Somanath Temple
Somnath – Prabhas Patan in Saurashtra, Gujarat.
Somnath at Somnath Patan, near Veraval in Gujarat is a pilgrimage center held in great reverence throughout India. Somnath is considered to be the first of the Dwadasa Jyotirlingas of Shiva. Somnath is situated on the south coast of Saurashtra.
The Skanda Purana, in a chapter on Prabhasa Khanda, describes Somnath. Legend has it that Shiva in the previous aeons was referred to as Mrityunjaya, Kaalagnirudra, Amritesa, Anamaya, Kritivasa and Bhairavanatha at Somnath.
Legend has it that the Kalabhairava Shivalinga (Bhairavanatha) at Prabhasa was worshipped by the moon, and hence Shiva here is referred to as Somnatha. The Skanda Purana describes the Sparsa Linga of Somnath as one bright as the sun, the size of an egg, lodged underground. The Mahabharata also refers to the Prabhasa Kshetra and the legend of the moon worshipping Shiva.
According to legend Moon was married to the 27 daughters of Daksha Prajapati but he was partial to Rohini and neglected the others. So Daksha got angry and cursed him to loose his brightness. Chandra came to Prabhasa with Rohini and worshiped the Sparsa Linga of Somnath. Pleased with his devotion Shiva blessed him to grow and shine in the bright half known as Shukla Paksha. As the moon regained his light here, this town came to be known as Prabhasa.
Ancient Indian Sscriptures say that the first Somnath Jyotirling Prana Pratistha was done on the auspicious third day of brighter half of Shravan month during the tenth Treta yug of Vaivswat Manvantar. According to the Vedic calculations the first temple was built 7,99,25,105 years ago as derived from the traditions of Prabhas Khand of Skand Puran.
According to the scripturs Moon had built a golden temple, followed by a silver temple by Ravana, Bhagvan Shree Krishna is believed to have built Somnath temple with Sandalwood.
It was repeatedly destroyed by the Islamic invaders but every time it was rebuilt.
The glory and wealth of Somnath was described by the Arab traveler Al Biruni, and his accounts prompted a visit by Mahmud of Ghazini who ransacked and destroyed the temple in 1025 CE. It was immediately rebuilt by King Bhima of Gujarat and King Bhoja of Malwa. This temple was destroyed again by Alaf Khan, the general of Allauddin Khilji in the year 1300 CE. It was rebuilt again by King Mahipala of the Chudasama dynasty.This shrine was destroyed again and yet again in 1390, 1490 , 1530 and finally in 1701 by Aurangazeb. It was rebuilt with perseverence each time after it was destroyed. It is a beautifully carved temple.
In the year 1783, Queen Ahilyabhai Holkar built a new temple nearby, and in 1951, the president of India re-installed the Jyotirlingam of Shiva on the same Bhramasila on which earlier temples had been built.
Festivals: Shivaratri – February/March and Kartik Month in November/December.
Temple timings: 6 am to 10 pm.
How to reach: Keshod Airport is 50 km away. Diu airport is 90 km away. Ahmadabad airport is 410 km away and better connected.
By Rail
Veraval railway stationis 7Kms and is well connected by a daily trains to Ahmedabad, Jabalpur, Pune.
By Road
Somnath is very well connected to nearly all the important places of Gujarat through bus services. It is around 82 Kms from Junagadh, 270 Kms from Bhavnagar and 120 from Porbandar. Ahmedabad is 400 Kms away
Accommodation: Several 2star to 4 star hotels are there.
Things to see nearby:
Somnath Beach 3km away
Paanch Pandav Gufa 3km away
Bhalka Tirth where Lord Krishna was shot and died 1km away
Dwaraka Jyotirlinga 233 km away
