Prahladpuri Temple

The temple stands on the ruins of pre-Muslim structures.[2] There were older temples on the site which were razed before being re-constructed or refurbished during the medieval era — however, the precise details are hazy in light of conflicting chronicles and legends.[2] Originally, the place might have had housed the famed Sun-temple of Multan.[3][lower-alpha 1]

One version of oral legend hold that a temple— a columnar structure with the roof and columns made of pure gold—used to exist around the 15th century before being dismantled by Sher Shah Suri to construct a mosque.[2] The new temple was constructed, when this mosque fell down.[2][lower-alpha 2] Another account published in Calcutta Review (1891) invokes the same description of the pre-existing temple but here, it had sank in the ground of "unknown causes" necessitating the construction of present structure.[4]

In 1810, the height of the temple was significantly raised (or, was the temple rebuilt - ?), which led to tensions with the Muslim community.[5][2] Alexander Burnes, during his visit in 1831, noted the temple to be a structure of low height, supported by wooden pillars and having Hanuman and Ganesha as portal-guardians; he was denied entrance.[2][6] It was remarked to be the only place of Hindu worship in Multan.[2][6] An annual festival used to be held in the premises on the anniversary of Narasimha's appearance.[7]

During the 1848 Siege of Multan, a shell fired by forces of East India Company fell on a gunpowder store within the fort and blew away the roof of the temple.[7][8] Post-siege, the East India Company retained total control of the fort and all adjoining areas (incl. shrines) for some years before returning them back to native communities, upon a petition.[2] A condition was imposed in August, 1852 to the effect of disallowing Hindus to approach the temple via precincts of Zakariya's shrine in lieu of being allowed to refurbish the temple.[2] Alexander Cunningham, visiting the site in 1854, found the temple to be a roofless "square brick building with some very finely carved wooden pillars", and the only Hindu shrine in Multan alongside Suraj Kund.[2][7] In 1859, another mutual agreement was reached upon by both communities to not incorporate conspicuous additions to either site.[2]

Two years later, the Chief Mahant of the temple, Baba Ram Das raised about Rs.11,000 by way of public donation and refurbished the temple.[2] In the early 1870s, Baba Narayan Das proposed to raise the height of the temple-spire to 44 ft —which was more than that of the adjoining shrine— with donations from Thakur Dawara Fateh Chand Tanksalia and other Hindu citizens.[2] This was opposed by local Muslims as a breach of the 1859-agreement, fomenting an acrimonious dispute.[2][lower-alpha 3] The local administration had to intervene and the issue was decided in favor of the Muslims; an agreement enacted on 14 April 1876 restricted the height to 33 ft.[2] However, the Hindus were not content and sought for scopes to get it vacated.

In August 1880, the Mahant finally obtained consent from local civil and military authority to install the 45 ft. spire, as planned.[9] Constructions went on for about three months, before the Mahdoom of the tomb moved a petition against the construction before Cordery, the Commissioner of Multan.[9] Cordery investigated the dispute and based on his reports, Lt. Governor Egerton decided to not only reinstate the limit of spire-height at 33 ft. but also asked Hindus to cede with possession of the compound well and a piece of land.[9] This led to the Hindus appealing for a reversal before Viceroy Ripon.[9][lower-alpha 4]

C. August 1881, a committee composed of six people each from both camps was set up to arrive at a compromise.[9] Before their discussions went anywhere, the town got enmeshed with the communal tensions fomenting across Punjab against the backdrop of Arya Samaj's cow-protectionist movements.[10][11] The question of transport to, and sale of beef in Multan town turned into an affair of competitive communalism.[9]

On 20 September 1881, a riot erupted and spanned over two days, resulting in 50,000 rupees worth of damage; no lives were lost.[10][12] Hindu rioters burned a mosque in the city's bazaar, attacked the Walli Muhammadi Mosque, and burned a Quran.[13] A Muslim mob retaliated about 2 hours later, arsoning the Prahladpuri temple in particular.[13] The entire contingent of British troops from Multan Cantonment had to be dispatched to control the mobs.[12] On 29 October, the Government finally decided to not dismantle the spire but as a compensation, granted the sole possession of well and ownership of a nearby land to the Muslims.[14]

The temple was quickly renovated by the Hindu community and continued to be managed by them.[15]

In the early morning of 7 November 1912, unknown miscreants removed an image of Lakshmi and threw it in a nearby well, after stealing the crown; local Muslims were blamed by the Hindus.[16] On 23 January 1913, the incumbent Mahant was removed by a Panchayat of Hindus in what led to protracted litigation.[lower-alpha 5] In 1930, Times of India reported a mass-congregation of Hindus and Muslims, who gathered from Prahladpuri Temple and Multan Eidgah respectively, on the occasion of Peshawar Day to partake in a hartal against the British government.[17]

After the creation of Pakistan, most Hindus migrated to the newly independent Republic of India but the affairs of temple continued to be managed by the few remaining Hindus of city.[1] However, the management was soon taken over by the Evacuee Trust Property Board (henceforth, ETPB) in whose hands, it fell into a state of neglect; a madrasa got established inside the temple premises.[18][19]

Despite, the building continued to be a prominent landmark in Multan and even, a dharamshala was opened adjacent to the site.[2]

In 1992, the temple (as well as the dharamshala) was destroyed by a Muslim mob in retaliation for the destruction of Babri Masjid in Ayodhya, India; local Hindus associated with the temple were also targeted.[1][2] It has been in ruins ever since.[2] As of 2006, lower levels have been occupied by squatters and garbage is regularly dumped at the site.[2] A survey authorized by the Ministry of Culture determined a risk of imminent collapse of all remnant structures.[2]

In May 2015, ETPB announced its plans to restore the temple and in August, granted a fund of 5 million PKR to Punjab Archeology Department for the purpose.[20][21]

In December 2020, a one-man commission was established by the Supreme Court of Pakistan to interrogate into the status of minority religious shrines.[22] The report was submitted in February, urging for the immediate restoration of Prahladpuri Temple along with three other temples (a bevy of policy-changes were proposed as well); accordingly, Chief Justice Gulzar Ahmed ordered the State of Punjab as well as ETPB to ensure optimum preparedness of the shrine for Holi festival.[22][23][24]

Soon afterwards, the Multan government and other local bodies announced plans to restore the temple as part of a broader project in ensuring religious harmony.[25][26][27][28]