History of Somnath temple

Context: The Prime Minister of India is to inaugurate the Ram temple in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh on 22^nd January. This brought back the memory of inauguration of Somnath temple, that was 73 years ago by the then President of India, Rajendra Prasad. 

More from the news article:

• British Governor General Lord Ellenborough (1842-1844) presented the temple as a symbol of Islam’s excesses on Hindus. 
• After the British army was defeated in Afghanistan (1842) and faced heavy losses, a retaliatory strike was carried out. 
• ‘The gates of Somnath’, during this time became a major issue. A pair of sandalwood gates from Ghazni, were brought back by the British, claiming they were the original gates of Somnath taken by the invaders. 
• Lord Ellenborough proclaimed this as the avenging of an insult that Mahmud of Ghazni inflicted upon Hindus 800 years ago (1026). 
• The Nawab of Junagadh, where Somnath was located, decided to accede to Pakistan in August 1947. However, he fled when the rebellion started. 
• Sardar Patel, the then Home Minister, visited Junagadh (Saurashtra region, Gujarat) and announced the reconstruction of the Somnath temple. 
• As per the suggestion given by Gandhiji, a trust was set up under K. M. Munshi for funding the project. (The idea was, people of the country should collectively fund the project, instead of the Government, a secular entity). 
• In 1951, the then President of India, Rajendra Prasad was approached by K. M. Munshi for inauguration (Pran-Pratistha) of the temple. 

About Somnath Temple:

• Location: Along the coastline in Prabhas Patan, Veraval, Saurashtra region of Gujarat.
• Veraval was an ancient trading port. 
• During the Indus Valley Civilisation, the site of Prabhas Patan was occupied. After abandonment in 1200 BCE, it was reoccupied in 400 BCE. 
• As per the temple’s website, it is the holy place of the first Aadi Jyotirlinga Shree Somnath Mahadev and the sacred soil where Lord Krishna took his last journey. 
• Since ancient times, the site has been a pilgrimage site on account of being a Triveni Sangam, i.e., the confluence of three rivers, Kapila, Hiran and Saraswati. 

Descriptions of the Temple:

• No mentions of ‘Somnath nomenclature’ have been found in ancient Sanskrit texts of Hinduism.
• However, mentions of ‘Prabhas-Pattan’ as tirtha (Pilgrimage site), where the temple is located is found. 
• Raghuvamsa of Kalidasa (a 5^th century poem) mentions some of the sacred Shiva Pilgrimage sites: Banaras (Varanasi), Mahakal-Ujjain, Tryambaka, Prayaga, Pushkara, Gokarna and Somnath-Prabhasa. This clearly indicates tirthas of his time. 
• 11^th -century Persian historian Al-Biruni has also stated that, “Somnath has become so famous because it was the harbour for seafaring people and a station for those who went to and fro between Sufala in the country of Zanj (east Africa) and China.”
• The 14th century description was given by Amir Khusrow, where he noted, Gujarati Muslim pilgrims paid their respects before departing for the Hajj Pilgrimage (Mecca, Saudi Arabia). 

Origin, Construction and Reconstruction: 

• First temple is said to have existed 2000 years ago. 
• 649 AD: King Maitre of Vallabhini built a second temple. 
• Ruler of Sindh in 725, attacked and destroyed the temple. 
• 815: Pratishtha King Nag Bhatt II constructed the temple for the third time, using Red Sandstone. 
• 1026: Turkish ruler, Mahmud of Ghazni raided and plundered Somnath temple and destroyed it, during the reign of Solanki King Bhimdev I. This raid was confirmed by Al-Biruni, who worked in the court of Mahmud of Ghazni. 
• King Bhimdev in between 1026-1042, rebuilt the temple for the fourth time. 
• Kumarapala of the Chalukya-Solanki dynasty of Gujarat (his capital was Anahilapataka) rebuilt the temple and studded it with jewels, as per the inscription of 1169. 
• In 1299, during the Gujarat invasion, Allaudin Khilji’s army, led by Ulugh khan, sacked the temple after defeating Vaghela king Karna. 
• 1308: It was rebuilt by Mahipala I (Chudasama king of Saurashtra) and the lingam in the temple was re-installed by his son Khengara. Chudasama dynasty ruled the part of present-day Saurashtra region of Gujarat, sometime between the 9^th and 15^th centuries. Capital: Junagadh and Vamanasthali. 
• 1395: Attacked by Zafar khan. Zafar Khan was the last governor of Gujarat under the Delhi Sultanate and the founder of Gujarat Sultanate.
• 1451: Sacked by Mahmud Begada, the Sultan of Gujarat.
• As per the book: ‘Somanatha: the many voices of the 16th century’ by Romila Thapar, Mughal ruler Akbar permitted the worship of Linga in the temple and also appointed Desai/officers to administer it. 
• 1706: Mughal ruler, Aurangzeb again demolished the temple and gradually the temple fell into disuse. 
• 1782: Somnath temple was in dilapidated state when Maratha queen from Indore, Ahilya bai Holkar built a small temple and placed an idol. The Ahilyabai-built temple is now known as ‘Old Somnath’. 
• After India's independence: The present Somnath temple was reconstructed in the Maru-Gurjara style. 

Architecture of the temple: 

• Pre-11th century temple: Remains of the foundation, the lower structure suggests an exquisitely carved temple. The garbhagriha (sanctum) was connected to a mukha-mandapa (entrance hall). It opened to the east. 

• 19th-century ruined Somnath temple: British official and scholar, Alexander Burnes surveyed the site in 1830 and stated that the temple was converted into a Muslim structure (mosque) with an arch. 
• Present temple: Temple has a ‘Kailash Maha Meru Prasad’ form. The new temple is intricately carved, with pillared mandapa and 212 relief panels.