सोमनाथ बारह ज्योतिर्लिंगों में पहला है। चंद्रदेव ने यहाँ शिव जी की तपस्या कर दक्ष के श्राप से मुक्ति पाई। इतिहास में यह मंदिर कई बार तोड़ा गया, पर हर बार फिर से बना। आज का मंदिर 1951 में तैयार हुआ।
Where the Arabian Sea meets the coast of Saurashtra, the temple of Somnath glows golden every evening. It is the first of the twelve Jyotirlingas — and perhaps the most powerful symbol in India of faith that refuses to be broken.
Why "Somnath"?
The legend says the Moon god, Soma (Chandra), married 27 daughters of Daksha Prajapati but loved only Rohini. Angry, Daksha cursed him to waste away. Chandra came to Prabhas Patan and worshipped Shiva here; Shiva reduced the curse, so the moon now waxes and wanes. In gratitude, Chandra built a temple to Somnath — the Lord of Soma.
Destroyed, rebuilt, destroyed again
Somnath was famous for its wealth and beauty. In 1025–26 CE, Mahmud of Ghazni attacked and looted it. Over the following centuries the temple was damaged and rebuilt several times by rulers and devotees. Each time it was attacked, people came back and raised it again.
The temple of free India
After Independence, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel visited the ruins in 1947 and resolved to rebuild Somnath. The new temple, in the Chalukya (Kailash Mahameru Prasad) style, was consecrated in 1951, with President Dr Rajendra Prasad performing the pran pratishtha. A statue of Sardar Patel stands at the entrance today.
The Baan Stambh mystery
On the sea wall stands the Baan Stambh — an arrow pillar. Its Sanskrit inscription says that in a straight line from this point to the South Pole there is no land — only ocean. Visitors are amazed that such knowledge was recorded here.
The Baan Stambh shows that ancient Indians knew the shape of the Earth and the oceans in detail.
Maps confirm there is no major landmass on the straight line due south from Somnath to Antarctica. The age of the pillar and inscription is debated by historians.
- Location
- Prabhas Patan, Veraval, Gujarat
- Aarti
- Morning, noon and evening aarti daily
- Evening
- Sound and light show by the sea
- Nearby
- Bhalka Tirth, Triveni Sangam, Gita Mandir
Questions
Why is Somnath called the first Jyotirlinga?
It is listed first among the twelve Jyotirlingas in the traditional Dwadash Jyotirlinga stotra.
When was the present Somnath temple built?
It was consecrated in 1951, with President Dr Rajendra Prasad performing the ceremony.
What is the Baan Stambh?
An arrow pillar on the sea wall whose inscription says there is no land in a straight line from there to the South Pole.
