Somnath is the first of the twelve Jyotirlingas — the most ancient in the sequence, the one that ancient texts describe as built originally by the Moon God in gold. It stands on the western coast of Gujarat, facing the open Arabian Sea. On the shoreline beside the temple is the Baan Stambha — a pillar with an inscription that reads: "There is no land between this point and the South Pole in the southern direction." Somnath stands at the edge of the known world, reaching toward infinity.
The story of Somnath is the story of faith itself — because this temple has been attacked, looted, and demolished at least seventeen times by various invaders over the centuries, and rebuilt each time by Hindu kings and communities. No other religious site in India has been destroyed and restored so many times. This history of destruction and renewal is not incidental to Somnath's spiritual meaning — it is central to it.
The Moon God's Penance — Why This Temple Exists
The Shiva Purana records that Soma (the Moon God) married the twenty-seven daughters of the cosmic progenitor Daksha, but was deeply partial to only one of them — Rohini. The other twenty-six daughters complained to their father. Daksha cursed Soma: the moon would waste away and eventually disappear. The universe noticed — moonlight faded, tides weakened, crops began to fail.
Desperate, Soma came to Prabhasa (the ancient name of Somnath) and performed six months of intense penance to Lord Shiva, chanting the Mahamrityunjaya Mantra without pause. Shiva appeared and partially lifted the curse — the moon would wane for half the month and wax for the other half. This is the origin, in Hindu understanding, of the lunar phases we observe to this day. Shiva manifested as the Jyotirlinga at this spot; the name Somnath means "the lord of Soma (the Moon)."
Seventeen Destructions, Seventeen Rebirths
Somnath's medieval wealth was legendary — Arab traveller Al-Biruni described thousands of priests, musicians, and dancers, and a treasury of extraordinary richness. This made it a target. Mahmud of Ghazni's raid in 1025 CE is the most famous attack, but it was far from the last. Alauddin Khilji, Muzaffar Shah, Mahmud Begada, and Aurangzeb all destroyed the temple at various points. Each time, local rulers — Chalukyas, Parmars, Solanki kings, Marathas — rebuilt it.
The final chapter is modern: after India's independence in 1947, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel visited the ruins of Somnath and was moved to see the state of the first Jyotirlinga. He championed its reconstruction as a national project — a symbol of India reclaiming its own cultural heritage. The current temple was completed in 1951 and inaugurated by President Rajendra Prasad. It was a statement that a free India would rebuild what centuries of invasions had destroyed.
Quick Facts
| Location | Prabhas Patan, Gir Somnath District, Gujarat |
|---|---|
| Jyotirlinga Number | 1st — the first of the twelve Jyotirlingas |
| Times Rebuilt | At least 17 times across history |
| Current Temple | Built 1947–1951, inaugurated by President Rajendra Prasad |
| Temple Opens | 6:00 AM |
| Temple Closes | 9:30 PM |
| Architecture | Chalukya/Kailash Mahameru Prasada style; 51-metre shikhara |
| Nearest Railway | Veraval (7 km from temple) |
| Distance from Rajkot | ~200 km |
| Evening Show | Sound & Light Show at 7:45 PM daily on temple grounds |
What Makes Somnath Unique
- The Baan Stambha: The pillar beside the temple that marks the direction of the South Pole — with no land in between — is one of the most unusual features of any religious site in the world. Ancient astronomers placed this marker here; it also appears in historical texts. Standing beside it at the water's edge, with the sea breeze and the sound of waves, gives the visit a quality that is genuinely hard to articulate.
- The History of Rebuilding: No other sacred site in India carries Somnath's specific message: faith survives destruction. Coming here after knowing the history means standing at a place that has been rebuilt seventeen times by ordinary people who refused to let the site disappear. That is a form of devotion that goes beyond individual prayer.
- The Triveni Sangam: Just beside the temple, the rivers Hiran, Kapila, and the mythical Saraswati converge and meet the sea. The Triveni Sangam here is considered one of the holiest bathing spots in India. Taking a dip in the sangam before entering the temple is the traditional practice.
- The Evening Sound & Light Show: Every evening, the temple grounds host a Sound and Light Show narrating the complete history of Somnath. For first-time visitors, this is an excellent way to understand the extraordinary story of this temple before or after darshan. The show runs in Hindi and Gujarati on alternate days.