Somnath Temple History: 1000 years have passed since the first attack on the Somnath Temple. Destroyed and rebuilt several times, the temple still stands proudly today. However, those who came to destroy it were themselves destroyed. One Mughal ruler even lost his senses upon seeing the Shivalinga in this temple.

Somnath Temple History : It's been 1,000 years since the first attack on the Somnath Temple. In 1026, Mahmud Ghaznavi attacked the temple, destroyed it, and looted everything. Despite destroying the Somnath Temple, a center of Hindu faith, Mahmud Ghaznavi remained unscathed. This is proof that even after 1,000 years, Hindus retain the same faith, and the temple stands proudly today.

The present form of this temple is also marking 75 years since its construction. The temple is in the news on this occasion, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi has expressed the country's sentiments about it in a blog post. Let's recount the incident when Mughal ruler Mahmud Ghaznavi visited this temple and was stunned by the miracles he witnessed. He later looted and destroyed the temple, shedding the blood of its devotees.  

Shivling used to float in the air

The Somnath Temple, located on the seashore in the Kathiawar region of Gujarat, is one of the 12 Jyotirlingas. The glory of this Jyotirlinga is found in numerous religious texts, including the Mahabharata, the Srimad Bhagavatam, and the Skanda Purana. It is believed that Lord Chandra Deva, considering Lord Shiva as his Nath-Swami, performed penance here, hence the name "Somnath." Another name for the Moon is "Som."

This ancient temple is said to have housed a floating Shivalinga. It was a unique architectural marvel, held in place by the power of a magnet. It is said that Mahmud of Ghaznavi was stunned by its presence when he first visited the temple. That very day, he formed his evil intentions regarding the temple.

Somnath temple was looted, destroyed and blood was shed.

In 1026, Mahmud of Ghaznavi attacked the Somnath Temple with a force of approximately 5,000 soldiers. He looted and destroyed all the temple's wealth. He also killed unarmed worshippers inside the temple. He also shed the blood of the surrounding villagers who had come forward to defend the temple.

The temple was subsequently rebuilt several times, and was also destroyed and looted on numerous occasions. The last time, after India's independence, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel resolved to build a new temple using seawater. In 1950, the temple was rebuilt, and it still stands today. The temple that stands today was commissioned by India's Home Minister, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, and dedicated to the nation by India's President, Shankar Dayal Sharma, in December 1995.

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