Somnath temple�after 66 years of revival

Somnath temple�after 66 years of revival

1. Somnath temple after 66 years of revival Dr.T.V.Rao MD

2. Brief History of Somnath Temple : Somnath temple is also known as Prabhas Pattan and the Shrine Eternal. Somnath is one of the 12 jyotirlinga shrines of God Shiva. Does any one know that what is the meaning of Somnath? I can understand rare people are aware about the meaning of Somnath. Meaning of Somnath is the protector of Go d moon. First temple of Somnath was built before the commencement of the Christian era. Second temple was built by Vallabhi King in 480 - 768 A.D.

3. History of the temple According to popular tradition documented by J. Gordon Melton, the first Siva temple at Somanath is believed to have been built at some unknown time in the past. The second temple is said to have been built at the same site by the "Yadava kings" of Vallabhi around 649 CE. In 725 CE, Al- Junayd , the Arab governor of Sindh is said to have destroyed the second temple as part of his invasions of Gujarat and Rajasthan. The Gurjara-Pratihara king Nagabhata II is said to have constructed the third temple in 815 CE, a large structure of red sandston

4. Somnath temple The Somnath temple located in Prabhas Patan near Veraval in Saurashtra on the western coast of Gujarat, India, is believed to be the first among the twelve jyotirlinga shrines of Shiva It is an important pilgrimage and tourist spot of Gujarat. Destroyed and reconstructed several times in the past, the present temple was reconstructed in Chalukya style of Hindu temple architecture and completed in May 1951. The reconstruction was envisioned by Vallabhbhai Patel and was completed under K. M. Munshi, the then head of the temple trust

5. Jyotirlinga According to tradition, the Shivalinga in Somnath is one of the twelve jyotirlingas in India, where Shiva is believed to have appeared as a fiery column of light. The jyotirlingas are taken as the supreme, undivided reality out of which Shiva partly appear

6. Somnath temple Surprising thing about Somnath is that from Somnath Se-shore there is no stair-light land up to the Antarctica. It is really surprising. Somnath temple is also famous for its architecture. In present Somnath Temple is built in Chalukya style which is also known as Kailash mahameru Prasad Style. This Style of Architecture reflects the Sompura salats skill which is one of the Gujarat's master masons.

7. Jyotirlinga Each of the twelve jyotirlinga sites take the name of a different manifestation of Shiva. At all these sites, the primary image is a lingam representing the beginning-less and endless stambha (pillar), symbolizing the infinite nature of Shiva. In addition to the one at Somnath, the others are at Varanasi, Rameswaram, Dwarka, etc.

8. Reconstruction of somnath The principal temple of Somnath is believed to have been built in gold by the moon god Soma, in silver by the sun god Ravi, in wood by Krishna and in stone by the Solanki Rajputs in the 11th century. The present temple, built in 1951, is the seventh reconstruction on the original site. Tales of its riches attracted a series of invasions,

9. Somnath: Looted, destroyed and resurrected 17 times In AD 1026, Mahmud of Ghazni first looted the temple, and then came Afzal Khan, the commander of Ala- ud -din Khilji and later Aurangzeb. It is said that the temple was looted and destroyed as many as seventeen times.

10. Restoration of Somnath Each time the temple was invaded, it was restored to its original glory by devout Hindu worshipers. Commanding a breathtaking view from the tip of the Saurashtra peninsula, kissed by the waves of the Arabian coast, the temple has been constructed in the Chalukyan style with a shikhara nearly 50 m tall. The temple's imposing architecture includes intricate carvings, silver doors, an impressive Nandi idol and the central shivalinga. In the vast courtyard stand the massive mandapa (hall), as well as the main shrine, whose gently curved pyramidal forms tower over the whole complex.

11. Rebuilding of somnath temple On November 13, 1947, Deputy PM Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel vowed to rebuild Somnath (the temple in ruins above). Architect Prabhashankar Sompura was picked, and limestone quarried from Chorwad (28 km from Somnath) was used for constructing the temple in the ‘Nagar’ architectural style. This style connects structures without the use of metal.

12. Vallabhbhai Patel The Iron man of India, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel was instrumental in the construction of the present temple, an edifice reminding visitors of the splendor of the original Somnath temple. Renowned temple architect Prabhaschandar designed it and the first President of India Dr. Rajendra Prasad installed the Jyotirling in the new temple on May 11, 1951.

13. Devotion of millions Thus, with the devotion of millions, the pledge of Patel, the blessing of Gandhi and an untiring effort by Munshi, the majestic Somnath temple was restored and a soothing balm was applied to the unhealed wounds of the nation. Meanwhile, Nehru did change his mind regarding ancient shrines. He donated land for the construction of pilgrim’s centre in Sanchi for Buddhist travellers and provided grants for the restoration of Sarnath

14. 11 May 2017 marked 66 years since the restoration of the Somnath temple 11 May marked 66 years since the restoration of the Somnath temple in Gujarat. It was on 11 May, 1951, that President Rajendra Prasad had led the reinstallation ceremony of the lingam at the temple. However, the path to the ceremony was not straight and was preceded by strained exchanges between Nehru on one side and Rajendra Prasad and KM Munshi on the other.

15. Hinduism survive by faith So, on 11 May 1951, Rajendra Prasad, while presiding over the opening ceremony of the temple, gave a stirring speech. He said that the physical symbols of our civilisation maybe destroyed, but no arms, army or king could destroy the bond that the people had with their culture and faith

16. Hinduism survive by faith Till that bond remained, the civilisation would survive. He added that it was the creative urge for civilizational renewal, nurtured in the hearts of the people through centuries that had once again led to the praan-pratishta of the Somnath deity. Somnath was the symbol of economic and spiritual prosperity of ancient India, he said. The re-building of Somnath will not be complete till India attains the prosperity of the yesteryear.

17. The Legend of Somnath survived many threats proving that Hinduism is a eternal Religion and blesses Humanity Email [email protected]