Sikandar Butshikan

Sikandar Butshikan ("Sikander the iconoclast") was the second Sultan of the Sayyid Dynasty of Kashmir 1389-1413 CE. During the Sayyid dynasty Islam was firmly established in Kashmir and his rule has been considered controversial by many due to his radical Islamization policy in Kashmir.

"In those days he promoted a Brahmin, named Seeva Dew Bhut, to the office of prime minister, who embracing theMahomedan faith, became such a persecutor of Hindus that he induced Sikundur to issue orders proscribing the residenceof any other than Mahomedans in Kashmeer; and he required that no man should wear the mark on his forehead (Tilak), or anywoman be permitted to burn with her husband’s corpse (Sati). Lastly, he insisted on all golden and silver images being broken and melted down, and the metal coined into money. Many of the Brahmins, rather than abandon their religion or their country, poisoned themselves; some emigrated from their native homes, while a few escaped the evil of banishment by becomingMahomedans. After the emigration of the Brahmins, Sikundur ordered all the temples in Kashmeer to be thrown down; amongwhich was one dedicated to Maha Dew, in the district of Punjhuzara, which they were unable to destroy, in consequence ofits foundation being below the surface of the neighbouring water. But the temple dedicated to Jug Dew was levelled with theground; (...) but Sikundur (...) did not desist till the building was entirely razed to the ground, and its foundations dug up. In another place in Kashmeer was a temple built by Raja Bulnat, the destruction of which was attended with a remarkableincident. (....) Having broken all the images in Kashmeer, he acquired the title of the Iconoclast, ‘Destroyer of Idols’." [(Muhammad Qãsim Hindû Shãh Firishta : Tãrîkh-i-Firishta, translated by John Briggs under the title History of the Rise ofthe Mahomedan Power in India, first published in 1829, New Delhi Reprint 1981)]

"He [Sikandar] prohibited all types of frugal games. Nobody dared commit acts which were prohibited by the Sharia. The Sultãn was constantly busy in annihilating the infidels and destroyed most of the temples... [(Haidar Malik Chãdurãh: Tãrîkh-i-Kashmîr; edited and translated into English by Razia Bano, Delhi, 1991, p. 55.)] he strived to destroy the idols and temples of the infidels. He demolished the famous temple of Mahãdeva at Bahrãre. The temple was dug out from its foundations and the hole (that remained) reached the water level. Another temple at Jagdar was also demolished… Rãjã Alamãdat had got a big temple constructed at Sinpur. (...) the temple was destroyed [by Sikandar] . [(Khwãjah Nizãmu’d-Dîn Ahmad bin Muhammad Muqîm al-Harbî: Tabqãt-i-Akbarî translated by B. De, Calcutta, 1973)] Sikander burnt all books the same wise as fire burns hay. All the scintillating works faced destruction in the same manner that lotus flowers face with the onset of frosty winter." [(Srivara, Zaina Rajtarangini)]

Not to be confused with Sikandar Lodhi, Sultan of Delhi.

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