The Eternal Shrine of the Moon God
Veraval, Gujarat | First of 12 Jyotirlingas
Darshan
6 AM - 9 PM
Deity
Someshwar Mahadev
Best Time
Oct - Mar
Nearest City
Veraval (7 km)
Somnath means "Lord of the Moon" - this temple was built by Chandra (Moon God) himself to worship Lord Shiva. According to legend, Chandra was cursed by his father-in-law Daksha Prajapati for favoring his wife Rohini over his other 26 wives (all daughters of Daksha).
The curse caused Chandra to wane and lose his lustre. On Lord Brahma's advice, Chandra worshipped Lord Shiva at this spot for six months. Pleased with his devotion, Shiva blessed him with the ability to wax and wane cyclically rather than disappear completely - thus establishing the lunar cycle we see today.
The temple has been destroyed and rebuilt 17 times throughout history - by Mahmud of Ghazni, Alauddin Khilji, and others. Each time, the temple was rebuilt by devotees, symbolizing the eternal nature of faith. The current temple was inaugurated by Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel in 1951.
Nearest airport: Diu (85 km) or Rajkot (160 km). Ahmedabad (400 km) has better connectivity.
Veraval Junction (7 km) - direct trains from Ahmedabad, Mumbai, Rajkot. Auto/taxi to temple.
Gujarat State buses from major cities. NH-8E connects to Ahmedabad. Taxi services available.
Confluence of Hiran, Kapila & Saraswati rivers. Sacred bathing spot.
Where Lord Krishna was struck by hunter's arrow. 5 km from Somnath.
Home of Asiatic Lions. 45 km from Somnath. Safari available.
Portuguese heritage, beaches. Union Territory. 85 km away.
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