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PM Commemorates 1000 Years Since Mahmud of Ghazni’s 1026 Attack on Somnath
The Prime Minister commemorates 1000 years since the first attack on Somnath in 1026 AD. The commemoration brings focus on Somnath Temple’s location, associated beliefs, recorded accounts, invasions, and present reconstructed form.
Somnath Temple (Prabhas Patan, Gujarat):
| Dimension | Key Details |
|---|---|
| Current trigger | Prime Minister commemorates 1000 years since the first attack on Somnath in 1026 AD. |
| Religious classification | First among the 12 Jyotirlinga shrines of Shiva. |
| Location | Prabhas Patan near Veraval, Saurashtra, on the western coast of Gujarat. |
| Triveni Sangam | Confluence of Kapila, Hiran and Sarasvati rivers. |
| Mythical origins | Built first by Somraj (Moon God) in gold; rebuilt by Ravana in silver, by Krishna in wood, and by Bhimdev in stone. |
| Historical account | Al-Biruni (Persian scholar) comprises a detailed description contributing to the temple’s fame across regions. |
| Attack and destruction (1025–1026 CE) | Attacked in late 1025 or early 1026 CE by Mahmud of Ghazni (invader from present-day Afghanistan); seized after a 2-day battle with nearly 70,000 defenders killed; looted vast treasures and demolished the structure. |
| Subsequent destructions | Destroyed again in 1297 CE (Alauddin Khilji’s forces), 1394, and 1706; destructions attributed to several Muslim rulers and the Portuguese. |
| Origins | 649 BCE. |
| Present reconstruction | Reconstructed in 1951; reconstructed in the Chaulukya (Solanki) style of Hindu temple architecture; completed in May 1951. |
| Visual and sculptural features | Painted in a creamy colour; comprises fine sculpture. |
| Central sanctum | Central sanctum houses a large, black Shiva lingam. |
| Other shrines | Shri Kapardi Vinayak; Hanuman Temple; Vallabhghat (scenic sunset point). |