The sacred Somnath Jyotirlinga, which was desecrated and destroyed by the Islamic invader Mahmud of Ghazni nearly a thousand years ago, is set to be revived. The fragmented remains of the revered Shivalinga, preserved for centuries by dedicated Agnihotri Hindus, will be consecrated at the Somnath Mandir under the guidance of renowned spiritual leader Sri Sri Ravi Shankar.
The Somnath Mandir, one of the holiest shrines in Sanatan Dharma and the first among the twelve Jyotirlingas, has witnessed repeated destruction by Islamic invaders throughout history. The most infamous attack occurred in 1024 CE when Mahmud of Ghazni led a ruthless campaign to loot the Mandir’s immense wealth.
Historians record that Ghazni and his forces slaughtered nearly 50,000 Hindu devotees who had gathered to protect the sacred site. The Shivalinga was shattered, its fragments reportedly taken to be desecrated at the steps of the Jama Masjid in Ghazni, Afghanistan.
During the invasion, the Chaulukya king Bhima I fled his capital and took refuge in Kanthkot. Though he recovered his power after Mahmud’s departure, he could not immediately rebuild the mandir, leaving it in ruins for a significant period.
It was the Chaulukya king Kumarapala who later took on the task of restoring Somnath. According to an inscription from 1169 CE, Kumarapala “rebuilt the decaying temple of Somnath in excellent stone and studded it with jewels.” This suggests that the temple had remained in ruins for over a century after Mahmud’s attack before Kumarapala initiated its grand reconstruction.
Despite Kumarapala’s efforts, the temple suffered subsequent destructions:
In 1299 CE by Alauddin Khalji
In 1395 CE by Muzaffar Shah
In 1665 CE by Aurangzeb
Each time it was rebuilt, reflecting the resilience and devotion of the people. However, Kumarapala remains the first major ruler to have restored the temple after Mahmud of Ghazni’s invasion, ensuring its spiritual and cultural significance endured through the centuries.
However, unknown to many, some devoted Hindu pandits managed to retrieve parts of the broken Jyotirlinga and secretly preserve them for future generations. These sacred fragments, held in deep reverence, have now resurfaced after a millennium, ready to be reinstated at their rightful place in Somnath.
For centuries, the broken remnants of the Somnath Jyotirlinga were safeguarded by Agnihotri Brahmins, who worshipped and preserved them in secrecy. A pivotal figure in this lineage of devotion is Sitaram Shastry, an Agnihotri pandit, who recently handed over the Jyotirlinga fragments to Sri Sri Ravi Shankar. Shastry, who had been personally preserving them for 21 years, inherited the fragments from his uncle, who had worshipped them for 60 years. His uncle, in turn, had received them from his guru, Pravendra Saraswati Ji.
Shastry, who was in possession of parts of a Shivalinga, sought the guidance of Jagadguru Sri Jayendra Saraswathi Shankaracharya Swamigal of the Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham. The saga of preservation goes further back to 1924, when the fragments were presented to the then Kanchi Paramacharya. The revered sant, recognising the sanctity of the relics, instructed that they should be preserved for another century before their reinstallation at Somnath.
The Shankaracharya advised him to wait until the consecration of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya before proceeding with the installation of the Shivalinga. However, before this could happen, the Shankaracharya attained Samadhi, leaving Shastry uncertain about the next steps.
He directed Shastry to Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, who then assured him that the Shivalinga would be installed in the Somnath temple. Expressing his joy, Shastry remarked, “I am happy. My birth would be successful. The real Somnath Shivling would be installed in the Somnath temple, this is our resolution.”
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, founder of the Art of Living Foundation, has taken the responsibility of leading the historic ‘Punarsthapana’ (re-consecration) of the fragmented Shivalinga at Somnath. Speaking on the significance of the sacred relics, he revealed that the fragments still exhibit strong spiritual energy, behaving like magnets. This astonishing revelation underscores the undying sanctity of the Jyotirlinga, despite enduring a millennium of exile and desecration.
“This is not just a piece of history being revived; it is the restoration of the spiritual and civilisational consciousness of Bharat. These fragments have been protected across generations, and now, at the right time, they will be restored to their rightful place,” Sri Sri Ravi Shankar stated.
Ancient texts and historical records describe the original Somnath Shivalinga as a unique, self-sustaining structure. It was said to be three feet tall and suspended two feet above the ground, seemingly defying gravity. The Mandir, a marvel of ancient Hindu architecture, was adorned with gold and precious stones, making it a beacon of both spiritual and material wealth.
Mahmud of Ghazni’s attack in 1024 CE was not only an assault on a Mandir but an attempt to obliterate the cultural and religious identity of Hindus. The invasion resulted in the destruction of the floating Jyotirlinga, mass killings of devotees, and the looting of immense treasures.
The Mandir was later rebuilt multiple times but was subjected to further destruction. By the 19th century, only ruins remained, until the newly independent Bharat took it upon itself to rebuild the Mandir in 1951 under the leadership of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.
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