Prahladpuri Temple, Multan

The original temple of Prahladpuri is said to have been built by Prahlada, son of Hiranyakashipu, the king of Multan (Kashya-papura)[2] in honor of Narsing Avatar, an incarnation of Hindu deity Vishnu, who emerged from the pillar to save Prahlada.[3][4][5][6]

The Prahladpuri temple like the Sun Temple of Multan suffered several material losses and was reduced to a nondescript shrine by the 19th century. It is located on top of a raised platform inside the Fort of Multan, adjacent to tomb of Baha’ul Haq Zakariya.[6] A mosque has subsequently built adjacent to temple.[7]

In 1810, the height of the temple was significantly raised, which lead to tensions with the Muslim community.[8] The records suggested by Dr. A.N. Khan say that temple was once rebuilt in the decade of 1810,[6] when the area was under the rule of Sikhs. However, Alexander Burnes, who visited the temple in 1831, said that he found it deserted and without a roof. In his memoir "Travels into Bokhara", he describes the Pyladpooree temple as a low building supported by wooden pillars, with Hanuman and Ganesha as guardians to its portal. He further quotes "It is the only place of Hindoo worship in Mooltan; we were denied entrance to it".[9] Later, in year 1849, when British laid siege of Multan Fort against Mul Raj, a shell fired by British army fell on gunpowder store within the fort, thus destroying almost all of the fort except the mausoleums of Bahauddin Zakaria and his sons and the Prahladpuri temple complex.[10] Alexander Cunningham described this temple as it was seen in 1853 by him who wrote that: “It was a square brick building with some very finely carved wooden pillars for the support of the roof.[6][11]

The present temple was first built in 1861 by Mahant Bawl Ram Das at cost of Rs.11,000 by way of public donation[6] and again in 1872 by the subsequent Mahanta of Prahladpuri temple with donations from Thakur Dawara Fateh Chand Tanksalia and other Hindu citizens of Multan.

In 1881 while renovating the temple, a major dispute arose between Hindus & Muslims over the height of shikhara of the temple which was to be raised higher than the dome of the adjacent shrine of Bahauddin Zakariya, which was opposed by local Muslims.[12] Hindus also became vehemently opposed the sale of beef in the city, with the beef controversy eclipsing the temple controversy.[13]

On 20 September 1881, a communal riot erupted over the temple's height and sale of beef, resulting in 50,000 rupees worth of damage.[14] Hindu rioters burned a mosque in the city's bazaar and attacked the Walli Muhammadi Mosque and burned a Quran,[15] which was then retaliated for by a Muslim mob 2 hours later that then attacked Prahladpuri Temple and burnt it.[16]

The entire contingent of British troops from Multan Cantonment were called out to control the mobs.[17] However, the temple was renovated with funds raised by Hindu community of Multan and was managed by the community.[18]

After the creation of Pakistan, most Hindus migrated to the newly independent Republic of India and the affairs of temple were managed by minority Hindus of city. The original idols of Lord Narasimha were taken to India by Baba Narayan Das Batra from Multan at the time of independence in 1947. They are now placed in a temple at Haridwar.

In 1992, the temple was destroyed by a Muslim mob in retaliation for the destruction of Babri Masjid in Ayodhya, India by a Hindu mob who claimed the site was the exact location where Ram was born.[19][1]