of the historical narratives surrounding temples in India, particularly focusing on their transformations and the cultural implications of their journeys through time. Jain, an accomplished historian, combines meticulous research with vivid storytelling to illuminate the complex relationship between faith, politics, and architecture.
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Coming up: A review of the book 'Flight of Deities and Rebirth of Temples – Episodes from Indian History' written by Dr. Meenakshi Jain.
Namaste Friends. My name is 'Shinil Subramanian Payamal' and you are listening to the Historylogy podcast.
Before I proceed, a full disclosure: This book was bought with my own money and not been provided to me by the author or publisher.
Little bit about the author:
Meenakshi Jain is a historian interested in cultural and religious developments in Indian history. In 2020, she was awarded Padma Sri by the Government of India for her contributions in the field of literature and education. Her recent publications include – Vishwanath Rises and Rises: The Story of Eternal Kashi (2024); The Hindus of Hindustan (2023); Vasudeva Krishna and Mathura (2021); Flight of Deities and Rebirth of Temples (2019); The Battle for Rama: Case of the Temple at Ayodhya (2017); and Rama and Ayodhya (2013).
Let me read a brief description of the book:
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This work examines the medieval response to temple destruction and image desecration. While temples were destroyed on a considerable scale, also noteworthy were the repeated endeavours to reconstruct them. In each instance of rebirth, the temple retained its original name, even though there was a visible downsizing in its scale and grandeur. The Keshava temple at Mathura, the Vishwanath temple at Kashi, the Somnath temple in Saurashtra, the Rama mandir at Ayodhya were among the shrines continually restored, well after Hindus had lost all semblance of political power. The Bindu Madhava, the most important Vishnu temple in Varanasi, was demolished in 1669 and a mosque constructed in its place. The temple now bearing the name Bindu Madhava is a modest structure in the shadow of the mosque, but continues the traditions associated with the site. Intriguingly, mosques built on temple sites often retained the sacred names — Bijamandal mosque, Lat masjid, Atala masjid, Gyanvapi mosque, and not to forget, masjid-i- janamsthan.
Equally worthy of study was the fate of images enshrined in temples. Many were swiftly removed by anxious devotees, many more were hurriedly buried; some remained on the move for decades, till such time they could be escorted back to their abodes. In several cases, images were damaged in flight. Countless images were lost, as their places of burial were forgotten over time. That necessitated the consecration of new images in more peaceable circumstances. So there were temples of the tenth-eleventh centuries, which housed images instated in the sixteenth. In situations where neither temple nor image could be safeguarded, the memory endured, and a shrine was recreated after an interval of several centuries.
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The book is structured around several episodes that delve into different periods of Indian history, showcasing how temples have been both sanctuaries of worship and symbols of resistance against various invasions and cultural upheavals. Jain skillfully weaves together historical accounts, archaeological evidence, and contemporary reflections to provide readers with a multifaceted understanding of how temples have functioned as sites of resilience and revival.
Some of the things I personally found interesting:
1. On page 2, the author has mentioned the following:
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Islamic tradition from early on, viewed India as the land par excellence of idolatry. One hadith described India as the first country where idolatry was practised and stated that ancient Arab idols were of Indian origin. Ibn Asir, author of the influential Kamilu-t- Tawarikh, noted that on the night Mahmud was born, “an idol temple in India, in the vicinity of Parshawar, on the banks of the Sind, fell down.”
Mahmud Ghaznavi proudly professed himself on his coins, Mahmud butshikan, ‘Mahmud the breaker of idols.’ His standing in the Islamic world rested on two interlinked successes ─ breaking the idols and de-hoarding the temple treasure of al-Hind. As Ibn Asir recorded, in recognition of his services, Mahmud became the first Muhammadan king to receive the title of Sultan from the Khalifa.
The cumulative effect of the Islamic onslaughts was a thorough uprooting of the sacred geography of India. It would be a phenomenal task to locate a shrine in northern India that pre-dated the eighteenth century.
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2. On page 60, in the NOTES section, the author has mentioned the following:
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Certain academic circles no longer mention the demolition of twenty-seven Jain and Hindu temples to make the Quwwat-ul-Islam mosque. Rather, they describe the mosque as constructed of “recycled architectural components ─ notably carved stone columns from Hindu and Jain temples ─ from earlier Indic buildings.”
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3. On page 198, in the NOTES section, the author has mentioned the following:
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A farman of Aurangzeb, dated 20th November 1665, contained several discriminatory regulations against Hindus. It stated that on the pancham, amawas, and ekadashi, Hindus closed their shops early. The Emperor directed that the shops be always kept open. Further on Holi “they open their tongue with foul speech,” and light the Holi fire in every chakla and bazaar. Mughal officers were ordered to make sure that Hindus did not light the bazaars on Diwali, and did not throw sticks into the Holi fire. The farman also mentioned that some potters sold clay images of horses and elephants on Id, Shab-i-Barat, and on the days of the Urs. Such clay images were prohibited.
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Jain’s writing is both accessible and engaging, making complex historical themes approachable for a general audience while still satisfying more scholarly readers. Her critical analysis of colonial and post-colonial narratives surrounding temples adds depth to the discussion, encouraging readers to reflect on the ongoing significance of these structures in contemporary India.
Overall, "Flight of Deities and Rebirth of Temples" is an enlightening read that offers a fresh lens on Indian history. It invites readers to appreciate the enduring legacy of temples not just as religious sites but as integral components of India’s cultural fabric. Jain’s work is a valuable addition to the discourse on history, religion, and identity in India, making it a must-read for anyone interested in understanding the complexities of Indian heritage.
I give this book 4.5/5.
The book is available only in Hardcover format and at the time of recording this review, it is NOT available Kindle and Audible formats. And I recommend that you buy the book from the publishers website i.e. AryanBooks.com as it is cheaper and the packaging is very good. I have given the respective buy links in the show notes. Please check them out for the latest prices.
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