GIR SOMNATH IN GUJARAT

 

1). SOMNATH - GIR SOMNATH 

Famous jyotirlingas in india somnath is regarded as the first among the twele aadi jyotirlingas .Somnath temple architecture is like chalukya style, lord shiva is believed to have shrine as a sizzlilng column of light.It is said that  moon married 27 daughters of dakshine prajapati.Except one rohini all his wives neglect him so he worshiped lord shiva.The almighty granted his wish and resided here as somnath eternally locted in kathiawad region. It was destroyed and rebuilt almost sixteen times.

Somnath temple comes on the top of 12 jyotrilingas and this is one of the key landmark for travellers in gujarat.

TEMPLE OPENING TIMES:- Every day from 6am to 

9pm . AARTI takes place at 7am, 12noon and 7pm

THE famous light and sound show" joy somnath takes place every day between 8 to 9

 in the evening.

ACCORDING to shaiva legend from the shiva purana, once,brahma ( the god of creation) vishnu ( the god of preservation) had an argument over their supremacy. brahma and vishnu decided to ascend and descend across apillar of light respectively, to find the end of the light in either direction. Brahma lied that he had discovered the end of the light, producing a ketaki flower as proof, while vishnu admitted that he could not find the end of the light from his journey. THE dishonestyof brahma angered shiva, causing him to  gurse the creator deity that he would not be worshippedOut of 64 jyotirlingas 12 are considered to be very auspicious and holy.

 . THE dwadash jyotirlinga pilgrimage begins with the somnath temple .that was  destroyed and re-built sixteen times, is held in reverence throughout india and is rich in legend , tradition , and history. IT is located at prabhas patan, veraval in saurashtra region of gujarat state in western india