Hindu Temples: What Happened to Them

Hindu Temples: What Happened to Them is a two-volume work published in 1990 by Sita Ram Goel and several co-authors. The books present historical documentation about the conversion of Hindu religious sites into Islamic structures during medieval times. Volume one contains a catalog of 2,000 mosques that were allegedly constructed on former Hindu temple sites, with evidence drawn from Islamic historical records and architectural inscriptions. Volume two provides extensive excerpts from medieval chronicles and historical documents that detail the transformation of Hindu, Buddhist, and Jain religious structures. The work includes specific analysis of the Ayodhya controversy and documents religious site destructions in Bangladesh. It challenges established academic interpretations of Indian religious history and directly confronts several prominent historians of the period. The books represent a significant contribution to the ongoing scholarly debate about religious conflict and architectural heritage in South Asian history, though their methodology and conclusions remain subjects of academic discussion.

Readers note the book presents detailed historical documentation about temple destruction in medieval India. Many reviews commend the extensive research and citations, with one Goodreads reviewer highlighting that "every claim is backed by multiple Islamic sources." Positive reviews focus on: - Thorough documentation and primary sources - Systematic analysis of historical records - Clear writing style - Inclusion of original texts and translations Critical reviews mention: - Political bias in interpretations - Selective use of sources - Confrontational tone - Lack of broader historical context Average ratings: Goodreads: 4.4/5 (124 ratings) Amazon India: 4.6/5 (489 reviews) Several readers on Amazon note the book can be dense and academic. Multiple Goodreads reviews suggest reading Volume 1 before Volume 2 for better context. Some reviewers caution that the content may be emotionally challenging for readers, with one noting it required "several breaks to process the historical events described."

Breaking India by Rajiv Malhotra Documents the historical and contemporary forces working to destabilize India's religious and cultural unity through external influences.

Negationism in India by Koenraad Elst Chronicles the systematic denial and minimization of historical religious conflicts in Indian historiography.

The Story of Islamic Imperialism in India by Sita Ram Goel Examines the impact of Islamic conquest on Indian civilization from the 8th to 18th centuries through historical records and primary sources.

Indian Muslims: Who Are They by K.S. Lal Presents demographic data and historical analysis of religious conversion patterns in the Indian subcontinent from medieval times to modern era.

The Calcutta Quran Petition by Sita Ram Goel Details the legal and social implications of a historic court case regarding religious texts and their interpretation in modern India.

1. 🏛️ The book identifies over 2,000 specific cases of Hindu temples that were either converted or demolished between the years 1000-1800 CE, making it one of the most comprehensive catalogs of its kind. 2. 📚 Author Sita Ram Goel worked on this project for over two decades, collaborating with historians Ram Swarup, Arun Shourie, and Jay Dubashi to compile primary source materials from medieval texts. 3. 🗿 Volume 1 focuses on architectural analysis and documentation, while Volume 2 contains translations of medieval Persian chronicles that describe temple transformations and demolitions. 4. 🏰 Many temples documented in the book show evidence of multiple architectural styles layered upon each other, revealing complex histories of destruction, reconstruction, and modification over centuries. 5. 📖 The research presented in these volumes has influenced India's Archaeological Survey policies regarding the documentation and preservation of historical religious structures.