# data[].attributes.body
Somnath temple information

Location

History

Architecture

Mythology

Significance

Fun facts

Video

Public review

Images....

# data[].attributes.body
The Somnath temple, also called Somanātha temple or Deo Patan, is located in Prabhas Patan, Veraval in Gujarat, India. One of the most sacred pilgrimage sites for the Hindus, they believe it to be the first among the twelve Jyotirlinga shrines of Shiva. Reconstructed several times in the past after repeated destruction by several Muslim invaders and rulers, it is unclear when the first version of the Somnath temple was built. Estimates for the first Somnath temple vary between the early centuries of the 1st-millennium to about the 9th-century CE. The temple's history is a subject of disputes and remains

# data[].attributes.body
The Somnath temple is located close to the ancient trading port of Veraval, one of three in Gujarat from where Indian merchants departed to trade goods. The 11th-century Persian historian Al-Biruni states that Somnath has become so famous because "it was the harbor for seafaring people, and a station for those who went to and fro between Sufala in the country of Zanj (east Africa) and China". Combined with its repute as an eminent pilgrimage site, its location was well known to the kingdoms within the Indin subcontinent.

# data[].attributes.body
The site of Somnath has been a pilgrimage site from ancient times on account of being a Triveni Sangam (the confluence of three rivers: Kapila, Hiran and Saraswati). Soma, the Moon god (Chandradeva), is believed to have lost his lustre due to a curse, and he bathed in the Sarasvati River at this site to regain it. The result is said to be the waxing and waning of the moon. The name of the town, Prabhas, meaning lustre, as well as the alternative names Someshvar and Somnath ("the lord of the moon" or "the moon god"), arise from this tradition.

# data[].attributes.body
The crowning glory of the Saurashtra peninsula, many believe that the central structure of Somnath was made in gold and silver by the moon and sun divinities respectively, in timber by Lord Krishna, and in stone by the 11th-century ruling Rajputs. The indelible layers of time have led to several reconstructions of the temple, with the seventh occurring as recently as 1951, in the Chalukya style. The temple's architectural paragon contains ornate engravings, silver partitions, convex pyramidal forms and an awe-inspiring Nandi idol.

# data[].attributes.body
The Somnath temple is not mentioned in ancient Sanskrit texts of Hinduism.The "Prabhasa-Pattana" site of Somnath is mentioned in ancient texts.[32] For example, the Mahabharata (c. 400 CE) in Chapters 109, 118 and 119 of the Book Three (Vana Parva), and Sections 10.45 and 10.78 of the Bhagavata Purana state Prabhasa to be a tirtha on the coastline of Saurashtra.

According to the historian Romila Thapar, Somnath may have been linked to this Prabhasa Pattana through mythology in some later century. She proposes that this was done by inventing a Triveni Sangam where rivers Kapila and Hiran met mythical Sarasvati river. Here, Soma – the Moon god (Chandra deva) – after losing his lustre, bathed in the Sarasvati River and thus regained his prabhasa (brilliance). The town was therefore named Prabhasa, meaning lustre. The alternative names Someshvar and Somnath ("the lord of the moon" or "the moon god") arise from this tradition.

# data[].attributes.body
Somnath Temple is believed to be the place where Lord Krishna ended his Lila and thereafter left for heavenly abode

The first Siva temple at Somanath is believed to have been built at some unknown time in the past

Gujarat was raided by Mahmud of Ghazni in 1024, plundering the Somnath temple and breaking its sacred jyotirling.

On the walls of Somnath Temple, the sculptures of Lord Brahma, Shiva and Vishnu can be seen.

According to another reference in the Skanda Purana, there are about 6 Brahmas. This is the era of 7thBrahma who is called Shatanand.

The flag mast on the peak of Somnath Temple is 37 feet long and it changes 3 times a day.

The saga of Somnath temple is related to moon god and curse of his father in law Daksha Prajapati.

# data[].attributes.body
A must visit temple. Wonderful architecture. Very well maintained. We had great darshan without any interference by any pandas or other middlemen. No one asks for any money or forces you to go for different poojas like most of the other famous places / temples. Atmosphere at the time of evening aarti was something to experience....
One can have a beautiful sunset views from the temple

# data[].attributes.body
Somnath means "Lord of the Soma" or "moon". The site is also called as Prabhasa (lit. "place of splendor"). Somnath temple has been a jyotirlinga site for the Hindus, and a holy place of tirtha (pilgrimage). It is one of five most revered sites on the seacoast of India, along with the nearby Dvaraka in Gujarat, Puri in Odisha, Rameshvaram and Chidambaram in Tamil Nadu.