Somnath Temple is one of the twelve sacred Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva.
It was repeatedly destroyed by invaders like Mahmud of Ghazni but rebuilt each time by Hindus.
Restored after independence in 1951, it stands as a symbol of eternal faith and resilience.
Gujarat’s western coast, close to Veraval and located in Prabhas Patan, home to one of the twelve revered Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva, the Somnath Temple. The temple stands as a living symbol of the unbreakable faith and cultural endurance of the Hindu civilization. It has been destroyed time and again by various invaders for centuries but was always restored to its glory by the devotion of the Hindus.
It is believed that the Moon God, Chandra Dev, first built the Somnath Temple in gold to honour Lord Shiva after being freed from a curse, as per Hindu mythology. It was later rebuilt by Ravana in silver, Lord Krishna in wood, and finally by King Bhimdev of the Yadava dynasty in stone. The name Somnath symbolizes Shiva’s role as a divine healer and protector, the “Lord of the Moon.”
The Somnath holds immense spiritual significance as one of the twelve Jyotirlingas. Devotees believe Lord Shiva manifested here as an endless flame of light, representing the eternal truth. The temple then rose to prominence as one of Hinduism’s sacred shrines, attracting pilgrims for thousands of years from all over India.
The first and most infamous attack on the Somnath Temple was led by Mahmud of Ghazni in 1024 CE. He invaded India seventeen times, and Somnath was at the centre of his target, wanting to destroy the religious spirit of Hindus and loot the immense wealth stored in the temple and other religious places and forts. The temple was both a spiritual centre and a representation of great prosperity.
The temple was filled with treasures like gold, silver, and jewels that were donated by kings and devotees. Mahmud’s army destroyed the temple, looting its riches and massacring thousands of pilgrims and defenders. He reportedly destroyed the temple and took the pieces back to Ghazni to be placed at the entrance of a mosque as an act of victory. Despite all these efforts, the temple stood tall in all its glory and spirit.
The temple was rebuilt after the destruction by King Bhima of the Chalukya dynasty around the 11th century, after Mahmud’s departure. This signifies the faith and defiance associated with the temple and its architecture. The temple once again flourished as a place of worship and pilgrimage.
The Somnath Temple continued to face attacks again and again as different Islamic dynasties expanded their rule over regions of India in the following centuries. The aggressive expansion of the Delhi Sultanate by Alauddin Khilji’s army, as they invaded Gujarat around 1297 CE, caused significant damage to the temple once again. The reign of Muzaffar Shah I of the Gujarat Sultanate in 1395 CE led to yet another wave of destruction of the temple.
Amidst all these attacks, the devotees of Lord Shiva refused to allow the sparkle of Somnath to fade away. The Hindus showed their long-standing and unwavering faith, resilience, and unity that they kept intact through the forces of conquest. The sacred architecture was meticulously rebuilt every time it was torn down by external forces.
Aurangzeb’s rule destroyed the temple yet again in the 17th century. He ordered the idol of Lord Shiva to be removed from the temple, destroying the temple completely. There are even records of orders being passed to replace the temple by a mosque. Not a single incident could shake the religious spirit of Somnath, as devotees continued to worship through centuries of oppression.
The Iron Man of India, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, made history by restoring the Somnath Temple following India’s independence in 1947. It was viewed as a representation of cultural rebirth and national pride. The construction began with the help of K.M. Munshi, a member of India’s Constituent Assembly and an ardent devotee. The temple was completed by 1951 in the Chalukyan architectural style. The temple was not just built in stone but resides in every Indian’s heart as stated by the President of India, Dr. Rajendra Prasad.
The temple was frequently targeted and destroyed for both political as well as religious reasons. The Somnath Temple became a prime target for invaders seeking to establish dominance, as it stood as a symbol of Hindu prosperity, devotion, and cultural strength. The looting of Somnath, for rulers like Mahmud of Ghazni, was about demonstrating the supremacy of their religion over India’s spiritual heritage and not just about wealth. Every attack was an effort to shatter the spirit of the locals, but with each restoration, the faith and resistance grew even stronger.
Somnath stands tall as a monument of perseverance in addition to being a temple of worship for the Hindus. It narrates the tale of faith and devotion that outlasts the might of empires and repeated destruction. The timeless truth of faith enduring everything right from the fall of civilizations to the fading of rulers, which echoes through the rhythmic sound of the Arabian Sea behind the temple.
The Somnath Temple has witnessed over a thousand years of history, from its legendary origin to its modern restoration, telling the story of invasion, destruction, and rebirth. The temple rose again every time it was torn down, reinforcing the Hindu belief in the eternal cycle of creation, destruction, and renewal, which depicts Lord Shiva himself. [RhOG/SY]
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