The sacred Somnath Jyotirlinga, which was destroyed by the Islamic invader Mahmud of Ghazni nearly a thousand years ago, is set to be revived. The fragmented remains of the Shivalinga, preserved for centuries by 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 attack occurred in 1024 CE when Mahmud of Ghazni led a 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, 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.
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.
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