It also marks 1000 years since the first attack on the temple in 1026 A.D by Mahmud Ghazni.
About Somnath Temple
- One of twelve Aadi Jyotirlingas.
- Jyotirlinga means ‘column or pillar of light’.
- Location: Prabhas Patan along the Saurashtra coast in Gujarat.
- Literary Sources: Dwadasha Jyotirlinga Stotram (Places Somnath first among the twelve Jyotirlingas), Skanda Purana, Prabhasa Khanda, Rig Veda and Bhagavat.
- Mythology Associated: Built by Chandra Dev, the Moon God, who worshipped Lord Shiva here to free himself from a curse. Som means Moon. Nath means Lord.
- Religious Sects Associated: Shaivism, Vaishnavism, Shaktism.
- Foreign Travellers Associated: Mentioned by the Arab traveler Al-Biruni.
- Architecture:Chalukya style also called Kailash Mahameru Prasad Style.
- Features:
- Vesara Style: Blends Nagara-style with Dravidian-style.
- Constituents: Shikhara, Garbhagriha, Sabha Mandap, Nritya Mandap, traditional carvings, a spacious clean courtyard, and Baan Stambh pointing toward the South Pole.
- Material: Built of sandstone.
- Features:
- Restoration:
- 12th century: Kumarapala
- 13th century: King of Junagadh
- 18th century: Ahilyabai Holkar
- 1951: Pran Pratishtha (consecration) done by Dr. Rajendra Prasad.
- It was initiated by Sardar Patel in 1947.
