Turbulent History of Somnath Temple

By Mira Pawar.

Somnath temple is believed to be the first of the twelve jyotirlings in India where Shiva appeared as a fiery column of light. This temple is traced back to 649 BC. Initially, the temple was built by Somraj (moon God) who was cursed by Daksha for showing more love to one of his 27 wives. At that time Somraj prayed to lord Shiva who restored his light, and therefore in gratitude, Somraj had built a temple for Lord Shiva out of Gold in Somnath. The temple was rebuilt by Ravan in silver and thereafter Lord Krishna build it in wood and finally, Bhimdev the king of Gujarat built it in stone. Somnath temple has a long and turbulent history as it was destroyed several times by invaders and rebuild.

In 1024, Mahmud of Ghazni, the legendary looter from Afghanistan visited the temple. During that period, the temple was so wealthy that it had 300 musicians, 500 dancing girls and 300 barbers. Ghazni captured the town and temple after a two-day battle in which, 70,000 defenders died. The temple was not only stripped of its fabulous wealth but also destroyed. Somnath temple was destroyed in 1297, then again in 1394 and finally in 1706 by Aurangzeb, the Mughal ruler. The temple was rebuilt in 1951 under the direction of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and the installation ceremony was performed by Late Dr. Rajendra Prasad, former President of India.

One of the most fascinating aspects of the temple is the legend of the levitating Jyotirling which was believed to float in mid-air without any support. As per the legend, the original jyotirling in Somnath was made of iron and was suspended in the air by the magnetic force of a huge loadstone or magnetite that was fixed on the ceiling of the temple. The loadstone was also said to have alchemical properties, as it could produce gold from the iron. The Jyotirling was believed to be hidden inside the Syamantak Mani or the philosophers stone which was associated with Lord Krishna. The Syamantak Mani was a gem that could grant any wish and was also a source of immense wealth and power.

The legend of the levitating jyotirling was first recorded by the historians of Mahmud of Ghazni, an Afghan ruler who invaded India in the 11^th century CE. Ghazni was well known for plundering and destroying many Hindu temples. As per scientific explanation it is possible that the ancient architects of Somnath temple used the magnetic principle to create the levitating jyotirling. They may have used a large loadstone as the ceiling magnet, a smaller iron jyotirling as the lower magnet and a thin layer of Bismuth a diamagnetic metal as the diamagnetic material between them. The Bismuth may have been hidden inside the Syamantak Mani which served as a decorative and symbolic element. The Bismuth would have prevented the jyotirling from touching the loadstone or falling to the ground and created a stable levitation system. The gold coating on the loadstone could have been either a natural phenomenon or an artificial embellishment. The iron Jyotirling could have also been a meteorite fragment which would have added to its sacredness and rarity.

The levitating jyotirling was not only a religious and artistic marvel but also a scientific and technological achievement. It demonstrated the advanced knowledge and skill of the ancient Indian architects and metallurgists who were able to create a magnetic levitation system using natural materials without any external power source. It also reflected the cultural and spiritual values of the ancient Indians who revered nature and its forces as manifestations of the divine.

The levitating Jyotirling of Somnath temple is a proof of the ancient wisdom and wonder of India and a reminder of the potential for life in the most unexpected places. Somnath temple is one of the few known temples where past life regression Pooja is performed

The best time to visit is October to February.

Mode of Travel:

By Road: The temple lies 82 kms from Junagadh, 270 kms from Bhavnagar and 120 kms from Porbandar, from Ahmedabad it is 400 kms to Somnath.

By Train: Somnath has a railway station which is the nearest to Somnath temple and is well connected to other major towns in Gujarat and the rest of India

By Air: Porbandar airport is 120 kms and Rajkot airport is 200 kms away.