The Somnath Temple located in the Prabhas Kshetra near Veraval in Saurashtra, on the western coast of Gujarat, India, is one of the twelve Jyotirlinga shrines of the God Shiva. Somnath means "The Protector of Moon God".
Somnath Jyotirlinga Temple, one of the 12 Jyotirlinga temples dedicated to Lord Shiva.
Somnath Jyotirlinga Temple, one of the 12 Jyotirlinga temples dedicated to Lord Shiva.
The Somnath Temple is known as "the Shrine Eternal", having been destroyed six times and rebuilt six times.[1][2] Most recently it was rebuilt in November 1947, when Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel visited the area for the integration of Junagadh and mooted a plan for restoration. After Patel's death, the rebuilding continued under K. M. Munshi, another minister of the Government of India.
The Moon God is said to have been relieved from the curse of his father-in-law Daksha Prajapati by the blessings of Bhagvan Somnath. In the Shiva Purana and Nandi Upapurana, Shiva said, `I am always present everywhere but specially in 12 forms and places as the jyotirlingas`. Somnath is one of these 12 holy places. This is the first among the twelve holy Shiva Jyotirlings.
The shore temple of Somnath is believed to have been built in 4 phases-in gold by Lord Soma, in silver by Ravi, in wood by lord Krishna and in stone by King Bhimadeva.
Timing for Darshan at Somnath Temple :
6.00am to 9.00pm Timing for Aarti : 7.00 am, 12.00 Noon and 7.00 pm
Jay Somnath Sound and Light Show : 8.00 pm to 9.00 pm