SOMNATH TEMPLE

A major Hindu pilgrimage site, the Somnath temple follows the traditional pattern of Hindu temples and has superb, finely carved sculptures. It houses one of the twelve most sacred jyotirlinga of the country, a representation of Shiva in the form of a black cylinder. Somnath is considered the first temple to be visited by devotees who undertake the pilgrimage of the 12 maha jyortilinga . Somnath refers to the Lord of Soma (the moon). With Chalukya style architecture, the temple has two levels and has a 15 meter high sikhara topped by a flag. The mandapa (central hall) is supported by several pillars and the walls contain 212 panels in relief.

The origins of the Somnath temple are so deeply rooted in Hindu tradition that it is not yet known when it was first built, despite extensive archaeological research at the site. Throughout history, the temple has been razed seven times and systematically rebuilt. The Seuna, kings of Vallabhi, would have undertaken the second construction of the temple in 649. Each invasion of the region by the Muslims led to a destruction. The most famous was that undertaken by Mahmud of Gazhni, the cruel Afghan emperor. In 1024, he seized the temple after a two-day siege that saw 70,000 Hindu devotees perish, according to legend. At the time, the temple was extraordinarily rich and nearly 300 musicians and 500 dancers took turns day and night. The fourth construction of the temple began two years later and was completed in 1046. In 1665, the famous Mughal emperor Aurangzeb also had the temple destroyed by his troops, which seems to have been an important feat of arms for the invaders of Somnath. A temple was rebuilt in 1783, on an adjacent site, with the joint efforts of the rajas of Gwalior, Maheshwar and Pune. At the same time, the Mahrathe Mahadaji Shinde brought back the stolen heavy silver doors from Lahore, but the Gaekwad ruler refused to return them to their original location. These gates are now located at the entrance of the temple in Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh. In 1850, the temple was temporarily converted into a mosque. In 1947, at the time of independence, Prabas Pathan, the ruler of Junagadh, expressed his wish to join Pakistan. The Indian government refused and in retaliation, undertook to build an eighth temple on the original site. This is the one you can visit now.