News: The Prime Minister highlighted the 1,000-year survival and resilience of the Somnath Temple, marking a millennium since its 1026 CE attack by Mahmud of Ghazni.

Somnath Temple-About

• One of the 12 sacred Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva.
• Known as the “Eternal Shrine”, representing faith, continuity, and revival in Hindu tradition.
• Location: Prabhas Patan, near Veraval, Saurashtra region, Gujarat, situated on the Arabian Sea coast
• At the Triveni Sangam of the Kapila, Hiran, and Saraswati rivers.

Features

• Built in Chaulukya (Solanki) style.
• Lofty shikhara, Intricate stone carvings
• Grand garbhagriha housing the Jyotirlinga

Cultural belief:

• An inscription claims that from the temple’s southern arrow, there is no landmass until the South Pole, symbolizing cosmic alignment

Historical Significance

• Mentioned in Shiva Purana and early inscriptions, indicating worship since antiquity.
• 1026 CE: Temple attacked and plundered by Mahmud of Ghazni
• Rebuilt by rulers such as Kumarapala (12th century) and Chudasama kings.
• Symbol of resilience: Destroyed and rebuilt six times, reinforcing its civilizational symbolism.