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Somnath Temple
Address
Somnath Mandir Rd, Somnath, Prabhas Patan, Gujarat 362268 Veraval Gujarat, IndiaMap
Description
The Somanath temple, also known as Deo Patan, is situated in Prabhas Patan, Veraval, Gujarat, India. It is one of the most holy places of worship for Hindus and is the first of the twelve jyotirlinga shrines of Shiva. The temple's origin remains ambiguous, with estimates varying between the early centuries of the 1st millennium and around the 9th century CE. Despite the absence of Somnath nomenclature in ancient Sanskrit texts of Hinduism, the "Prabhasa-Pattana" (Prabhas Patan) is cited as a tirtha (pilgrimage site), where this temple exists. For instance, the Mahabharata in Chapters 109, 118, and 119 of Book 3 (Vana Parva), and Sections 10.45 and 10.78 of the Bhagavata Purana state Prabhasa to be a tirtha on the coastline of Saurashtra.
Tales
In the Mughal era, Emperor Aurangzeb attempted to demolish the Somnath Temple, which was already in a state of disrepair. Although his efforts left the temple damaged, it was not destroyed. Later on, rulers like Rani Ahilyabai Holkar took up the task of reconstruction, ensuring the continuity of the temple's worship.
History
The site of Somnath has been a pilgrimage destination from ancient times due to its location at the confluence of three rivers: Kapila, Hiran, and Saraswati. According to mythology, Soma, the Moon god, lost his radiance due to a curse, and he bathed in the Sarasvati River at this location to regain it. This resulted in the waxing and waning of the moon. The name of the town, Prabhas, which means radiance, as well as the alternative names Someshvar and Somnath (meaning "the lord of the moon" or "the moon god"), are derived from this tradition. The name Someshvara was first mentioned in the 9th century when the Gurjara-Pratihara king Nagabhata II (r. 805–833) recorded his visit to tirthas (sacred sites) in Saurashtra, including Someshvara. However, historian Romila Thapar argues that this does not necessarily imply the existence of a temple, but rather that it was a pilgrimage site. The Chaulukya (Solanki) king Mularaja is believed to have built the first temple for Soma at the site, possibly before 997 CE, although some historians suggest that he may have renovated a smaller earlier temple.
Features
Deities:
Timings:
All week: 6 am to 10 pm
Built:
Estimates varying between the early centuries of the 1st millennium and about the 9th century CE
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