At the beginning of 2026, I had gone to Somnath to attend the Somnath Swabhiman Parv festival, marking the thousandth anniversary of the first attack on the Somnath temple. Now, I will be returning to Somnath on May 11 to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the opening of the restored temple by the then President of India, Dr. Rajendra Prasad. In less than half a year, it is a great honor to attend two important events related to Somnath and her journey from ruin to renewal or what we call from Vidhvans to Srijan.
Somnath gives us a civilized message. The vast sea before it conjures eternity. Waves tell us…that no matter how strong the storms are or how turbulent the tides are, one can always rise again with dignity and strength. The waves return to the shore, as if to remind each generation that the spirit of the people cannot be subdued for long.
Our ancient scriptures say: This means that the Pradakshina of the Divine Prabhasa (Somnath) is equal to the Pradakshina of the whole Earth itself! While people come here to pray, they have also experienced the remarkable continuity of a civilization whose flame can never be extinguished. Empires have risen and fallen, tides have changed, history has moved through conquest and turmoil, yet Somnath continues to linger in our consciousness.
It is time to remember the countless greats who stood steadfast in the face of tyranny. There were Lakulisha and Soma Sarman, who transformed Prabhasa into a great center of philosophy. Chakravarti Maharaja Drasena IV of Valabhi built the second temple there centuries ago. Bhima Deva, Jayapala and Anandapala will always be remembered for defending civilizational honor against invasions. It is said that Raja Bhoja also helped in the reconstruction. Karna Deva and Siddharaja Jayasimha played a vital role in restoring the political and cultural power of Gujarat. Bhava Brihaspati, Kumarapala Solanki and Pashupata Acharyas rebuilt the shrine and preserved it as a great center of worship and learning. The Vishaladeva Vaghela and the Tripurantaka protected its intellectual and spiritual traditions. Mahipaladeva Ra Khanjar was instrumental in reviving the cult after the devastation. Punyaslok Ahilyabai Holkar, who is celebrating his 30th birth anniversary, has ensured continuity of dedication in the most difficult of times. There were Gaekwads in Baroda, who maintained the rights of pilgrims. And of course, our land is blessed with the patronage of brave personalities like Veer Hamarji Gohil and Veer Vigdaji Bhil, whose sacrifices and bravery have become part of Somnath’s living memory.
In the 1940s, as the spirit of freedom swept across India and the foundations of a new republic were being laid under the leadership of such luminaries as Sardar Patel, one thing continued to bother him deeply: the case of Somnath. On November 13, 1947, during Diwali, he stood next to the crumbling ruins of the temple with seawater in his hands and said: “On this auspicious day of the (Gujarati) New Year, we have decided to rebuild Somnath. You, the people of Saurashtra, must do your best. This is a sacred mission in which everyone must participate.” In one of Sardar Patel’s clarion calls, not only the people of Gujarat but also the entire people of India responded.
Unfortunately, fate did not allow Sardar Patel to witness the fulfillment of the dream he so passionately championed. Before the restored Somnath Temple could open its doors to devotees, he was gone from this world. However, his influence was still felt on the sacred shores of Prabhas Patan. His vision was championed by Shri K.M. Munshi, ably supported by Jamsaheb at Nawanagar. In 1951, when the temple was completed, it was decided to summon the President of India, Dr. Rajendra Prasad, to attend the ceremony. Dr. Prasad overcame strong objections from then Prime Minister Pandit Nehru, making it even more special and historic.
My thoughts also go back to October 2001, when I had just taken over as Prime Minister. On 31 October 2001, Jayanti of Sardar Patel, Government of Gujarat, had the honor of organizing a program to celebrate 50 years of Somnath Temple opening its doors. This also coincided with the celebrations of Sardar Patel’s 125th birth anniversary. The program was attended by then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and then Home Minister Shri LK Advani.
During his speech on May 11, 1951, Dr. Rajendra Prasad said that the Somnath Temple declares to the world that anything with unparalleled faith and love cannot be destroyed. He expressed his hope that this temple would live on in people’s hearts. He also said that the restoration of the temple was the fulfillment of Sardar Patel’s dream, but moving forward in this spirit, it is important that we bring prosperity back into people’s lives. These are important and inspiring messages that he presented.
This is the path we have been on for more than a decade. I consider it fortunate that it was inspired by the principle of “Vikas bhi, Virasat bhi“, From Somnath to Kashi, from Kamakhya to Kedarnath, from Ayodhya to Ujjain, from Trimbakeshwar to Srisailam, our team has had the opportunity to equip our spiritual centers with state-of-the-art facilities while at the same time preserving their traditional character. This, coupled with efforts to improve connectivity, ensures that more people can visit these places. It boosts the local economy, secures livelihoods and deepens the spirit ofEk Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat.’
The struggles and sacrifices of those who laid down their lives to protect Somnath and those who rebuilt it time and again will never be forgotten. Countless individuals from across India contributed to restoring its glory. They saw every part of Bharat as sacred, bound by a sense of unity that transcended geography. In a world often marked by divisions, this spirit of unity is more important than ever. Somnath will continue to stand tall in all its glory because the feeling of unity and common civilizational consciousness lives in the hearts of every Indian. As a tribute to this, and in remembrance of the extraordinary bravery of a thousand years, there will be a special puja at Somnath for the next thousand days. It gives me great pleasure to see so many people donating for this puja as well.
I urge my fellow Indians to travel to Somnath at this special time. When you stand on the shores of Somnath, let its ancient echoes speak to you. Not only will you be overwhelmed by dedication, but you will also feel the strong pulse of a civilized spirit that refuses to fade, is unbreakable and inexhaustible. You will experience the indomitable spirit of Bharat and you will understand why, despite all efforts, our culture has remained undefeated and you will have the opportunity to see the vision of eternal victory. It will definitely be unforgettable.
Jay Somnath.
(Narendra Modi is the Prime Minister of India and also the Chairman of Shri Somnath Trust)
