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Somnath Temple: Somnath temple located in Gujarat is the center of faith of Hindus. Also it is one of the most sacred and ancient Shiva temples of India. This is the first Jyotirlinga among the 12 Jyotirlingas, which is not only the center of people’s faith but also a symbol of struggle, reconstruction and the unshakable strength of Sanatan tradition.
There were many attacks and lootings in this temple during the period of history. The Mughal emperors destroyed and looted the temple. But where Shiva resides, how can his existence disappear? The latest example of this is that today, on May 11, 2026, the 75th anniversary of the inauguration of Somnath Temple, ‘Somnath Amrit Mahotsav’ is being celebrated.
In a special article on the 75th anniversary of the inauguration of the renovated Somnath temple, Prime Minister Narendra Modi described it as a journey ‘from destruction to creation’. He described Somnath as a symbol of India’s unbreakable cultural consciousness, vibrant faith and self-confidence, which was revived again and again despite many struggles.
History’s most famous demolition on Somnath temple
This temple was attacked many times in history. But the most famous attack took place in the 11th century. When Mughal ruler Mahmud Ghazni attacked the Somnath temple. The first attack on Somnath temple took place about 1000 years ago in the 11th century. The ruler of Ghazni, Mahmud Ghaznavi, attacked and destroyed the temple and looted immense wealth and gold and silver. This incident was the biggest blow to Indian culture, civilization and faith of Hindus. But even before and after Mahmud of Ghazni, Somnath temple was attacked and looted many times. Know when Somnath temple was attacked and who looted it.
Somnath Temple: Story from destruction to creation (Somnath Temple Destroyed, Looted and Creation History)
First demolition on Somnath temple- Somnath temple was attacked for the first time in 725 AD. At this time, the Muslim governor of Sindh, Al-Junaid, attacked the temple and destroyed it. In history, this incident is considered to be the first attack for the destruction of Somnath temple.
Attack of Mahmud Ghaznavi for the second time- The Somnath temple faced destruction for the second time in about 1024 century. At this time, Mahmud Ghaznavi attacked the temple with about 5 thousand soldiers and looted the immense wealth of the temple and destroyed it badly. According to historians, a large number of devotees also died in this attack.
Alauddin Khilji’s commander attacked Somnath- In 1297 AD, Nusrat Khan, the commander of Sultan Alauddin Khalji of Delhi Sultanate, also attacked the Somnath temple, damaged it again and looted the wealth.
Attack of Gujarat Sultanate- In 1395 and 1412 AD, Somnath temple again became a victim of Mughal attack. In 1395, Sultan Muzaffar Shah attacked the temple and in 1412 AD, his son Ahmed Shah also attacked and looted the Somnath temple.
Somnath broke twice during the reign of Aurangzeb- During the reign of Mughal ruler Aurangzeb, the Somnath temple was demolished twice in 1665 AD and 1706 AD.
The history of Somnath temple is not limited to just one or two attacks and looting. Rather, it was damaged and looted by different Mughal rulers in different periods. But the temple was rebuilt again and again. Know who played a role in the creation and reconstruction of the temple after its demolition-
- After the attack on the temple by Al-Junaid, the Muslim governor of Sindh, Pratihara king Nagabhatta rebuilt it in 815 AD.
- After the attack of Ghaznavi, King Bhimdev and King Bhoj of Malwa had the temple rebuilt.
- When Alauddin Khilji’s commander attacked and destroyed the Somnath temple, the Hindu kings rebuilt the temple.
- In 1783 AD, Queen Ahilyabai Holkar of Indore built a new Somnath temple at some distance from the original temple and started worshiping there, which revived the religious tradition of Somnath.
- Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, the iron man of independence, took a pledge to rebuild the Somnath temple in a grand form by taking sea water in his hands.
- After this, on 11 May 1951, the first President of India Rajendra Prasad consecrated the temple. This day is considered a symbol of the rebirth of the modern Somnath temple.
Also read: Somnath Amrit Mahotsav 2026: Somnath Amrit Mahotsav today, eyes across the country on the grand event.
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