Somnath temple

 श्री सोमनाथ महादेव मंदिर,

प्रथम ज्योतिर्लिंग - गुजरात (सौराष्ट्र)

दिनांकः 14 दिसंबर 2023, मार्गशीर्ष शुक्ल द्वितीया - गुरूवार 

प्रातः शृंगार

The Somnath temple

The intricately carved honey-coloured Somnath temple on the western edge of the state is believed to be the place where the first of the twelve holy jyotirlingas emerged in India – a spot where Shiva appeared as a fiery column of light. 

According to popular mythology, the Moon God erected Somnath Mahadev Temple to express appreciation to Lord Shiva. The temple is constructed in the Chalukya style, with several pillars, however Jain architectural features may be found in certain places.

The temples lies at the meeting of Kapila, Hiran and Sarasvati rivers and the waves of the Arabian Sea ebb and flow touching the shore on which it is constructed. 

The ancient temple’s timeline can be traced from 649 BC but is believed to be older than that. The present form was reconstructed in 1951. Colourful dioramas of the Shiva story line the north side of the temple garden, though it’s hard to see them through the hazy glass. A one-hour sound-and-light show in Amitabh Bachchan’s baritone highlights the temple nightly at 7.45pm.

Brief History: It’s said that Somraj (the moon god) first built a temple in Somnath, made of gold; this was rebuilt by Ravana in silver, by Krishna in wood and by Bhimdev in stone. The current serene, symmetrical structure was built to traditional designs on the original coastal site: it’s painted a creamy colour and boasts a little fine sculpture. The large, black Shiva lingam at its heart is one of the 12 most sacred Shiva shrines, known as jyotirlinga.

A description of the temple by Al-Biruni, an Arab traveller, was so glowing that it prompted a visit in 1024 by a most unwelcome tourist – the legendary looter Mahmud of Ghazni from Afghanistan. 

At that time, the temple was so wealthy that it had 300 musicians, 500 dancing girls and even 300 barbers. Mahmud of Ghazni took the town and temple after a two-day battle in which it’s said 70,000 defenders died. Having stripped the temple of its fabulous wealth, Mahmud destroyed it. 

So began a pattern of destruction and rebuilding that continued forcenturies. The temple was again razed in 1297, 1394 and finally in 1706 by Aurangzeb, the Mughal ruler. After that, the temple wasn’t rebuilt until 1950.

The present Somnath Temple was reconstructed in the Māru-Gurjara style of Hindu temple architecture.

Standing tall on the shores of the Arabian Sea, the temple is an architectural wonder, showcasing beautiful Māru-Gurjara style of architecture. It was on the orders of the first Deputy Prime Minister of India Vallabhbhai Patel that the reconstruction of the temple took place.

A hub of spirituality seekers
The place is a hub for spirituality seekers. Being one of the Jyotirlinga temples, it is visited by lakhs of devotees every year. It is believed that these 12 Jyotirlingas are self-manifested and are symbolic of Shiva’s eternal power.