The Somnatha Jyotir Lingam Temple, Veraval, Gujarat

The Gujarat coastline has been a focal point for traders and invaders for centuries. The Shiva Temple at Somnath, which holds a naturally occurred Jyotir Lingam, has been a landmark to mariners from time immemorial.

South of the temple, on the wall at the sea shore, a pillar is erected. On the top, an arrow is indicating that between the Somnath Temple and the South Pole there is no landarea only the Arabian Sea and the Indian Ocean. Locals claim that if one were able to sail from here in a straight line, the end of the journey would be the North Pole.

Prabhas Teerth - the place from where Lord Shiva and Lord Krishna returned to their celestial abode

The Somnath Jyotir Lingam Temple is situated in the western part of India at the shore of the Indian Ocean near Veraval in Gujarat state. This most sacred and very important pilgrim centre for Hindus, is also called Prabhas Teerth - the Prabhas pilgrimage place. Here it is said, that Lord Shiva ended his incarnated form and returned to his celestial abode. The temple is housing one of the oldest consecrated Jyotir Lingas mentioned in Rigveda, Skanda Purana and Mahabharata. Chandrama, the Moon worshipped Lord Shiva at Prabhas Ksetra hence the name Somnatha which literally means, Lord of Soma (the Moon). The Lord here is also called Somanathar and Someshwar. "Prabhasa" also means, "keen intelligence" At Triveni or Bhalka Teerth, east of the Temple of Somnath, at the confluence of three rivers and on the banks of the river Hiranya, is the spot where Lord Krishna's funeral rites were performed, after a hunter mistook him for a deer and killed him. A large bathing wharf is built here, which is called Dehotsarg. A huge memorial and a Geeta Mandir standing on a number of pillars are also built here. Close by is the very old Surya Mandir, the Sun Temple, which dates back to time of the original Temple of Somnath and gives a clue what the original temple looked like. There is a museum inside the Somnath Temple area and another in a street nearby, that contains relics of the old Somnath Shrines. A small museum inside the Somnath Temple area contains relics from the old Somnath shrine and a photo documentation from the excavation ground. The Prabhas Patan Museum, in the northern main street leading to the temple is interesting to visit. It displays the remaining old building parts and idols from the previous Somnath temples.

 

The Somnath Jyotir Lingam Temple

The floating ethereal temple of Somnath, which phoenix-like resurrected from the ashes several times

The tower seen against the sun reveals Nandi and the Trisula

History of the Somnath Temple

When the temple were constructed and who did it, is conclusively and historically not known. In the Skanda Purana's Prabhas Section a clear description of the holy installation of the Shiva Linga is available, but there is no mention of the Somnath Temple. At Bhadra Kali Mandir, an inscription which dates back to 1225-1169 (?) states that Raja Som got the the temple built in gold. The inscription further tells of a Raja Krishan Raj in 6th century AD who built a temple of the type of "Himavaan" in silver which is deemed as original. This inscriptions also mentions a temple made of wood. Some learned Hindus opine that the first Somnath Temple came into being in the 6th century BC. A description of the temple by Al-Biruni, an Arab traveller, was so glowing, that it prompted a visit in 1026 by an most unwelcome tourist, Mahmud of Ghazini. At that time the temple was so wealthy that it had 300 musicians, 500 dancing girls and even 300 barbers just to shave the heads of the visiting pilgrims. Mahmud of Ghazini whose raids on the riches of India are legendary, descended on Somnath from his Afghan kingdom and, after a two day battle, took the town and the temple. After having looted its fabulous treasures, he destroyed the temple. It is said that the invaders made off with camel loads of gold and precious gems, leaving the edifice in ruins. The cycle of Muslim destruction and Hindu reconstruction at Somnath continued over the next seven centuries. Totally the temple was destroyed and reconstructed more than 7 times. A photo exhibition in the temple from the excavation, shows several floor levels on top of each other. After the destruction in 1706, the temple was not rebuilt until 1950. After India's Independence a committee was appointed to reconstruct the shrine, called Mahameru Prasad on the exact spot on the shore of the Arabian Sea, where the original temple once was situated. The great freedom fighter, Sardar Vallabhai Patel, played a vital role in the renovation of the temple and there is a sculpture of Sardar Patel at the entrance to the temple.

Temple roof in the light of the rising sun.

Sunrise

The current temple is built in traditional designs and is a serene symmetrical, sinuous structure. It has a 50m high tower that rises in clusters and can be seen from far away. Sthapathis (Vedic architects) from various parts of India played a role in the renovation process, revealing their skills, adding to the sculptural glory of the temple. In 1951 the Somnatha construction was completed and the sacred installation ceremony of the Shiva Lingam was performed by the president of India. The Somnath Temple was fully completed in 1962. Some cracks appeared as a result of the earthquake in 2001, but they have since been repaired.

The tower at sunrise

Nearby Somnath is the Sun Temple, the Surya Mandir, which probably dates from the same time as the Temple of Somnath and was laid out in the same fashion. This very old temple, with a frieze of lions with elephant trunks, the sculptures and the doorway give an indication of what the original Somnath Temple was like.

The Surya Mandir Temple which can be seen from the Somnath Temple

The Legend about the Moon God

The Somnath Temple is said to have been built out of gold by Somraj, the Moon God (Soma), of silver by Ravana, by Krishna in wood and by Bhimdev in stone. Soma, the Moon God was wedded to the 27 daughters of Daksha, a son of Brahma, but he loved only one of them, Rohini. This caused great frustration to the other sisters and an infuriated Daksha cursed his son-in-law, causing him to loose his lustre. In despair, Som turned to Shiva and served him with such zealous devotion, that Shiva gave him respite from the curse - he would wax for half the month and wane for the rest of the month. In gratitude the Moon God built a Shiva temple at Somanth. The present temple is recently built (1951) and duplicates its original. In keeping with the legend the stone facade appears golden at sunset.

The Somnatha Jyotir Lingam

The Somnatha Jyotir Lingam

The Somnatha Lingam is one of the oldest consecrated Jyotir Lingas mentioned in Rigveda, Skanda Purana and Mahabharata. The Somnath Linga is considered as the primary and most important of the 12 Jyotir Lingas, as this deity is Swayanbhu (self-born) and always awake. The Somnatha Shiva Lingam has along with the Somnatha Temple been destroyed several times. The ancient Linga, formed spontaneously by the Lord, was scattered in 1026 AD. Another Lingam was installed and destroyed in 1300 AD. The following Lingas were all destroyed. The present Somnatha Linga is the largest of the 12 Jyotir Lingas. It is a greyish cylinder formed stone made of granite about 1m high and 60cm in diameter. The top is rounded and the Lingam is placed in a large silver plated Yoni. The sacred installation ceremony was performed in 1951.

History of the Lingam

How large was the original Jyotir Lingam? No definite account can tell us about the original Lingam. The Somnath Temple has been shattered and rebuilt several times, but the original Jyotir Linga stayed on till 1026AD, where this ancient and most precious Linga, formed spontaneously by the Lord, were destroyed by Mahmood Gazani, the Muslim invader. The next installed Linga were vandalised in 1300AD and and the following Jyotir Lingas also. During an escavation in April 1940 by the Archeological Department of India the Brahma Shila, Brahma's slab, were found and the Jyotir Linga were once again fixed on it. The present Somnath Jyotir Linga were installed on Friday, the 11th May 1951 at 9.46AM by the then President of India, Dr. Rajendra Prasad.

The Shrine of the Somnath Jyotir Linga

The speciality of this shrine is that the Linga is always beautifully decorated with crown leaves from various flowers. The Lingam being decorated with leaves from the Lotus flower, offers a rare and beautiful sight for the Darshan seekers.

Darshan

It is possible to have the Darshan of the Somnatha Lingam daily from early morning when the temple opens to the last evening rituals and closure of the temple. Only from distance you can worship the Lingam and you can participate in the elaborate rituals performed every day. Touching the Lingam is not allowed, but the priests are very helpful in touching the Lingam with your own brought Lingams or other sacred idols.

 

Arriving at Somnath

Eastern main road - first sight of the temple

Temple seen from the eastern side. The Digvijay Dwar gate were inaugurated by Sri Satya Sai Baba in 1970.

Information board about the activities in the temple

Spice venders in the middle of the main road

Situated/how to get there

The Somanath Temple is situated 5 km from the city of Veraval in Gujarat. Veraval is the last stop on the railway line from Rajkot, the capital of Gujarat, and busses, taxis, rickshaws are available to reach the holy site. Devotees can stay comfortably in Veraval, but hotels are available adjacent to the Somnatha Temple. The temple has some Dharam Shalas and guesthouses. Busses go to all the major places in the area.

 

Vendors at the beach

 

Camel riding - an attraction at the beach

Visitors attraktion at the beach

The Somnath Temple seen from the back of a camel

The proud desert animal fully equipped

Camel riding is a must at this beach!

 

Prabhas Patan Museum

Entrance to the museum displaying remains from the earlier and now escavated Somnath temples

Destroyed and plundered by invaders in the medieval ages, phoenix-like the Somnath Temple resurrected several times from the ashes, its splendour only suffering in the material used: From gold to silver, from silver to wood and, now, finally stone. The Prabhas Patan Museum, in the northern main street leading to the temple is interesting to visit. It displays the remaining old building parts and idols from the previous Somnath temples.

Inside the yard - museum not open - unfortunately!

The sign over the entrance door

Roof construction from one of the previous Somnath Temples, which were destroyed several times by Muslim invaders

The richly carved entrance roof from the previous Somnath Temple

The present Temple of Somnath in the early morning light

 

The top in broard daylight

 

Shiva Linga in the ocean, apr.1km from the Somnath Temple

 

OM Namah Shivaya