Somnath Swabhiman Parv

Somnath Swabhiman Parv has been launched to honour civilisational resilience, marking 1,000 years since Mahmud of Ghazni’s attack on the Somnath Temple.

The Somnath Temple is revered as the first among the twelve Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva.
It is located at Prabhas Patan, Gujarat, at the confluence of the Kapila, Hiran, and Saraswati rivers, where they meet the Arabian Sea.
Mythic Origins: Tradition attributes phased construction — first in gold by the Moon God, Somraj; then in silver by Ravana; and later in wood by Lord Krishna.
Reconstruction: Bhimdev I rebuilt it in stone after Mahmud of Ghazni’s attack in 1026 CE. It was renovated by Kumarapala (Chalukya) and later by Mahipala I after Alauddin Khalji’s attack in 1299.
- Maratha queen Ahilyabai Holkar built a small temple (“Old Somnath”) next to the ruins in 1783 CE.
Architectural Style: The structure follows the Māru-Gurjara (Chaulukya) style featuring a Garbhagriha, Sabha Mandapa, and Nritya Mandapa.
Baan Stambh: The arrow pillar on the sea wall marks an unobstructed sea route to the South Pole.
Shrine Eternal: The temple was destroyed and rebuilt several times due to repeated attacks by Muslim invaders and the Portuguese; the present structure was completed in 1951.

It is a form of West Indian architecture that originated during the 11^th and 13^th centuries.
It synthesises the Maha-Maru tradition of Rajasthan and the Maha-Gurjara tradition of Gujarat.
The style flourished under Solanki patronage and is a sub-style of the Nagara tradition.
It is characterised by extreme ornamentation and complex geometric designs.
Key Feature: It uses intricate carvings across interiors, exteriors, pillars, and ceilings; exterior walls show multiple projections and recesses.
Components: Include Garbhagriha (inner sanctum), a Gudha-mandapa (closed hall), and a Sabha-mandapa (assembly hall), often fronted by a Kirti-torana (ceremonial arch).
- The main Shikhara is often surrounded by smaller subsidiary spires, called Urushringas, creating a “mountain-like” appearance.
Major Examples: Sun Temple at Modhera, Dilwara Temples at Mount Abu, and Rani-ki-Vav at Patan.

Twelve Jyotirlingas in India