Features of Somnath Temple

The construction of Lord Shiva was done by Chandra Dev himself here and he was named ‘Somnath’.

A one-hour sound and light show is held in the temple premises from 7.30 pm to 8.30 pm.

The Kalash located on the top of the temple weighs 10 tons and its flag is 27 feet high.

It is the confluence of three rivers – the Hiran, the Kapila and the Saraswati. This bath has a special significance.

Sri Krishna passed away (Somnath)

It is believed that Lord Krishna was resting at the Bhaluka Tirtha. Then a hunter had shot an arrow in the palm of his foot, deceiving him by knowing the eye of the deer, due to which Krishna left the body and went to Vaikuntha from here. A very beautiful temple of Lord Krishna is built here.

Somnath temple still standing despite 17 attacks by Mahmud Ghaznavi

Mahmud Ghaznavi, along with some 5,000 companions, attacked the Somnath temple in 1024, plundered its property and destroyed it. Then thousands of unarmed people were killed to protect the temple.

It has been destroyed 17 times and rebuilt each time.

Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel was the first home minister of independent India.

The story of Jyotirlinga is described in the Puranas as follows –

Daksha Prajapati had twenty-seven daughters. All of them were married to Chandra Dev. But all the affection and love of the moon remained only for Rohini. The other daughters of Daksha Prajapati were very displeased by this act of his. He narrated the incident to his father. Daksha Prajapati explained this to Chandradeva in many ways.

But it had no effect on his heart. Finally, Daksha got angry and cursed them to become ‘decayed’. Because of this curse, Chandradeva immediately fell into decay. As soon as he was decayed, all his work of bringing goodness and coolness to the earth stopped. There was turbulence all around. Moon was also very sad and worried.

Hearing his prayer, sages Indradi Devata and Vasistha went to Pitamaha Brahmaji for his rescue. After listening to all the things, Brahmaji said – ‘Moon should go to the holy Prabhas Kshetra with other gods to worship Lord Shiva. By His mercy their curse will surely be removed and they will be healed.

According to his statement, Chandradeva completed all the work of worshipping Lord Mrityunjaya. He chanted the Mrityunjaya Mantra ten million times while doing severe penance. Pleased by this, Lord Shiva granted him the boon of immortality. He said, “Lord! Don’t be sad. Not only will your curse be released from my groom, but the words of Prajapati Daksha will also be protected.

Every day in the Krishna Paksha, every art of yours will decrease, but again in the Shukla Paksha, every art of yours will increase in the same order. In this way, you will get full moon on every full moon day. ‘All the people of the world became happy with this boon given to the moon. Sudhakara Chandradeva again started the work of Sudha-varshana in all the ten directions.

Being freed from the curse, Chandra Dev along with other deities prayed to Mrityunjay Bhagwan that you along with Mata Parvati ji should reside here for the salvation of souls forever. Lord Shiva accepted this prayer and started living here with Mother Parvati in the form of Jyotirlinga.

The glory of this Somnath Jyotirlinga located in the holy Prabhas Kshetra has been described in detail in the Mahabharata, Srimad Bhagwat and Skand Purana. One of the names of the moon is also Soma, he had done penance here considering Lord Shiva as his Nath-Swami.

Therefore, this Jyotirlinga is called Somnath, by its darshan, worship, worship, all the sins and misdeeds of the devotees are destroyed. They become the vessels of the inexhaustible grace of Lord Shiva and Mother Parvati. The path to salvation is easy for them. All his works will be successful automatically.