Somnath Temple Gujarat
Chaulukya 11th c. reconstruction; current 1951·Gujarati Hindu (Chaulukya/Solanki)·🇮🇳 Gujarat, India
About
About Somnath Temple Gujarat
Somnath Jyotirlinga – 12 shrines legend first jyotirlinga, at Prabhas Patan Triveni sangam. Chalukya 11th c. sandstone shikhara (destroyed 1026 by Mahmud Ghazni and 6 later sackings), rebuilt 1950 Sardar Patel in Māru-Gurjara style by Prabhashankar Sompura; 15m summit, flag and jyotirling. 649 CE Maitraka foundation excavated by B.K. Thapar; coastal resilience symbol.
Why it mattersFirst Jyotirlinga and repeated reconstruction symbol of Hindu resilience
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Construction labor organization
- 02Chronology and phasing
Theories
- 01Ceremonial centre and cosmological alignment
- 02Territorial marker and ritual landscape
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- First 649 CE; Chalukya 11th c.; razed multiple; current 1947–1951 Sardar Patel
- Period
- Chaulukya 11th c. reconstruction; current 1951
- Culture
- Gujarati Hindu (Chaulukya/Solanki)
- Builders
- Solanki and modern reconstruction
- Purpose
- Jyotirlinga Shiva shrine at Prabhas Patan / Triveni sangam
- Excavation
- Excavation ongoing
First 649 CE; Chalukya 11th c.; razed multiple; current 1947–1951 Sardar Patel
Initial construction
On the ground
Structures & features
20.8880° N · 70.4017° E · 12 m · 3 mapped features
Jyotirlinga Sanctum
sanctumJyotirlinga pillar in garbhagriha facing Arabian Sea
20.8880° N · 70.4017° EMāru-Gurjara Shikhara
shikhara1951 15m summit shikhara by Sompura with flag
20.8881° N · 70.4018° ETriveni Sangam Confluence
tirthaConfluence of Kapila, Hiran and Saraswati before temple
20.8876° N · 70.4014° E