Somnath Temple
Lord Shiva as Somnath Mahadev (Someshwara), the first Jyotirlinga
Photo: Ms Sarah Welch, CC0Legend
Tradition holds that Soma, the Moon god, lost his lustre through a curse and bathed in the Saraswati river at this spot to regain it; the place became Prabhasa, 'lustre', and the Lord here is Someshwara, lord of the moon. The Mahabharata and Bhagavata Purana name Prabhasa as a tirtha, and it is remembered as the place where Krishna spent his final days on earth.
Why this temple matters
Somnath is honoured as the first of the twelve Jyotirlingas. It stands on the Arabian Sea shore at Prabhas Patan, near the Triveni Sangam of the Kapila, Hiran and Saraswati rivers. The shrine was plundered and rebuilt again and again: raided by Mahmud of Ghazni in 1026, rebuilt by Kumarapala in 1169, destroyed under Alauddin Khalji in 1299 and Aurangzeb in 1706, with a smaller shrine built by Ahilyabai Holkar in 1783. The present Maru-Gurjara style temple was raised at the urging of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and consecrated on 11 May 1951.
What devotees pray for here
Dosha Remedies
Because the Moon himself is believed to have been freed of his curse here, devotees bring horoscope troubles to Somnath, especially those linked to Chandra and the planets. The Somnath Trust performs Kalsarpa Yog Nivaran Vidhi, Navagraha jap and Rudrabhishek on behalf of devotees, in person or by proxy.
Health & Healing
Families praying for a sick relative or for long life sponsor Mahamrityunjay jap and Mahadugdh abhishek at the Jyotirlinga. Devotees believe that Shiva, who restored the Moon's light, is approached here as a healer and protector.
Festivals
- Mahashivratri (February–March): the great night of Shiva, the temple's biggest festival
- Shravan month (July–August): daily special worship and Bilva pooja offerings
- Kartik Purnima (November): full-moon celebrations close to Diwali
- Somnath Sthapana Din (11 May): anniversary of the 1951 consecration
- Golokdham Utsav (March–April): remembering Krishna's departure from Prabhas
Poojas & rituals
- Rudrabhishek at the Jyotirlinga, bookable with three days' notice
- Laghurudra and Maharudra path, with or without homa
- Mahamrityunjay jap of 500 or 1000 recitations
- Kalsarpa Yog Nivaran Vidhi and Navagraha jap
- Someshwar Mahapoojan and silk Dhvajarohan (flag hoisting)
- Bilva pooja during Shravan and Mahashivratri
Personal predictions for your own birth chart, pooja booking and prasad delivery are in the SantoBaba app.
How to reach
Somnath railway station is about half a kilometre from the temple and Veraval Junction about 7 km. The nearest airports are Diu (about 85 km) and Keshod (about 57 km); Rajkot is roughly 200 km. Ahmedabad is about 400 km by road and rail, Junagadh 82 km.
Timings
Darshan from 6 AM to 10 PM without a midday break. Aarti at 7 AM, 12 noon and 7 PM. The 'Jay Somnath' sound and light show runs nightly at around 7:45 to 8 PM, except in the monsoon.
Rules & dress code
All electronic items, including mobiles, cameras and smartwatches, are strictly prohibited; free lockers are provided at the cloak room. Photography is not allowed. Footwear is removed at the free shoe house. Sarees, dhotis, trousers and T-shirts are fine; mini skirts and disrespectful dress are not. Entry is free; the Trust states that anyone with faith in Hinduism may offer prayer.
Frequently asked questions
Is Somnath the first Jyotirlinga?
Yes. Somnath is traditionally counted as the first of the twelve Jyotirlingas of Shiva.
Can I take my phone inside Somnath temple?
No. Mobiles, cameras and all gadgets are banned inside; leave them in the free lockers at the cloak room.
What are the aarti timings at Somnath?
Aarti is held at 7 AM, 12 noon and 7 PM. The temple is open 6 AM to 10 PM.
Can I get a pooja done at Somnath without travelling?
Yes. The Somnath Trust performs Rudrabhishek, Mahamrityunjay jap and other vidhis for devotees who are not present, and SantoBaba can arrange it and send you the video and prasad.
When is the best time to visit Somnath?
October to February is the most comfortable season; Mahashivratri and Kartik Purnima are the grandest days, and also the most crowded.
Photo gallery
Other temples for Dosha Remedies: Brihadeeswarar Temple · Chamundeshwari Temple · Kashi Vishwanath Temple · Kedarnath Temple · Ramanathaswamy Temple · Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy Temple · Sri Mallikarjuna Swamy Temple · Sri Varaha Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy Temple
Other temples for Health & Healing: Chamundeshwari Temple · Guruvayur Temple · Kashi Vishwanath Temple · Konark Sun Temple · Shirdi Sai Baba Temple · Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy Temple · Sri Mallikarjuna Swamy Temple · Sri Varaha Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy Temple