Somnath Temple: Whenever Somnath Temple is mentioned, only one thing is said that this temple has been looted many times and yet the grandeur of this temple remains intact. Although there are many reports and facts about the attacks on the temple, it is said that the Somnath temple was demolished 17 times and rebuilt every time. Even today this temple is discussed because in the year 1026, Sultan Mahmud Ghaznavi looted and destroyed the Somnath temple.
The story of this temple has always been interesting. Today we will tell you Let us tell you who built the present Somnath temple. From this you will also know how many attacks the Somnath temple has faced and how it stood up once again. So let us know some special things related to Somnath temple…
Mythological significance of the temple?
Somnath is the first of the 12 Jyotirlingas of India. It is mentioned in ancient texts like Skandapuran, Shrimad Bhagwat, Shivpuran. Information given about the temple on a government website states that, in Shiva Purana and Nandi Upa Purana, Shiva has said that I am present everywhere, especially in the twelve forms and places of Jyotirlinga. Somnath is one of these holy places.
History of the temple
According to the same report, it is believed that the Somnath temple located on the beach was built in four phases by Lord Som with gold, Ravi with silver, Lord Shri Krishna with sandalwood and King Bhimdev with stones. Historical facts show that many Muslim invaders attacked it several times during the 11th to 18th centuries. However, the temple was rebuilt every time with the rebuilding enthusiasm of the people.
Mahmud Ghaznavi attacked Somnath temple
According to another report, Arab traveler Al Beruni has described this temple located in Veraval Bandar, Gujarat in his travelogue. Influenced by this, Mahmud Ghaznavi attacked the Somnath temple, looted its property and destroyed it. After this, King Bhima of Gujarat and King Bhoj of Malwa got it rebuilt. It was demolished again in 1297 when the Delhi Sultanate captured Gujarat. The process of reconstruction and demolition of Somnath temple continued.
destroyed 17 times
The second Shiva temple at Somnath was built by the Yadava kings of Vallabhi in 649 AD. Apart from this, kings like Nagabhatta II of Gurjar Pratihar dynasty, Chalukya king Mulraj, King Kumarpal, King Mahipal of Saurashtra built it many times. Apart from Ghaznavi, Sindh governors Al-Junaid, Alauddin Khilji and Aurangzeb dismissed it. Historians say that Somnath temple was destroyed 17 times and rebuilt every time.
Who built the present temple?
However, the temple as it stands now was built by India’s Home Minister Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel after 1947 and dedicated to the nation by the President of India Shankar Dayal Sharma on 1 December 1995. Sardar Patel had gone to Mahatma Gandhi with the proposal to reconstruct the Somnath temple. Gandhiji appreciated this proposal and suggested collecting money from the public. After the death of Sardar Patel, the reconstruction work of the temple was completed under the guidance of KM Munshi. Munshi was at that time the Minister of Food and Civil Supplies of the Government of India. The temple was built in Kailash Mahameru Prasad style. The temple has a sanctum sanctorum, an assembly hall and a dance hall. The weight of the Kalash placed on the top of the peak is 10 kg and the flagpole is 27 feet high and has a circumference of one foot.
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Tags: Dharma Aastha, Gujarat, Somnath temple, travel
FIRST PUBLISHED: April 12, 2024, 17:41 IST