Somnath Jyotirlinga

The first among the twelve Jyotirlingas — rebuilt on the Arabian Sea shore after centuries of destruction and renewal.

दर्शन महत्व: Evening aarti facing the ocean is unforgettable; the temple anchors Gujarat’s sacred coastline.

यात्रा का सर्वश्रेष्ठ समय: Oct–Mar

History

Somnath at Prabhas Patan on Gujarat’s Arabian Sea coast is traditionally the first of the twelve Jyotirlingas. The shrine has been destroyed and rebuilt many times — from early medieval temples through Chalukya, Solanki, and later reconstructions — and the present temple was consecrated in 1951 as a symbol of living Shaiva faith.

Legends

• The Skanda Purana and Shiva Purana describe Somnath as the place where Chandra (the Moon) regained his lustre after worshipping Shiva — hence Soma-nath, Lord of the Moon.
• Prabhas Kshetra is also tied to Krishna’s last days in the Mahabharata tradition, making the coast sacred to both Shaiva and Vaishnava pilgrims.