(Behind) The Story Of Somnath Jyotirlinga Temple - In Prabhas Kshetra

"Somnath Jyotirlinga Temple"

सौराष्ट्रदेशे विशदेऽतिरम्ये, ज्योतिर्मयं चंद्रकलावसंतम् ।

भक्तिप्रदानाय कृतावतीर्णं, तं सोमनाथं शरणं प्रपघे ।।

Once upon a Time

in Prabhas Kshetra

         The holy place Prabhas Kshetra popularly as Somnath Patan or Prabhas Patan. Historically named Dev Patan.

                   At that place, Somnath jyotirlinga was established Which is one of the others twelve adi jyotirlingas of India. Somnath temple is most an important pilgrimage and tourists spot of Gujarat.

           It is situated on the Sea shor of Saurashtra region about 7 km south of Veraval village of Gir Somnath district in Saurashtra region of Gujarat state of India. Historically old and the holy place Somnath located on Triveni Sangam of three rivers Kapila, Hiren and Saraswati from ancient time.

Somnath Jyotirlinga Temple

Gujarati : સોમનાથ જ્યોતિર્લિંગ મંદિર

Hindi : सोमनाथ ज्योतिर्लिंग मंदिर

Location : Veraval

State : Gujarat

Country : India

Completed : 1951 (Present structure)

Type : Hindu Temple Architecture
Festival : MahaShivratri

Somnath Temple (1951)

-: Satyug :-

Lord shiva relived Chandra Dev from the curse of decay, Chandra Dev had built a golden temple at Somnath.

-: Tretayug :-

Ravana renovated Somnath temple by Silver.

-: Dwaparayug :-

Lord Krishna rebuilt Somnath temple by the sandalwood.

-: 13 November 1947 :-

Sardar Patel swore and ordered reconstruction of Somnath temple.

-: 11 May 1951 :-

Finally The work was finished and completed the installation ceremony by Dr. Rajendra Prasad.

Light and Sound Show, Somnath Temple

"Somnath is name find in ancient literature like Shreemad Bhagavat Geeta, Skand puran, Shiv puran, Rigveda which signifies the importance of the Somnath temple."

          Somnath means the lord Soma and lord Nath, The meaning of Soma is Chandra dev (lord Moon) and The meaning of Nath is Devon ke Dev Mahadev (lord Shiva). Here, One spiritual story behind it.

            Daksha Prajapati was son of Brahmaji and Prajapati of world. He had 27 daughters, Who all had married with Chandra dev, but All the attention and love of Chandra dev was only for Rohini. Due to this act, Daksha's other daughters was very unhappy. They narrated this story to their father. Daksha explained to Chandra dev many time on this topic. But He not understood due to the blind love toward Rohini.

            Chandra dev continued on his act then Daksha became enraged and cursed him to decay. He immediately started to decay due to the curse, His work coolness spread over the earth stopped for the curse. He was very sad and worried about the curse. All the gods and sages heard his prayer and went to Brahmji for his salvation. After heard to all conversation to gods Brahmji said, Chandra dev should go to the holy place Prabhas Kshetra and pray Mrityunjaya lord Shiva with all the gods and sages for release the curse. His curse will be surely destroyed by their grace and He will be diseased.

          According to their advice, Chandra dev severe penance and completed all the tasks of worshipping Mrityunjaya lord Shiva. Pleased by this, Mrityunjaya lord Shiva granted him the boon of immortality and said, Chandra dev! do not worried, You will be saved by my boon, as well as The words of Prajapati daksha will be also protected.

        Every day, every one of Your art will decrease in Krishna paksha but each of Your art will increase again in Shukla paksha. In this way, every full moon You will get moonlight. Due to get the boon to Chandra Dev by lord Shiva, All the people with world were happy. After again His coolness spread to each part of the earth. After getting out of the curse, Chandra dev along other gods prayed to lord Shiva that He along with mata Parvatiji should live here forever for the solvation of life. lord Shiva agreed with their prayer and stayed there as a Jyotirlinga with mata Parvatiji.

Lord Shiva as Jyotirlinga with Mata Parvatiji

         Soma is one of the other names of Chandra dev, He worshipped lord Shiva and accepted as nath or swami. Due to this reason, That holy place Prabhas Kshetra famous as Somnath.

"The Somnath temple was destroyed several times by the Muslim Ruler King, But After some time reconstructed many times by everyone's faith."

              The Somnath temple is believed to have been built for first time in unknown time in the past. The second temple is said to have been built at same place by the Yadava king Vallabhi around 643 CE, which was destroyed in 725 CE by the Arab king Al-junayd during his invasion on Gujarat. After a few years, The Gujarat king Nagabhata already knew importance of this tirthast temple, Which was reconstructed by him for the third time during 815 CE, Again destroyed it by Al-Junayd during his invasion. There is not available of historical record of an attacks on Somnath by Al-junayd. The Chalukya Solanki king Mularaja again reconstructed it at same site shortly before 997 CE.

          In 1024 CE, During the reign of Bhima, Muslim ruler king Mahmud Ghazni attacked Gujarat, destroyed the Jyotirlinga along with the temple and looted the gold or jewelery of the temple and killed about 25000 innocent people. Following this attack, After 70 years in 1093 this temple was reconstructed by King Jaysingh and The Solanki king Kumarapala redecorated of temple with gold and jewels in 1168.

        During 1299, Again Muslim Ruler Alauddin khilji attacked Gujarat led by his senapati Nusrat khan against to Solanki king Karna, Again destroyed jyotirlinga and looted the temple. Several times, The Muslim Rulers went to delhi taken with many idols from Somnath temple, then aim of revenge Khengar king of Saurashtra attacked on Muslim sultanate of delhi near Jalore and retrieved one of them.

"This chain of reconstruction and destruction continued many times in the coming years."

          In 1308, The temple was reconstructed by Mahipala king of Chudasama dynasty of Saurashtra region. The lingam was installed by his son Khengara sometime between 1331 and 1351. In 1395, The temple was destroyed by Zafar Khan, the founder of Gujarat sultanate. Again in 1451, it was destroyed by Mahmud Begada, the Sultan of Gujarat. Mughal emperor Aurangzeb destroyed the temple many times until 1665. In 1702, He ordered that if hindus continued worship there, the temple should be completely demolished.

           Before Independence, The ruler of Junagadh state left his kingdom and moved to Pakistan in 1947. When Sardar Patel visited the state of Junagadh with the army of India, He saw that the Somnath temple was completely destroyed in the Muslim Sultanate. He swore on the site that Somnath temple reconstruction work start in coming time.

Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, The first Deputy Prime Minister of India

          After Independence, The Deputy Prime Minister Sardar Patel came to Junagadh on 12 November 1947 and ordered the reconstruction of Somnath temple. He was death on 1950, After his death reconstruction work continued under K.M.Munshi. It completed in 11 May 1951. After K.M.Munshi invited Dr. Rajendra Prasad the first President of the Republic of India and performed the installation ceremony of the temple.

"The Somnath Temple indicates that the power of reconstruction always greater than the power of destruction."

        Today Somnath is the most popular and important tourist destination for India. It is possibly the most preferred place and tops the list of tourists.

In Morning Time, Somnath Temple

In Morning - 7am, Prabhat Aarti

In Noon - 12pm, Aprahan Aarti

In Evening - 7pm, Sandhya Aarti

In Evening - 8pm, Light and Sound Show

In Evening Time, Somnath Temple

           If You want to choose Gujarat as a vacation traveling place, Please don't forget to visit at Somnath Jyotirlinga Temple. I suggest you, Minimum one day spend here from Morning prayer to Evening light and sound show. It's open from 6 am to 9 pm. Before You visit at this temple, please know about something it's history Which is depends on your interest.

Somnath Jyotirlinga Temple, Near Saurashtra coast, Veraval, Gujarat, India

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