<span style='color:red'>Destruction of Sri Krishna Janma Bhumi Temple</span> by Aurangzeb, which was then knows as Kesava Deva temple:
In Mathurá : a District Memoir, Frederic Salmon Growse writes:
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->In spite of the agreeable reminiscances which a man of Auragzeb's temperament must have cherished in connection with a place where an act of such unnatural perfidy must have been successfully accomplished, his fanaticism was not a whit mitigated in favour of the city of Mathura. In 1668, a local rebellion afforded him a fit pretext for a crusade against Hinduism.
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The ring leader of disturbances, a Jat by name of Kokila, who had plundered the Sadabad pargana, and was regarded as the instrument of Abd-un-Nabi's death, fell into the hands of the new Governor' deputy, Shaik Razi-ud-Din, and was sent to Agra and there executed. His son and daughter were both brought up as Mohammedans, and eventually the girl married Shah Kuli, and the boy, who had received the name of Fazil, became famous for his skills in reciting Kuran.
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A few months earlier, in February of the same year, during the fast of Ramazan, the time when religious bigotry would be most inflamed, AUrangzeb had descended in person on Mathura. The temple specially marked out for destruction was one built so recently as the reign of Jahangir, at a cost of 33 lakhs, by Bir Sinh Dev Bundela, of Urcha. Beyond all doubt this was the last of the famous shrines of Kesava Deva, of which further mention will be made hereafter.Â
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To judge from the author of the Mansir, its destruction was regarded as a death-blow to Hinduism. He writes in the following triumphant strain - "In a short time, with the help of numerous workmen, this seat of error was utterly broken down. Glory be to God, that so difficult an undertaking has been successfully accomplished in the present auspicious reign, wherein so many dens of heathenism and idoltary have been destroyed. Seeing the power of Islam and the efficacy of true religion, the proud Rajas felt their breath burning in their throats, and became as dumb as picture on a wall. The idols, large and small alike, all adorned with costly jewels, were carried away from the heathen shrines and taken to Agra, where they were buried, under the steps of Nawab Kudisa Begum's Mosque, so that people might trample upon them for ever."Â
It was from this event that Mathura was called Islamabad.
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Writing 'Report Of A Tour In Eastern Rajputana', in Annual Progress Report of Archaeological Survey Of India, 1882-83, Maj. General Cunningham writes about his study of the site of this temple:
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->...and in the following reign of Jahangir, the Raja of Urcha, Bir Singh Deo, who had won the emporar's favour, by assassinating Abul Fazl, was permitted to <b>re</b>build the temple of Kesava Dev, on the site of Katra. This is the temple which was seen by Tavernier in all its glory, about 40 yaers after it was finished. But some 12 or 15 years later, it was overthrown by Aurangzeb.Â
Mr. Growse fixes the date of the destruction of the great temple of Kesava Deva in February 1669, when Aurangzeb visited Mathura in person. In my second report written in 1862-63, I had already discovered that the temple was still standing in AD 1663, and I verified the charge against Aurangzeb by means of some inscriptions on the pavement slabs, which were recorded by Hindu pilgrims to the shrine of Kesava Ray. In relaying the pavement the Muhammadan architect was obliged to cut many of the slabs to make them fit into their new places. This was proved by several of the slabs bearing incomplete portions of Nagari inscriptions of a late date. One slab has, "...vat 1713, Phalgun," the initial Sam of Samvat having been cut off. Another slab has the name of Keso Ray, the rest being wanting, while a third bears the date of Samvat 1720. These dates are equivalent to 1656 and 1663; and as the latter is 5 years subsequent to the accession of Aurangzeb, it is certain that the Hindu temple was still standing at the beginning of his reign.
<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
In Mathurá : a District Memoir, Frederic Salmon Growse writes:
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->In spite of the agreeable reminiscances which a man of Auragzeb's temperament must have cherished in connection with a place where an act of such unnatural perfidy must have been successfully accomplished, his fanaticism was not a whit mitigated in favour of the city of Mathura. In 1668, a local rebellion afforded him a fit pretext for a crusade against Hinduism.
....
....
The ring leader of disturbances, a Jat by name of Kokila, who had plundered the Sadabad pargana, and was regarded as the instrument of Abd-un-Nabi's death, fell into the hands of the new Governor' deputy, Shaik Razi-ud-Din, and was sent to Agra and there executed. His son and daughter were both brought up as Mohammedans, and eventually the girl married Shah Kuli, and the boy, who had received the name of Fazil, became famous for his skills in reciting Kuran.
....
....
A few months earlier, in February of the same year, during the fast of Ramazan, the time when religious bigotry would be most inflamed, AUrangzeb had descended in person on Mathura. The temple specially marked out for destruction was one built so recently as the reign of Jahangir, at a cost of 33 lakhs, by Bir Sinh Dev Bundela, of Urcha. Beyond all doubt this was the last of the famous shrines of Kesava Deva, of which further mention will be made hereafter.Â
....
....
To judge from the author of the Mansir, its destruction was regarded as a death-blow to Hinduism. He writes in the following triumphant strain - "In a short time, with the help of numerous workmen, this seat of error was utterly broken down. Glory be to God, that so difficult an undertaking has been successfully accomplished in the present auspicious reign, wherein so many dens of heathenism and idoltary have been destroyed. Seeing the power of Islam and the efficacy of true religion, the proud Rajas felt their breath burning in their throats, and became as dumb as picture on a wall. The idols, large and small alike, all adorned with costly jewels, were carried away from the heathen shrines and taken to Agra, where they were buried, under the steps of Nawab Kudisa Begum's Mosque, so that people might trample upon them for ever."Â
It was from this event that Mathura was called Islamabad.
<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Writing 'Report Of A Tour In Eastern Rajputana', in Annual Progress Report of Archaeological Survey Of India, 1882-83, Maj. General Cunningham writes about his study of the site of this temple:
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->...and in the following reign of Jahangir, the Raja of Urcha, Bir Singh Deo, who had won the emporar's favour, by assassinating Abul Fazl, was permitted to <b>re</b>build the temple of Kesava Dev, on the site of Katra. This is the temple which was seen by Tavernier in all its glory, about 40 yaers after it was finished. But some 12 or 15 years later, it was overthrown by Aurangzeb.Â
Mr. Growse fixes the date of the destruction of the great temple of Kesava Deva in February 1669, when Aurangzeb visited Mathura in person. In my second report written in 1862-63, I had already discovered that the temple was still standing in AD 1663, and I verified the charge against Aurangzeb by means of some inscriptions on the pavement slabs, which were recorded by Hindu pilgrims to the shrine of Kesava Ray. In relaying the pavement the Muhammadan architect was obliged to cut many of the slabs to make them fit into their new places. This was proved by several of the slabs bearing incomplete portions of Nagari inscriptions of a late date. One slab has, "...vat 1713, Phalgun," the initial Sam of Samvat having been cut off. Another slab has the name of Keso Ray, the rest being wanting, while a third bears the date of Samvat 1720. These dates are equivalent to 1656 and 1663; and as the latter is 5 years subsequent to the accession of Aurangzeb, it is certain that the Hindu temple was still standing at the beginning of his reign.
<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->