PrabhasKshetra, Saurashtra Gujarat India inherits a beautiful and renowned temple theSomnath temple. The temple is built up as one of the twelve Jyotirlinga shrines of the great Lord Shiva. And has derived it name from an ancient word which means,“the one who protects the moon god”. The temple has faced hard times (conquered by the muslim for almost six times)  but still beholds its beauty and dignity. And hence is called the “Eternal Shrines”. The last time when the temple was renovated was in year 1947 under the rule of SardarVallabhbhai Patel. In the midst of his plan to integrate Junagadh. This plan was taken up by K.M. Munshi after VallabhbhaiPatels death.

History

The present Somnath temple is the 11thremodification of the original as the temple has faced a constant cycle of construction and destruction.

The very first Somnathtemole was built at the beginning of a common era. Which, soon was replaced by the second in  year 649 CE by the Yadava Kings of Vallabhi in the state of Gujarat.

The third temple was constructed in the year 725 CE by GurjaraPratihara king Nagabhata II after its destruction by the army of the governor of Sind, Junayad. The third temple was a massive building of red sand stone.

When Mahmud of Ghazni invaded India in the year 1024 CE he too destroyed or attacked the temple leading to its fourth reconstruction. And this time it was done by GujjarParamara King Bhoj of Malwaand the Solanki king Bhimadev I of Anhilwara. The redsand stone temple was now replaced by Kumarpal, the constructor of the temple of stone.

In the year 1296 CE the temple suffered another breakthrough when it was attacked by Sultan AllauddinKhilji’s troop. Who in return of his victory killed fifty thousand troops and an endless number of cattles. The temple was then reconstructed by the Chudasama King of Saurashtra, Mahipala Deva in year 1308 AD. Soon his son incorporated/ installed the idol of Lord Shiva into the temple.

And since then the temple experienced a constant cycle of destruction and construction. It has been destroyed a number of kings and emperors like Mahmud Begda (1451 CE), Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb (1701 CE) etc in various years.

The Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb replaced the temple by a mosque via the use of some columns from the temple so that the Hindu’s religious view was maintained.

A number of ruler than rebuilt the temple at the place of the mosque in the year 1738 AD.

Architecture

The architecture or the fore design of the temple is the KailashMahameru Prasad style or commonly known as the Chalukya style. The temple depicts the verse full skills of the master mason of that time SompuraSalats.

The temple has a unique location, it is located in such a manner that there is no ground or road in straight line between the seashore up till Antartica. This is in line with the verse in Sanskrit called the Baan Stambh which means the arrow pillar used to protect the sea wall. Such an depiction is also found on the wall of Somnath temple. This also depicts that it is the only and the first point between north and south pole in India.

How to Reach

By Air

One can visit the holy place via flight landing on the Diu Airport which is the nearest and thencarry on with his trip on wheels by hiring a Taxi.

Once can also bard a flight to Porbandar and Rajkot civil Airport which too are in the nearby area

By Train

One can also go and visit the place via public transports available for all. The train the nearby railway station are in Veraval from where Taxi’s take you to the place.

By Bus

The holy place can also be visited by the help of buses accommodating people all around the state and even from Diu.

Getting Around Somnath

Having a tour of the beautiful temple is simple enough if you have your own convince as the other public transport cost a lot

Significance of the Temple

According to the word of mouth thefirat temple was originally made of gold by the Moon God ,then  it was rebuilt by the Ravana transforming the temple into silver, and then finally Lord Krishna gave the temple the wooden look./It is said that the moon god soma was cursed to fade by his father in law,Daksha, for being bias with his daughters who were somas wives .He only loved the most beautiful wife,rohini, which was unacceptable by the other wives.soma to get rid of the curse made a shivlinga at the prabhastirth(a hindu pilgrimage)and worshiped lord shiva. lordshiva upon the prayings of rohini ,somas wife, lessened the intensity of the curse resulting in gradual fading of  the moom. Impressed dy the devotion of soma lord shiva  made up his mind to remain in that lingam until the end of the world and thus the jyotirlingam.

Timings and Other Important Information

Timing for Darshan at SomnathTemple : 6.00 AM to 9.30 PM

Timing for Aarti : 7.00 AM, 12.00 Noon and 7.00 PM

“Jay Somnath” Sound and Light Show : 8.00 pm to 9.00 pm

Somnath temple is open to public for Live Darshan as per following schedule:
Daily Timings – 7:00 AM to 8:00 PM

Aarti is usually performed on following times:

Morning – 7:00 AM

Afternoon – 12:00 PM

Night – 7:00 PM

Photography is prohibited inside the temple, and you must leave your camera at the hut outside.

Weather and Time to Visit

The climatic condition of the state is temperate still the best time to visit the place is in the month of October and last till March.

Accomodation

Somnath Trust, Somnath, Gujarat

Address

PrabhasPatan
SomnathMandir Road
Somnath
Gujarat - 382268

Includes: Double Room Only

Lords Inn, Somnath, Gujarat

Lord Inn nearby Chokdi consists of 38 rooms to seat the visitors and serves pure vegetarian food to satisfy their taste buds.

Address

VeravalSomnath by-pass Chokdi,
PrabhashPatan,
Somnath,
Gujarat - 362266
India

Lilavati Guest House, Somnath, Gujarat

Address

PrabhasPatan
Near Booking Office
Somnath, Gujarat
India     

Includes: Double Room Only

Donation

A number of pooja’s are carried out in the temple. The list and price of which are as follows:

Tips for Devotees

In order to maintain the  decorum within and outside the temple there are some tips that should be followed by the devotees so as to have a nice and memorable trip. These tips are written all over the temple in forms of hoarding. These tips are:

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