1000 years survival of Somnath Temple
Context: Prime Minister of India highlighted the thousand-year survival of the Somnath Temple, marking 1,000 years since the 1026 attack by Mahmud of Ghazni.
About 1000 years survival of Somnath Temple:
What it is?
The Somnath Temple is one of the 12 sacred Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva, revered across Hindu tradition. It is often called the “Eternal Shrine” due to its repeated destruction and reconstruction over centuries.
Location:
- Prabhas Patan, near Veraval, in the Saurashtra region of Gujarat
- Situated on the Arabian Sea coast, at the confluence (Triveni Sangam) of the Kapila, Hiran, and Saraswati rivers
History of the temple:
- Ancient origins: References in the Shiva Purana and inscriptions suggest worship since antiquity, with multiple pre-medieval reconstructions.
- 1026 CE: Attacked and plundered by Mahmud of Ghazni, marking the most cited historical rupture.
- Medieval period: Rebuilt several times by rulers such as Kumarapala (12th century) and Chudasama kings, and destroyed again under Sultanate invasions.
- Repeated cycle: Historical records indicate the temple was destroyed six times and rebuilt each time, reinforcing its symbolic resilience.
Key architectural features:
- Built in the Chaulukya (Solanki) style of temple architecture
- Features a lofty shikhara, intricate stone carvings, and a grand garbhagriha housing the Jyotirlinga
- A notable inscription states that from the temple’s southern arrow, there is no landmass till the South Pole, symbolising cosmic alignment
Modern reconstruction:
- Post-Independence revival (1947–51): Initiated by Vallabhbhai Patel, who viewed reconstruction as a civilisational duty.
- Executed by architect Prabhashankar Sompura using traditional methods.
- Inaugurated on 11 May 1951 by Rajendra Prasad, despite political differences of the time.
- Today, the temple is managed by the Somnath Trust, chaired by the Prime Minister of India.