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Since the time of Mahammad
Ghori,Orissa was raided several times by the Muslims, but the Hindu kings of
Orissa could resist them definitely for a longer period.The Hindus were aware
that it would be rather impossible for them to tackle with such a warrior
nation and to drive them permanently out of their their country.Still they went
on taking aggrasive parts in such a way,that they could delay the Muslim
occupation in Orissa,for about two centuries more.
By the middle of the 13th century,when the Muslims had conquered the whole of
the northern India and most parts of neighbouring Bengal,there was hardly any
power which could check their advance and it was thought that the Hindu Kingdom
of Orissa would soon be overrun by them.At that time Narasimhadeva I started
taking the offensive against them.
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After the death of Sultan Iltutmish,in 1236 A.D.,the throne of Delhi remained week for sometime,when
Nasiruddin Mahammad succeeded him and appointed one Tughan Khan,a Governor of
Bengal.A great fight took place between the Muslim army,under the said Tughan
Khan and Narasimhadeva I,at Katasin,in the year 1243 A.D.,where the former were
completely defeted and ran away.The heavy loss of lives in this war was so
severe. Narasimhadeva's victory in this war must have enormously enhanced his prestige in the eyes of
the contemporary Hindu Kings and as such,he wanted to build a temple to
represent both,a shrine and a Kirti-Stambha(victory-memorial) to commemorate
his victory according to his royal status and prestige.
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Narasimhadeva was no doubt a great
conqueror,mighty builder and a lover of art.The temple of Sun which he built,is
one of his immortal achievements,and even in its present ruined state,still a
wonder to the whole world.
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