Somnath temple

Somnath temple , india

1. SOMNATH TEMPLE सौराष्ट्रदेशे वसुधावकाशेज्योतिर्मयं चंद्रकलावतंसम्। भक्तिप्रदानायं कृतावतारंतं सोमनाथं शरणं प्रपधे ।।

2. LOCATION Somnath Temple is located in a small village known as Saurashtra in the state of Gujrat . It is constructed in such a manner that its front faces the Arabian Sea. Shree Somnath is the first among the twelve Aadi Jyotirlingas of India. It is the holy place of the Aadi Jyotirlinga Shree Somnath Mahadev . It also has the sacred soil from where Bhagvan Shri Krishna took his last journey.

3. FEATURES Architectural Style : Chalukya Style of Temple Architecture or Kailash Mahameru Prasad Architect : Prabhaschandra Period : No specific period, as it was rebuilt 7 times. Reason for Construction : It stands as a dedication to Lord Someshwar .

4. LEGEND Emperor Daksha had 28 daughters. Sati being one of them, grew up and became the wife of Lord Shiva. While the rest of Daksha’s daughters were married off to Chandra, the Moon God. Out of his 27 wives, Chandra held deep affections towards Rohini , and neglected the others. Seeing his biased behavior, Daksha cursed Chandra that he would loose all his beauty and radiance. When this happened, the entire world became lifeless. Chandra came down to Earth with his wife and began worshipping the spars linga of Lord Somnath …

5. an … Impressed by Chandra’s dedication, Lord Shiva lifted his curse. Since it was this place, where Chandra regained his light here, this town came to be known as Prabhasa . Brahma, one of the trinity, installed the Brahmashila , and paved the way for the construction of the temple. On the request of Chandra and the other gods, Bhagwan Shankar assumed the name Somchandra ( Jyotirlinga ) and resided there eternally. He became famous by the name Somnath in the three worlds.

6. HISTORY Somnath has had a very troubled history, with being destroyed and rebuilt seven times. The first of the Somnath temple was built in an unknown time in the past. It is believed that the Somnath temple was originally built by Somraj , the Moon God himself, out of gold, and then rebuilt by Ravana in silver and then by Krishna in wood, then by Bhimdev in stone.

7. DEMOLITIONS AND RESTORATIONS In 725; destroyed by Junayad , the Arab governor of Sindh . Gurjara Pratihara king Nagabhata II constructed the third temple in 815, with red sandstone. In AD 1024, destroyed by Mahmud Ghazni . Rebuilt by Solanki King Bhim Dev between AD 1026-1042 with wood. Kumarpal , replaced the structure and made a structure of stone. ....

8. …. In AD 1296, destroyed by Sultan Allauddin Khilji’s army. Rebuilt by Mahipal Deva , the Chaudasama King of Saurashtra in AD 1308, and the Linga was installed by his son Khengar between AD 1326-1351. In 1375, destroyed by Muzzaffar Shah I, the Sultan of Gujrat . Rebuilt by local public in AD 1400. In AD 1451, destroyed by Mahmud Begda . In AD 1701, destroyed by Aurangzeb. Aurangzeb built a mosque at the site using some columns from the temple, whose Hindu sculptural motifs remained visible. Queen Ahilyabai Holkar of Indore rebuilt the temple in 1783 A.D. at a site adjacent to the ruined temple which had been converted to a mosque by then.

9. RUINS…

10. A picture showing the ruined Shikhar of an early version of Somnath Temple.

11. Picture of a painting depicting the demolition of Somnath Temple by Mahmud Ghazni’s Army

12. PRESENT TEMPLE The final and present resurrection of Somnath took place in 1947, when after Independence Sardar Patel and K M Munshi went to Gandhiji with the proposal to reconstruct the Somnath temple. Gandhiji suggested that the funds for the construction, be collected from the public and that the temple should not be funded by the state. Soon, both Gandhi and Sardar Patel died and the task of temple reconstruction continued under the eminent statesman K M Munshi . It was completed in 1951. The Pran-Pratistha (a rite or ceremony by which God Shiva is invoked into the idol) was performed in the temple by the President, Dr Rajendra Prasad on May 11, 1951.

13. Side View of Somnath Temple

14. ARCHITECTURAL FEATURES Built in Chalukaya Style of Architecture. It is made up of Sand Stone. But since it has underwent a series of destruction and restoration, it has faint influences of various other architectural styles like that of Jain, Narga and South Indian. Shikhar rises to a height of about 155 ft. The top of the Shikhar has a kalash (pot vessel) resting on it which weighs 10 tons. The flag mast on the pinnacle is 37 ft. long and is changed thrice everyday. It has a S hikhara , Garbhagriha , Sabha mandap N ritya Mandap . ....

15. …. The temple faces East and has three entries, each from East, North and South. The temple rests on a set of 64 intricately carved Pillars. In its external design it compares well with the temple of Rudramala at Siddhapur and is more or less of the same length. The dome, however, is as large as any other built in this period.  ….

16. 1. The plan is of typical Hindu Temple Architecture kind. 2. The front steps lead to a pillared hall called the Rang Mandap where dance performances were held. 3. Rang Mandap is followed by another bigger hall called the Sabha Mandap where religious preaching were given. 4. The Garbhagriha or the Sanctum Sanctorum, holds the image of the deity. 5. The dome over the Sabha Mandap is the biggest ever built in entire India. Garbhagriha Sabha Mandap Nritya Mandap Or Rang Mandap PLAN OF SOMNATH TEMPLE

17. …. The extensive carvings on the pillars and walls is proof of the fact that the temple’s architecture has Jain influences. ....

18. …. The sculptures made on the pyramidal domes is c haracteristic of South Indian Architecture.

19. …. The Shikhar of the temple has Aedicules which resemble the Nagara Style of Architecture.

20. …. The entrance gate of the temple has Jharokhas which are elements os Rajputi style of architecture. Also the gate has beautifully carved torans hanging above the arched gateway which again signifies the Jain traces.

21. …. Pictures showing the insides of the temple. The Garbhgriha has marble flooring and Holds the Shivlinga . The sabha mandap and rang mandap have stone flooring and the sabha Mandap has an Idol of Nandi.

22. …. Pictures showing the sculptures of Gods and dancing apsaras Inside the temple complex.

23. …. A compound wall of about 8 meters s urrounds the temple, which is kissed b y sea waves during high tides. The fragments that lie scattered at a short distance from the site give same idea of the sculptured decoration of the temple .

24. Somnath temple has had a very troubled history. It was looted and destroyed many times. With each king or emperor who restored the temple over the centuries, a new style or feature was added to the temple every time it was rebuilt. Therefore, the temple has no particular type of architecture. It is a fusion of many kinds of styles. Over the years, temple architecture has evolved in ways that has changed the identity of temples. Earlier, temples were seen merely as places of worship and for making offerings to Gods. But as the social mores intensified, temples were being used as places for social gatherings. Earlier the temple buildings were primitively planned with just one room for worshipping. But as social needs pressed on, mandaps , kunds etc. were added later to serve religious and social purposes. The early versions of Somnath temple began with having the primitive planning. But after every restoration, according to the social mores of that era, a new element was added. And today, Somnath Temple s tands as a single live example of the entire evolution process, t he Temple Architecture has seen in India…

25. PRESENTED BY: Sneha Sharma Rashi Jain THANK YOU Shivani Daad Vartika Aggarwal Vidhushi Methwani Yashika Aggarwal