Temples: The 12 Jyotirlingas – Somnath Jyotirlinga – 01/12
🕉️ Somnath Jyotirlinga – Faith That Rises Beyond Destruction
🌟 The Timeless Flame of Dharma
In the vast spiritual geography of Bharat, Somnath Jyotirlinga stands as a luminous beacon of devotion, resilience, and cosmic justice. More than a temple, it is a living embodiment of Sanatana Dharma’s ability to rise from ashes, again and again.
Among the twelve Jyotirlingas—the most sacred abodes of Bhagavan Shiva—Somnath is revered as the first and foremost. Located at the very edge of the Indian subcontinent, where land meets the roaring Arabian Sea, it has witnessed glory, devastation, rebirth, and eternal faith for thousands of years.
Here, Shiva is Somnath—the Lord of the Moon, who forgives, restores, and radiates light even in the darkest times.
🕉️ What is a Jyotirlinga?
A Jyotirlinga is no ordinary Shiva Lingam. It is said that once, Brahma and Vishnu debated over who was supreme. To test them, Shiva manifested as an infinite pillar of light—a Jyoti. Neither could find its beginning or end. It was then declared that Shiva is the timeless, all-encompassing reality.
Each of the 12 Jyotirlingas marks a place where this divine flame of consciousness was glimpsed. These are energy centers, not just temples.
“Jyoti” = Light
“Linga” = Symbol of creation and dissolution
Thus, a Jyotirlinga is the point where infinite light condenses into finite form so humans can experience the divine.
🌙 Legend of Somnath – The Redemption of the Moon
The story of Somnath is tied to the Moon God – Chandra, also called Soma.
Chandra had married all 27 daughters of the sage Daksha Prajapati, but showed deep affection only for Rohini, his favorite. This partiality angered Daksha, who cursed Chandra to wither away.
As Chandra began to lose his light, the gods and sages advised him to pray to Lord Shiva. Chandra performed intense tapasya at the confluence of three rivers at Prabhas Kshetra, pleading for forgiveness and restoration.
Moved by his devotion, Shiva granted him partial relief: Chandra would wax and wane each month, regaining and losing his light in a celestial rhythm.
Thus was born the cycle of the moon. Shiva, taking the name Somnath (Lord of Soma), established his presence here eternally.
🛕 Ancient Origins – A Temple Built in Heaven’s Memory
As per ancient tradition, the Somnath shrine was originally built by Chandra himself in gold, followed by:
- Ravana in silver
- Krishna in wood
- Bhima (of Mahabharata) in stone
Whether myth or metaphor, the idea is clear: every age restores the temple with its own strength.
⚔️ The Temple That Refused to Die – A Timeline of Faith
The story of Somnath is as much about devotion as it is about destruction—and the unconquerable will to rebuild.
📜 Historical Timeline:
- ~2000 BCE (Legend): Soma constructs golden shrine
- 649 CE: Reference by Chinese traveler Xuanzang
- 725 CE: First attack by Arab governor Al-Junayd
- 1026 CE: Mahmud of Ghazni loots and destroys temple; carries away treasures
- 1299 – 1395 CE: Further plunders by Delhi Sultanate rulers
- 1665 CE: Temple taken over by Aurangzeb
- 1947–1951 CE: Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, guided by national dharma, initiates its reconstruction
- Modern Day: Somnath is a symbol of revival, built with timeless reverence
It is said that 17 times the temple was razed, and 17 times it rose again—through kings, saints, and common people.
🏛️ Architectural Grandeur – Message in Stone
The present Somnath Temple is a magnificent Maru-Gurjara (Chaulukya) style structure.
- Shikhara (spire): Rises 155 ft above sanctum
- Garbhagriha (sanctum): Houses the self-manifested Shiva Lingam
- No land from the seafront till Antarctica—highlighted by inscription on the temple wall, emphasizing its spiritual alignment
- Flag Mast: The temple flag, flown 37 feet high, is changed thrice daily as an act of living worship
Every carved pillar, every threshold, whispers centuries of unbroken worship.
📿 Rituals and Daily Seva
- Mangala Aarti: Performed at dawn
- Madhyahna Aarti: Midday offering
- Sandhya Aarti: Evening prayers with conch, chants, and fire
- Rudrabhisheka: Daily and monthly offerings of sacred substances—milk, honey, bel leaves
- Mahadev Darshan: All devotees may enter the inner sanctum and offer their prayers directly
The air is thick with mantras, bells, and the scent of sandalwood, invoking surrender to Shiva’s formless grace.
🎉 Major Festivals at Somnath
| Festival | Significance |
|---|---|
| Mahashivaratri | A night-long celebration with Rudra chantings, meditation, and temple dances |
| Kartik Purnima | Celebrates the divine light and the moon’s fullness |
| Somvati Amavasya | No-moon day on a Monday—extraordinarily potent here |
| Shravan Maas (July–Aug) | The entire month sees massive pilgrim footfall, with daily Shiva pujas |
🧘 Spiritual Significance – Lessons for the Soul
🔥 Resilience:
Just as Somnath rose each time, so can we — from failure, heartbreak, or injustice.
🌙 Grace and Karma:
Even gods like Chandra pay for their karma. But Shiva is compassion — he heals those who sincerely seek.
🕉️ Sanatana Strength:
Invaders may have broken stones, but faith rebuilt what fear destroyed. Somnath is not a ruin — it is resistance through devotion.
🗺️ Sacred Geography – Where Sea Meets Silence
Located at the Prabhas Patan region, Somnath is also near:
- Bhalka Tirtha – Where Lord Krishna left his mortal form
- Triveni Sangam – Sacred confluence of Hiran, Kapila, and Saraswati (underground) rivers
- Gita Mandir – Temple with walls inscribed with entire Bhagavad Gita
- Sardar Patel’s Memorial – Honoring the Iron Man of India who restored not just the temple, but national pride
📜 Sanskrit Shloka – Shiva Mahima
सौराष्ट्रदेशे विशदेऽतिरम्ये ज्योतिर्मयं चन्द्रकलावतंसम्।
भक्तप्रियं चारितमात्रलेशात् प्रमोदितं शङ्करमेकमीडे॥
Transliteration:
Saurāṣṭradeśe viśade’tiramye jyotirmayaṁ candrakalāvataṁsam |
Bhaktapriyaṁ cāritamātraleśāt pramoditaṁ śaṅkaramekāmīḍe ||
Meaning:
I praise that One Shiva in the glorious land of Saurashtra, radiant as a pillar of light, adorned with the crescent moon, who delights merely by a glimpse of His devotees’ love.
🙏 Final Reflection
Somnath is more than a destination. It is a reminder that no force is stronger than faith, no ruin too great to be restored by shraddha. It invites us to look beyond suffering, to hold on to dharma, and to bow in silence before the Lord who never leaves—even when the world does.
Let Somnath live within you — as the voice that rises after every fall.