Question

Which Sultan of Delhi had plundered the famous Jagannath temple of Puri?
A) Balban
B) Raziya
C) Firoz Shah Tughlaq
D) Mohammad Bin Tughlaq

Answer 1

Hint: One of the Char Dham pilgrimage destinations, the Jagannath Temple is located in the eastern coastal city of Puri in Odisha. It is a significant Hindu temple that is devoted to Lord Jagannath which is a manifestation of Sri Krishna. There is a unique admiration for the Jagannath Temple at Puri among Vaishnavas and other Hindu sects.

Complete answer:
Puri’s Jagannath temple is a major Vaishnava pilgrimage centre in India and the temple's main shrine was constructed in the tenth century by Anantavarman of the Chodaganga dynasty, making it one of the oldest temples which are still in use.

Shrine chronicles such as the Madala Panji documents almost eighteen invasions and plunders of Puri's Jagannath temple. Jagannath temple and Kangra's Jwalamukhi temples were desecrated by Firoz Shah Tughlaq. Sultan He was the Sultan of Delhi from 1351 to 1388 and a ruler of the Tughlaq dynasty. Following his cousin Muhammad bin Tughlaq's death, he appointed as new ruler. In 1360, he invaded Jajnagar and tried to demolish the Jagannath Puri temple. The Sultan had projected his hatred with individuals of other faiths through his invasions.

Therefore the correct answer is option ‘C’.

Note: In addition around the year 1692, Mughal emperor Aurangzeb ordered the Jagannath temple to be sealed until the time he wished to reopen it and later he even ordered it to be demolished. The local Mughal authorities, who arrived to carry out the task ordered by Aurangzeb, were requested by the residents and the temple was just closed. It was only after Aurangzeb's death in 1707 that it was reopened for the public.