The Prime Minister recently inaugurated the new Circuit House near Somanath Temple at Verval. Which of the following statements are correct regarding Somnath Temple? [2022]

The Prime Minister recently inaugurated the new Circuit House near Somanath Temple at Verval. Which of the following statements are correct regarding Somnath Temple?

Somnath Temple is one of the Jyotirlinga shrines
A description of Somnath Temple was given by Al-Biruni.
Pran Pratistha of Somnath Temple (installation of the present-day temple) was done by President S. Radhakrishnan.

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

1 and 2 only
2 and 3 only
1 and 3 only
1, 2 and 3

Explanation

Statement 1 is correct

Located in Prabhas Patan, Veraval, Gujarat, Somnath Temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva and is the first among the Twelve Jyotirlinga shrines of Lord Shiva. The first version of the Somnath temple was built around the 9th century CE. It is believed that this holy temple was first built by the Moon God in gold, by Ravana in silver, by Krishna in wood, and by Bhimdev in stone. Reconstructed several times after repeated destruction by Muslim invaders and the Portuguese, the present temple was built in the Chaulukya style of Hindu temple architecture and completed in May 1951. The present temple is in the Māru-Gurjara style (Chaulukya or Solanki style) of architecture.

Map showing locations of Twelve Jyotirlingas in India, marked with red labels and connected to images of respective temples in green-bordered boxes. Key sites include Kedarnath, Varanashi, Somnath, and Rameshwaram, with a trident symbol on the right and a brown-yellow color scheme highlighting regional divisions.

Statement 2 is correct

According to Al Beruni, the temple, built of stone approximately a century before Mahmud’s attack (placing its construction in the 10th century), was situated within a fortress surrounded by the sea on three sides, possibly indicating the need for protection due to its wealth. Al-Beruni mentions that Mahmud ordered the breaking of the upper part of the icon, and portions of it were taken as plunder to the city of Ghazni.

Additional Information

Alberuni (c. 972-1048) was a Persian scholar from the Khwarezm region and spent a large part of his life in Ghazni in modern-day Afghanistan, capital of the Ghaznavid dynasty.
He was the first prominent Muslim Indologist was one of the greatest intellectuals of the eleventh century.
Alberuni accompanied the invading hordes of Mahmud to the Indo-Gangetic valley as a freelance observer in 11th century.
He was a polymath and was a man of ‘encyclopedic learning’.
He travelled extensively in various parts of the country, studied the language, religion and philosophy of the Hindus and wrote the classic account of the country and its people in Arabic, entitled Tarikh-ul Hind.

Statement 3 is incorrect

On May 11, 1951, when the “installation ceremony of the linga” was held at the temple, President Rajendra Prasad.

Answer: (a) 1 and 2 only; Difficulty Level: Hard

2022, PYQs