Brief about Somnath Temple and Prabhas Patan
Somnath temple, one of the twelve Jyotirlinga of Lord Shiva, situated on the coast of Arabian Sea, 6 KM from Veraval, in Shaurashtra, Gujarat is center and symbol of Vedic Culture from the lots of centuries. The surrounding area is known as Prabhas Patan from the ancient time of Aarya Culture. Lord Shree Krishna took his journey to Vaikunth from here, thus Prabhash Patan turn into most famous pilgrimage of India.
There are lots of myth behind the name of Prabhas, one of the key tale is Moon observe deadly penance to pleased Lord Shiva. From the blessing of Lord Shiva, this area received its refulgence again thus called as “Prabhash”. This area was also named as Nandan, Shiv, Ugra, Bhadirka, Samidhan, Kamadh, Vashvaroop, Padhmnath, Mokshmarg, Bhaskar Tirth, Arktirth, SomTirth, Hiranyasaras etc as per the Skand Puran and Mahabharat. As per the Jain scriptures, it was known as Chandra Prabha, Chandra Prabhas, Pattan etc.
सौराष्ट्रे सोमनाथं च श्रीशैले मल्लिकार्जुनम्। उज्जयिन्यां महाकालमोंकारं ममलेश्वरम् || परल्यां वैजनाथं च डाकियन्यां भीमशंकरम्। सेतुबन्धे तु रामेशं नागेशं दारुकावने || वारणस्यां तु विश्वेशं त्र्यम्बकं गौतमी तटे। हिमालये तु केदारं ध्रुष्णेशं च शिवालये ||
Legend of Somnath Jyotirlinga
All the 12 Jyotirlinga, the center and soul of Lord Shiva spread across the India and first among these holy shrine is the Somnath Temple. According to the Skand Puran, great sage Atri Muni and his wife Anasuya thought to create the world of peace and happiness. They had started penance of Lord Shiva and then blessed with brave and devoted son. This son was Prasad of Lord Shiva and came up with beauty and luxury so named as Chandra - Moon. He was full of peace, brightness, heroic, power and intelligence with passion to built world as per his parent’s wish.
Chandra had put up lots of efforts to change the life of people and made them cultured. The Glory of Chandra spread across the BharatVarsh long year ago. Ma Anasuya requested Chandra for marriage but he wanted the wife who is intelligent and able understand his effort. Finally Chandra found the lady, Rohini, who was proficient to comprehend him, daughter of King Daksh Prajapati. Rohini was ready for marriage but with condition that Chandra had to marry with her remaining 26 sister. Thus Chandra married to Rohini and her sisters, king Daksh took the promise from Chanrda to keep all daughter same.
Chandra married to Rohini and her 26 sister but he could not find great quality in Rohini’s sister. Rohini was his favorite and other sisters had feeling of negligence by Moon. They complained about the behavior of Chandra to King Daksh Prajapati. Thus angered Daksh laid a curse that Moon – Chandra would lose his beauty and radiance, declining into nothingness. Chandra and Rohini decided to performed penance of Lord Shiva and worshiped the Sparsa Linga at Prabhash area.
Lord Shiva pleased with Moon’s penance and granted a boon that in a month, radiance would grow for 15 days and after it would wane. At Prabhas, Lord Shiva granted boon to Moon - Som, thus Lord Shiva became to Lord of Som here so this place was named as Somnath. Then Golden Somnath temple was constructed by Moon here at Prabhas. As Moon was the first to received benefic boon from Lord Shiva, this Jyotirlinga is considered as the main amongst the 12 Jyotirlinga.
As per scriptures Silver Temple was then built by Ravan, Sandlewood temple by Lord Shree Krishna. Based on Skanda Puran and other research, temple was first built in 7,99,25,105 years ago.
Eternal Shrine - The Somnath Temple
The Glory of Somnath Temple is endless from the ancient time and stood against the every attacked from Muslim Kings of Arab. It was partially or fully destroys six times and present temple is seventh restoration. From the Arab tourist, Mahmud Ghazni learnt about the luxury of Somnath Temple. He robbed and destroy temple in the 11th century. Gujarat King Bhimdev, Ra Navghan, Malva King Bhoja and Ajmer King Vishandev rebuilt the Somnath Temple. Army of Allaudin Khilji had again destroyed Somnath Temple in 1300 lead by Alaf Khan. Then King Mahipila of Chudasama dynasty restored the temple again in 1390. Attacks on Somnath temple were continued by Mahemud son of Gyasuddin, Zafarkhan, Ahmedshah, Mehmud Begdo, Aurangzeb etc during their rule. But every time Somnath Temple restored and glory of it remains as it is.
The Present Somnath Temple reconstruction was initiated by first Home Minister of India and great freedom fighter Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel during his visit of Prabhas in year 1947. In 1950 mosque by Aurangzeb was shifted to different place and Jyotirling Pratishthan was held on 11th may in 1951 by Dr. Rajendra Prasad, the first president of India. Thus Somnath temple signifies that the power of construction is greater than the power of destruction.
Architecture of Present Somnath Temple
The present Somnath temple is designed by Sompara community, expert in construction of temple under the guidance of Prabhashankar Sompura. Temple is divided in three main section, Inner sanctum, central hall and dance hall and constructed in Chalukya style temple architecture or Kailash Mahameru Prasad style. Shikhar of the temple is built right above on the Garbh Gruh, Kalash of 10 tons is installed at top of 150 feet Shikhara. The temple is mounted by 27 feet Dhwajadand with Trishul. Pillar in the temple complex indicates the direction of South Pole. The location of temple is such a way that there is no land between Temple Seashore and South Pole so linear route would be end at Antarctica.
Old structure and ruined part of Somanth Temple are reserved in museum in the temple premise. Around 1638 exhibits from 7th to 15th century are preserved by government. These showcase the beautiful architecture and high valued culture of India during the time Vallabhi Rulers, Chalulya ruler.
Special Time to visit and Rituals at Somnath Temple
Thousands of Devotee of Lord Shiva across the nation, visits the Somnath Temples throughout the year. Shravan Month , Maha Shivratri and 14th day of Kartik month, birth day of Kartikey are the special time to visit Somnath Temple. Millions of devotee blessed with Darshan of Jyotirlinga here. Prabhas Khand is also famous for various rituals like Rudra Bhishek, Laghu Rudra Yagya, Pitru Shraddh etc.
Every Jyotirlinga of Lord Shiva has its unique emotion, Somnath represent the “ Aikyabhav “. It showcases the importance of union and without union any culture can be crushed. History of Somnath explain us the need of the unity of family, society and job of supreme lord. Every devotee has to visit this Somnath Temple with special attachment and emotion and not just as tourist destination then only Tirthyatra of Somnath Jyotirlinga would be complete.
संघं शरणं गच्छामि | धर्म शरणं गच्छामि ||
