In my eyes, my hometown Somnath!
I always consider myself lucky that my hometown is Prabhas Patan – Somnath.
Being born in the Sompura Brahmin community, it is only natural that I have always had a special interest in the family tree and our clan origins more than any other clan origins. People from all corners of the world come to see the first Jyotirlinga - Somnath - Somnath Prabhas Patan or Dev Patan is not only our clan, but I have heard the stories of the caste origin - from the mouths of elders - ancestors.
Be it the story of the sacrifice of life in the battle with Ghazni or the story of how
Sardar Patel got the new Somnath barricaded. Primarily the service - worship of
Somnatha Mahadev and the deity in Patan of Heeran (Hiranya), the confluence of
Kapila and Saraswati River Sangam Tirtha we Karmakandi Sompura Brahnana.
During my childhood vacations, I have always had the privilege of going to Mosal
(maternal relative’s house) Veraval or Somnath and picnicking in different places till Prachi-Sheetla.
Even when it is Somnath, Ayaan Dehotsarga jata aavie jara & Tara kaka ke mama to tyan Geeta mandir ke Triveni gya chhe; heard. These places are very familiar to me, like walking down on known side streets. Pandava cave or Hingla Mata or Kali temple or Gita temple or Dohotsarga we used to play all day long. It's fun to go there, nothing special about it. Now after growing up, the habit of going to this place has changed.
As I gradually grew older, the history and importance of this place made me more
and more attracted to the fact that the land of glorious heritage is my homeland.
Apart from the glitz of the Somnath temple and its premises, the chanting in the
Bhungala, or the modernization - the development or the artificial beach with a ticket of 5-10 rupees by building the sea, there are other historical-mythological places in this five km area of Patan, preserving the glorious past.
Why so much modernization? That question just happened. Dev Patan originally had three historical gates. Beautiful carvings on the pillars of this door. Mohammad Ghazni broke these gates and also entered the village of Prabhas Patan. There is evidence. Apart from these three gates, such a magnificent construction - security and the gullible do not understand why it is so intimidating.
Bhola has been made gorgeous but there are many places around it that really need restoration. The intention of writing this is somewhere that if you want to spend a moment or two peacefully in such a historical place. Please visit there.
Actually, the old Somnath temple is next to the new Somnath and it should be
renovated keeping its originality. According to mythology Swayambhu Shivling is
actually here.
As mentioned earlier, places like Pandav Cave around Somnath should be
renovated. Not much glitz, but restoration should be done here by the archaeology department. These mythological places Pandava Cave, Hinglaj Mata Temple and Suraj Temple are very close to its premises. As we say, understand a wall like that.
Adi Shankaracharya is also said to have meditated for years in a small chained cave on this premises. Pandava Caves and Hinglaj Mata Caves are said to have been built in the vicinity of the Prabhas Patan – Lalghati i.e., Sun Temple of red clay ravines. The history of Pandava Caves is narrated that during the exile of Pandavas, they came here and stayed in this cave to impress Lord Shiva and get his blessings. Pandavas is also believed to have worshiped Mother Hinglaj here along with Shivaji.
In the year 1949, Narayandas Bapu gave more information about these caves and
developed the cave. This old temple of Hinglaj Mata in a slightly hilly area is said to have been built around the 15th century.
It is surprising that this temple cave has a natural coolness even in summer. Suraj
temple is also considered to have a grand heritage like Somnath temple. Located
north of Triveni temple, the architecture of this temple is amazing.
Kamanath Mahadev Temple and Sarada Peeth
Adjacent to the Pandava cave lane and opposite the Triveni Sangam are the
Kamanath Mahadev Temple and the Shardapith. King Mayurdhvaj is said to have
built this temple around 200 years ago. Dudhiya Lake, Gangwa Well and Mahadev
Kund are located within the temple premises. It is said that Mayurdhvaja, suffering
from blood bile, oozing leprosy or croup, would stay for hours in the curative well.
Here in the Kamanath temple premises there are mostly small deris of Shivaji and
other deities. There are also small and long caves in this temple premises.
Balaramji's cave also known as Dauji's cave is nearby here.
Brahma Kund and Saraswati Devi Temple:
Near Somnath Temple and Dev Prabhas a place considered calm i.e., Brahma Kund and Saraswati Devi Temple This temple made of sea stones exudes coolness and peace. On the left side of the road towards Triveni Ghat and the Rudralaya Mahadev or Rudreshwar temple is also built in 11th or 13th century AD.
Daityasudan or Daityusudan Temple:
This temple has an image of Lord Vishnu from the 7th century AD. This temple is
adjacent to Chandraprabha Swami Jain temple near Somnath temple.
Kali Mandir:
At the western end of the Triveni ghat, behind the Parshuramji temple, on the road leading to the Triveni embankment, this temple is also beautifully constructed.
Mahakali Mandir:
Ahlyabai Holkar, the queen of Indore and a devotee of Shiva, built a temple near the Somnath temple in AD. This temple was built in 1783. In this temple premises there are Kapardi Vinayaka temple and Hanuman temple and Vallabh Ghat.
Dehotsarga – Gita Mandir:
Lord Krishna was hit by an arrow and four km from Bhalka Tirtha. There is a story of how he reached Dehotsarg on his blood-stained feet and gave up his life.
Dehotsarga has the steps of Krishna. The construction of Geeta Mandir is also so
beautiful that it echoes your voice. Krishna bhajans and sources when the echo
sounds, feel like being in a wonderful atmosphere. Located on the banks of Hiran
Kashi Vishwanath Temple – This small but ancient temple is located next to the
Lakshmi Narayan Temple.
Shri Mahaprabhuji sitting:
This seat is located near Geeta Mandir. Sri Vallabhacharya preached Srimad
Bhagavad Gita here for seven days at Dehotsarga Tirtha and this place is the 65th of Mahaprabhuji's 84 seats.
Bhimnath Mahadev:
This small but ancient temple, located close to the Geeta temple, was also looted by Muslim rulers in the past. This temple has a simple but historical construction.
Gaurikund or Banganga:
Here is the abode of our tribal goddess Ajapaleshwari. My mom and dad's clangoddess is the same Ajapaleshwari or Ajayapaleshwari. So, we gather in this
Gaurikund on birthday or family occasions. since childhood. If the instruction not to break the chikudi from the chikudi here is not followed, even the elders will be beaten up.
I think it is more peaceful here than any quiet place in the world, but if there is no
occasion, then there is a bang here at Mataji's hom - havan or some family function.
The importance of this place is also enshrined in Puranas.
Prabhaskund – Gaurikund is mentioned in the 68th chapter of Skanda Purana. It is
stated that Lord Shankar once told Parvatiji that you are Shyamvarna (Kali) so
Parvatiji decided to do penance here in Prabhas and become proud. After Parvatiji's penance, Mahadev addressed her as Gauri. After that, Parvati ji blessed this place with the name Gaurishwar so that whoever comes with his wish gets his wish fulfilled. There is also Gaurikund and Vav. Shivji has small and big deris. There are 12 shivlings in a cave and the coolness of the cave is oh so...
As for Somnath, everyone knows the well-known truths.
- Somnath is the first Jyotirlinga among the 12 holy Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva.
Somnath is mentioned in Rigveda. Lord Somnath is known as Bhairaveshwar
in Satyuga, Shravanikeshwar in Tretayug and Srigaleshwar in Dwapara Yuga.
- Lured by the fame of the golden Somnath temple, many destructive foreign
invaders have attacked Somnath with the intention of looting and
proselytizing. When the temple was attacked, the temple was destroyed and
then rebuilt.
- Somnath temple is said to have come into existence 2000 years ago. Is. In
the year 649, King Maitrak of Vallabhi renovated the first temple and built
another temple in its place.
- In 725, the Arab ruler of Sindh, Junaid (Junaid), attacked the temple by sea
with an army and destroyed the temple. After that, efforts were made to
rebuild the temple.
- Pratihara Raja Nag Bhatta – II built the temple for the third time in 815 using
red stone (retiya stone).
- In the year 1026, Muhammad Ghaznavi or Muhammad Ghazni looted the
precious jewels and property of the temple. After the robbery, Prabhas also
entered the village and is said to have committed the massacre. Sompura
Wipra -Brahmins and the Rajputs fought against Ghazni, but Ghazni was
obsessed. It also claimed the lives of numerous pilgrims in the temple
premises. Ghazni is also said to have burnt the temple.
- During 1026-1042, Parmar Raja Bhoj of Malwa and Solanki Raja Bhimdev IV
of Anhilwad Patan rebuilt this temple.
- Sultan Alauddin and Mohammad Begda also invaded Somnath. When the
Maratha rule came to Gujarat, Shiva devotee Ahalyabai Holkar had the
Somnath temple renovated.
- In the year 1299, when the Delhi Sultanate occupied Gujarat, Somnath was
destroyed again.
- In 1394, the temple was destroyed again. In the year 1706, Mughal ruler
Aurangzeb also demolished the temple.
- The present Somnath temple is a Chalukya style construction built by
Sompura sculptors. A temple like this & Kailash Mahameru Prasad Mandir has
not been built anywhere in the world in the last 800 years.
- According to an inscription written in Sanskrit in the temple premises, there is
only ocean between the temple and the Earth's South Pole.
- Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, the first Deputy Prime Minister of India, pledged to
rebuild the temple on November 13, 1947. The present Somnath temple has
been built a total of seven times at its original location. Sardar Vallabhbhai
was not alive when the reconstruction of this temple was completed. In 1951,
the first President of India, Dr. Rajendra Prasad inaugurated the temple by
performing the Jyotirlinga ceremony. In 1995, the temple was extensively
renovated.
- The temple was built under the Shree Somnath Trust and this trust maintains
the temple and several historical-religious places around Prabhas Patan.