Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is on a three-day visit to Gujarat, will participate in the historic ‘Somnath Swabhiman Parv,’ on Sunday. The event marks exactly 1,000 years since the first invasion of the temple in 1026 and 75 years since its post-independence restoration in 1951. Today, the Prime Minister will take part in the ‘Shaurya Yatra’, a ceremonial procession honouring those who defended the shrine. Mr Modi will also perform pooja and offer prayers at the temple. He will then address a public gathering in Somnath. Later in the day, the Prime Minister is scheduled to inaugurate the Vibrant Gujarat Regional Conference in Rajkot. Earlier, on reaching Somnath yesterday evening, the Prime Minister participated in the ‘Omkar Mantra’ chanting and viewed a spectacular drone show at the temple. Akashvani correspondent reports that the holy shrine is witnessing a huge spiritual gathering with devotees from across the country participating in these historic celebrations.
The history of the Somnath Mahadev Temple, the first of the twelve Jyotirlingas, is a saga of unparalleled resilience and faith. For centuries, this sacred site remained a target of foreign invaders, most notably the one in 1026 when Mahmud of Ghazni plundered its treasures and destroyed the sanctum. Despite the repeated reconstruction efforts by local kings like Bhimdev I, the temple faced further destruction under the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb in the late 17th century. In the 18th century, it was the visionary Queen of Indore, Ahilyabai Holkar, who ensured that the spirit of worship remained alive by building a new temple adjacent to the ruined site. The turning point in its modern history arrived with India’s independence. In 1947, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel visited the ruins of Prabhas Patan and, moved by its state, took a historic resolve to rebuild the temple to its former glory. Under his guidance, a public trust was formed, leading to the construction of the current grand Chaulukya-style structure, which was inaugurated by President Dr. Rajendra Prasad in 1951.
Today, this journey of development continues under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Through the PRASHAD scheme, the temple complex has been improved with modern facilities, including a sea-view walkway, a center for tourists, and a new museum gallery, ensuring that Somnath remains a powerful symbol of India’s lasting spirit for generations to come.
