rare book society is doing noble work

A saying goes re founding of Ahmedabad: Jab Kutte pe Sassa (rabbit) dauda, Ahmed Shah ne nagar basaya.

Happy New Year Sbbiah and friends ...be back soon !

Subbiah !

ONCE UPON A TIME THERE WAS A BEAUTIFUL CITY .... Let me tell you the story of a beautiful city state. This city was built on the banks of a sacred river. So rich and bountiful was the harvest that was nurtured by the waters of this river that the river itself was named "Sabarmati" meaning "The provider of nectar". Along the banks of this river many sacred spots of pilgrimage flourished. The presiding deity of this rich and beautiful city was Devi Bhadrakali, the divine protectress of good Karma. The people in and around this city were such devout Hindus that they built thousands of temples and shrines dedicated to the divine couple Lord Shiva and Devi. Nowhere else was the nine day festival of Devi, the "NavaRatri" celebrated with such pomp and splendor. Colorful Garbas to the accompaniment of Bhajans filled the air. Intricate carvings, sumptuous embroidered cloths, jewelry, foodstuffs, cotton, precious stones all added to the wealth of the city, which soon became famous for its tradition of trade or business. Lord Kartikeya, the son of the divine couple himself was moved to visit this place, when he heard accounts of the spiritual depth and beauty of this city and its citizens. The grand wise sages, the Sapta Rishis too came to visit the city and stayed at a spot where Sabarmati merged with six other rivers in a place called the Sapta sangam meaning “The Union of Seven Rivers". It was here that young Lord Krishna rested on his way to the famous Shiva temple of Siddhanath for his "Mundan" (tonsure) ceremony. It was here that the Pandavas rested on their way to the "Swayamvara" competition near the ancient Trinetreshwar Mahadeva Temple of Panchal Pradesh. That was where the heroic Arjuna of the Mahabharata won the competition that won Draupadi for the Pandavas. Such was the resplendent and sacred heritage of this ancient city known as Ashaval, Rajnagar or Karnavati. Today that city is called Ahmedabad. Karnavati's name was changed to "Ahmedabad" in honor of a monster by the name of Sultan Ahmed Shah who came to rob and desecrate this beautiful city in 1411. Overnight the thousands of books and manuscripts which spoke of the wondrous Karnavati were burnt to ashes and its identity desecrated to Ahmedabad-"City of Ahmed" in an obscene gesture of assertion of power. Sultan Ahmed Shah, the devout Muslim that he was, swore to destroy all traces of "Kafir".In 1414, Ahmed Shah appointed officers to break the idols and strip the riches off every Hindu temple in the vicinity.In 1415, Sultan Ahmed Shah himself went to Siddhapur to break the Shiva shrine of Rudra mahalaya of Siddharaj. The broken pieces were buried under foot at the entrance and the vast and beautiful Temple was converted into a Mosque. The ancient Bhadrakali Temple at the heart of Karnavati was desecrated completely. Idols of the Devi were crushed and broken and buried under the door step. Tantric patterns which decorated the friezes and pillars were chipped off. The golden ceiling which was lined with rubies, emeralds, sapphires, diamonds and jade was stripped completely. The Sanctum Sanctorum where throne pedestals once held images of the benevolent and glorious goddess was converted into a graveyard. The thrones of the Goddess were used as gravestones. One of the rising spires of the roof was broken off as it was completely covered with carvings of various Shaktis. And since that day the Bhadrakali temple of Karnavati was changed to the Jama Masjid of Ahmedabad. The walled fortresses and palaces, the Hindu towers which were engineering marvels that shook, the local specialty of incredibly intricate carving skill, the artisanship of stone cutting, the vast Baolis where accountants sat amidst the breeze cooled by the sweet waters of the well, all of these were snatched and converted to Mosques and Muslim palaces for the pleasure of the Sultan's court. Thousands of the Hindu citizens of Karnavati were massacred or enslaved. Rani Sipri and Rupmati both of who were local princesses were forcibly kidnapped, raped and thrown into Harems. To this day their temple palaces are known by their names, but sadly referred to as Mosques. Muslims soon filled the entire walled fortress area of the city which used to be called "Bhadra" in reference to BhadraKali. The disillusioned Hindus of Ahmedabad had no choice but to reconcile themselves to living with their neighbors.

@Pulin :Ahmed re-built the city he himself desecrated !! & The saying must have been started by his own court-poets ...

@Aditya Mittal very true! Same is the case with Aurangabad, Hyderabad, bijapur etc.