The message in the story of Somnath

The history of the shrine in the last 1,000 years is a tale of unbroken faith and civilisational regeneration

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Somnath — the word instills a sense of pride in our hearts and minds. It is the eternal proclamation of India’s soul.

This majestic temple is situated in Prabhas Patan, Gujarat. The Dwadasha Jyotirlinga Stotram mentions the 12 Jyotirlings across India. The stotram begins with “Saurashtre Somanatham cha...”,symbolising the civilisational and spiritual importance of Somnath as the first Jyotirling. It is also said, “Somalingam naro drshtva sarvapaapayeeh pramuchyate, labhate phalam mano-vanechhitam mritah samashrayet” (Just the sight of Somnath Shivling ensures that a person is freed of sins, achieves their righteous desires and attains heaven after death). Tragically, Somnath, which drew the reverence and prayers of millions, was attacked by foreign invaders whose agenda was demolition, not devotion.

The year 2026 is significant for the Somnath temple. It has been a thousand years since the first attack on this great shrine. It was in January of 1026 that Mahmud of Ghazni attacked this temple, seeking to destroy a great symbol of faith and civilisation, through a violent and barbaric invasion. Yet, a thousand years later, the temple stands as glorious as ever because of numerous efforts to restore Somnath to its grandeur. One such milestone completes 75 years in 2026. It was during a ceremony on May 11, 1951, in the presence of the then President of India, Rajendra Prasad, that the restored temple opened its doors to devotees.

The first invasion of Somnath, the cruelty that was unleashed upon the people of the town, and the devastation that was inflicted upon the shrine have been documented in great detail in various historical accounts. When you read them, the heart trembles. Each line carries the weight of grief, cruelty, and a sorrow that refuses to fade with time.