Somnath Temple: The first Jyotirlinga of Lord Shiva | Mythological and religious story related to Somnath temple
The grand Somnath temple of Gujarat is considered to be the first Jyotirlinga of the earth. There is a belief about this holy Jyotirlinga built on the seashore that at this place, being pleased with the worship of Chandra dev, Lord Shiva freed him from his faults by giving darshan.
Somnath Temple is considered to be the first Jyotirlinga of Lord Shiva among the major 12 Jyotirlingas of the country. The description of this holy divine Jyotirlinga of Lord Shiva is found in various religious texts like Skandpuran, Shrimad Bhagwat Geeta, Shiv Puran, etc. There is a belief about this Jyotirlinga that it has been present here in every creation.
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Mythological importance of Somnath temple
According to religious scriptures and scriptures, this holy abode of Shiva, Somnath Temple was established by Chandradev himself, ie Lord Som, a very ancient and popular religious story is also associated with this temple. According to this, Chandradev had married all the 27 daughters of King Daksha Prajapati.
Rohini was the most beautiful of all the wives of Chandradev, so Chandradev had the most attachment to Rohini. On the other hand, when King Daksh saw discrimination against his daughters, he first tried to convince Chandradev.
But this did not affect the moon, after which King Daksha, seeing his other daughters being sad, cursed Chandradev to become ‘decayed’ and said that his brightness and brightness would slowly end, after which Chandradev King Daksha started living very sad due to the curse and then he started worshiping Lord Shiva rigorously.
After this, Lord Shiva was pleased with the harsh penance of Chandradev and not only gave him the boon of immortality, but also freed him from the curse of King Daksha, and also said that the brightness of Chandradev will decrease in the dark side, while Their brightness will increase in Shukla Paksha.
That is, Lord Shiva said to Chandradev that for 15 days his brightness will go on decreasing whereas for 15 days his brightness will start increasing and for every full moon he will continue to get the full moon.
After being freed from the curse of King Daksha, Chandradev prayed to Lord Shiva to reside at this place of Gujarat with Mother Parvati, after which Lord Shiva accepted the worship of his beloved devotee Chandradev and he appeared in the form of Jyotirlinga to Mother Parvati. Came here together and started living.
Which Chandradev i.e. Somraj got this grand Somnath temple of Lord Shiva constructed here. Whose glory and fame have spread all over the world. At the same time, the glory of Somnath-Jyotirlinga has also been mentioned in the famous epics of Hinduism, Shrimad Bhagwat, Mahabharata, Skandpuran, etc. Along with this, this temple has also been mentioned in Rigveda.
It is a belief that only by seeing this famous Jyotirlinga of Lord Shiva, all the sorrows and pains of the devotees go away and by worshiping Lord Somnath, decay or leprosy of the devotees is cured.
Somnath Temple Architecture
This first Jyotirlinga of Lord Shiva Somnath is divided into three parts, which include the sanctum sanctorum, dance hall, and assembly hall. The height of its peak is about 150 feet.
The idols of Parvati, Lakshmi, Ganga, Saraswati, and Nandi are enshrined in the Somnath temple.
This temple is spread over a vast area of about 10 kilometers, in which there are about 42 temples. Here there is a wonderful confluence of three rivers Hiran, Saraswati, and Kapila, where devotees take a dip in faith. The idols of Parvati, Lakshmi, Ganga, Saraswati, and Nandi are enshrined in this temple.
Fruit of worship of Somnath temple
It is believed that just by seeing, worshiping, and remembering Somnath Jyotirlinga, all the problems of Shiva devotees go away in a moment.
Somnath temple timings
The Somnath temple remains open for devotees from 6 am to 9 pm (10 pm in summer). Aarti is performed three times in the temple and Shiva devotees come from far and wide to witness this aarti. Apart from this, a light and sound show is also run in the temple from 7:30 to 8:30 pm.
Best time to visit Somnath Jyotirlinga Temple
The best time to visit Somnath Jyotirlinga is from October to March. The pleasant weather during these months ensures that devotees do not face much hardship due to overcrowding while standing in (sometimes) long queues for a glimpse of the Shiva Linga.
FAQ’s
Is Somnath Temple open throughout the year?
Yes, Somnath Temple remains open all 365 days of the year.
Can I take mobiles and gadgets to the temple?
No. All electronic gadgets (mobiles, cameras, laptops) are strictly prohibited. These can be kept in the lockers available in the cloak room. Cloak room facility is free.
Which Gods are there in Somnath?
Somnath Temple is the temple of Lord Shiva, which is located in the western part of India in the state of Gujarat.
How many hours is the journey from Ahmedabad to Somnath?
The journey from Ahmedabad to Somnath is easily covered in 9 hours by a bus.
