Somnath
(1st jyotirlinga)
Sourashtra Dese Visadhethi Ramye
Jyothirmayam Chandra Kalavathamsam
Bhakthi Pradhanaya Krupavatheernam
Tham Soma Nadham Saranam Prapadhye
Hinduism plays a significant role in human life from Krutha, Thretha and Dwapara eras continuing in present Kali era. In the entire eras, God wears several incarnations to punish evil and to protect sages and his devotees. The demons get boons from Brahma, the creator and used to show their sadism on sages and devotees of God in all these eras. Vishnu, status god and Shiva the destructor wear several incarnations to punish the evils and protect sages and their devotees from their harassment. The places where Vishnu and Shiva wear incarnations spread all over India are came in to existence as holy places with the respective incarnation names. The holy places of Dwadasa Jyothirlingas spread from Kedareswar in north to Rameswaram in South and from Vaidhyanath in the east to Somanath of Gujarat in the West protecting our nation from times immemorial.
The Jyothirlingas Spread all over India like a Conch. The legend is that Brahma and Vishnu argued about supreme creation. Shiva prepared the three worlds as an endless Jyothirlinga pillar of light. Brahma decides to travel downwards along with the pillar and Vishnu to travel upwards respectively, to find the end of the light. Brahma lied that he had found the end, while Vishnu agreed his defeat. Shiva appeared as a second pillar of light and find the lie told by Brahma. Shiva got angry on Brahma and cursed Brahma him not to have place in ceremonies and Vishnu would be worshipped in eras. There are 64 Temples of Shiva and twelve only being called as Dwadasa Jyothirlingas and holy places of Shiva. It is believed that all the Dwadasa Jyothirlingams of Lord Shiva are in the shape of a pole in the 1st instance. Darshan of Dwadasha jyothirlingas feasible only on Spiritual culmination of human being. Every jyothirlingam became familiar with different names in the name of local shrine.
Shree Somnath Jyotirlinga
Somanath is the 1st among the 12 Jyothirlingas. Samantha Jyothirligam is the 1st among them. Somanath is a one of the great holy pilgrim Kshetram from ancient time. Somanath is at the Triveni confluence place of holy rivers Kapila, Hirani and Saraswathi rivers. The legend says that the Soma (Chandra) married the 27 daughters (stars) of Daksha Prajapathi, that he loved Revathi among them, that he neglected his other wives, that Daksha Prajapathi got angry on him, that Prajapati given curse to Chandra (Soma) to become ugly, that the ugly moon came to Somanath along with his wife Rohini, that he worshipped Sparsa Linga, that he gained his beauty with the blessings of Lord Shiva, that Lord Shiva stayed here in the name of Soma Chandra and Shiva outspread here in the name of Somanath. Soma (Chandra) took bath here in the river Saraswathi and gained his beauty. Soma means Chandra and Nath means Lord. Shiva is the Nath (Lord) of Soma (Chandra) and Shiva being called as Somanath.
There is the old temple of Somanath on the opposite side to the existing new Somanath Temple. The old temple was constructed two thousand years ago. It was destructed by Mughal and Portuguese invaders and reconstructed several times. The Lingam was not damaged and still the Priests perform Abhishekams and Sevas. The construction of the present new temple was started by the first Home Minister of India Patel in Chalakuyan Style. It was inaugurated by Dr. Babu Rajendra Prasad, the First President of India in the year 1951. The Siva lingams existing in the sea shore of Aribian Sea are most beautiful. The Temple constructed on the straight line from the sea shore to Antartika Continent without objection of any land between them. A Compass was erected to the arrow pillar on the wall of the shore constructed to safe guard from the Arabian Sea. It is believed that all people irrespective gender of TAURUS Zodic sign visit Somanath and worship the Jyothirlingam will be relieved from all their hurdles in life.
Somnath temple timings & places to see nearby
There are A.C. rooms available in the Devastanam Guest House. There are Railway Retiring rooms for allotment on first cum first serve on production of Railway travel ticket. There are also private guest houses and Hotels near Railway Station and also near Temple. Pilgrims may perform Dharsan from 6.00 AM to 9.00PM every day. Harati will be performed at 7.00AM, 12..00 Noon and 7.00 PM. There will be light show from 8.00 PM to 9.00PM every day.
Pilgrims may visit holy places of both Lord Shiva and Lord Kesava in the North West corner of the country. It is exponent that these holy places exist on the banks of Arabian Sea. The Pilgrimage starts from Somanath, the 1st among the 12 Jyothirlinga popularly known as Dwadasa Jyothirlinga and continues to Vareval, the destiny place of Lord Sri Krishna, the famous and old Shiva temples Nishkalanka Mahadev of Bavnagar, Gangeswara Mahadev and Pancha Dwaraka including Dwaraka and Bet Dwaraka, the holy places where Lord Vishnu spend his major life from child hood to his destiny.
Vareval
Vareval is town at a distance of 5 km and having Railway Station. Sri Krishna was hit on his feet by the arrow left by a prowl thinking as dear and Krishna passed away in this place. There is a temple with the name of Bulk Teerdh. A Basil Tree was planted in the place in memory of Sri Krishna. In this temple Sri Vallabhacharya resituated Bagavad Geetha for a span of seven days. Birlas constructed Geetha Mandir in 1970. There is a statue of Sri Krishna in the posture of taking rest by playing flute. There is cave with the name of Baladeva Cave and it is said that Baladeva, the incarnation of Sesha Nagu travelled in the cave and disappeared. There are no timings to this temple and pilgrims may visit at any time.
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