Somnath Temple

The Somnath temple, dedicated to Shiv ji, is located in Prabhas Patan near Veraval on the western coast of Gujarat, the nearby towns being Junagarh and Porbandar. This temple features in both the Shiv Puran and the Skand Puran and is believed to be the first among the twelve jyotirling shrines of Shiv; the ling existing from time immemorial and remaining for eternity. However, the names are different in each kalp (the lifespan of one Brahma, with a successor in the next kalp). In this, the seventh kalp, the present Brahma is Shatanand and the Ling is known as Somnath. The names of the shivling in the six earlier kalps were Mrityunjay, Kalagnirudra, Amritesh, Annamay, Kritiwas and Bhairav Nath

The exquisite Somnath temple

Sunset at Somnath temple

Somnath has been a pilgrimage site from ancient times – it is a Triveni sangam (the meeting of three rivers — Kapila, Hiran and Sarasvati) and stands facing the Arabian Sea. Incidentally birth /death at Prabhas Patan is said to lead to salvation. The name of the town Prabhas, means lustre.

The Arabian Sea behind the Somnath temple, as seen from the adjacent Sagar Darshan Atithigruh.

Sagar Darshan Atithigruh maintained by the Somnath Trust

It is believed that this temple was built by the Moon God (also known as Som) after Shiv ji relieved him from a curse given by his father-in-law, Daksh. (Incidentally Daksh was the father of Sati – the first wife of Shiv ji). The story goes that Som, the Moon God, was married to 27 of Daksh’s daughters but showed partially towards one of them – Rohini. Despite being counselled, he did not mend his ways and was cursed by Daksh to become weak and devoid of radiance - his lustre waned. After penance and prays to Shivji / chanting of the Mahamritunjay mantra and bathing in the Sarasvati River at this site, Shivji diluted Daksh’s curse resulting in the fortnightly waxing and waning of the moon.

Som then got the temple built through Vishwakarma (the architect of the gods). The principal temple of Somnath is believed to have been built in gold by the moon god Som, in silver by the sun god Ravi, in sandal wood by Krishna and thereafter in stone.
Tales of its riches attracted several foreign invasions such as by Mohammad Ghazni, but each time the temple was plundered and destroyed, it was restored to its original glory by devout Hindu worshipers. 

A closer view of Somnath temple during the day.

Post-Independence, the present (seventh) reconstruction on the original site, was envisioned by Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, and completed in May 1951 under K. M. Munshi, the then head of the temple trust architecture. Dr. Rajendra Prasad, did the Pran-Pratisthan. The temple's imposing architecture includes intricate carvings, silver doors, an impressive Nandi idol and the central shivling.

Outside the Somnath temple