The somanātha temple (known as the Deo Patan) situated in Prabhas Patan near Veraval in Saurśtra on the western coast of Gujurat, India is believed the somanātha liṅga was considered as the 1^st one among all 12 jyotirliṅga.

The Somanātha has been a pilgrimage site from ancient times on account of being a triveṇī saṅgama (the joining of three rivers: Kapila, Hiran and the mythical Sarasvatī). Soma, the Moon god, is believed to have lost his luster due to a curse, and he bathed in the Sarasvatī River at this site to regain it. The result is the waxing and waning of the moon, no doubt an allusion to the waxing and waning of tides at this seashore location. The name of the city Prabhās, meaning shine, as well as the alternative names Someśvar and Somanāth (The lord of the moon or the moon god) arise from this tradition.

Time

The 1^st Śiva temple at Somanāth is believed to have been built at some unknown time in the past. The 2^nd person temple is said to have been built at the same site by the “Yadava Kings” of Vallabhi around 649 CE. In 725 CE, Al-Junayd, the Arab governor of Sindh is said to have destroyed the 2^nd temple as part of his invasions of Gujarat and Rajasthan. The Gurjara-Pratihara king Nagabhata II is said to have constructed the third temple in 815 CE, a large structure of red sandstone.

History

However, there is no historical record of an attack on Somanāth by Aljunayd. Nagabhata II is known to have visited tīrthas in Saurastra, including Someśvara (the Lord of the moon), which may or may not be a reference to Śiva temple because the town itself was known by that name. Chaulukya (Solanki)king Mularaja possibly built the first temple at the site sometime before 997CE, even though some historian believe that he may have renovated a smaller earlier temple. According to history, this Somanāth temple was alive since 2000 B.C. In 1026 A.D., Ghajini Mohammed invaded this temple and occupied all properties of this temple and destroyed. In 1024, during the reign of Bhima I, the famous Turkic Muslim ruler Mahmud of Ghazni attacked Gujarat, plundering the Somnāth temple and breaking its Jyotirliṅga. He took away a booty of 20 million dinars. Historians expect the damage to the temple by Mahmud to have been minimal because there are records of pilgrimages to the temple in 1038, which make no mention of any damage to the temple. However, powerful legends with intricate detail developed in the Turko-Persian literature regarding Mahmud’s attack, which “electrified”the muslim world according to scholar Meenakshi jain. Turkick Muslim ruler Mahmud had killed 50,000 devotees who tried to defend the temple, a formulaic figure. In later years this temple was established and was again invaded by Alladikhan in 1300 A.D. by Muijhafer Shah in 14^th century, by Mohammad Being Da in 1470 A.D., by Mujhafer Shah-II IN 16^th century and in 1701 A.D. this temple was totally destroyed and Vanished by Auragajeb. Totally this temple was invaded and destroyed 7times. Atlast in 1950 A.D., this temple was re-build under the leadership of Sardar Vallabhai Patel with expense of one crore. The temple which is in front of Somanāth temple was also the temple of lord Śiva which was established by queen of indore abhalyabai 270 years ago.

Visiting Places

A river bank named “Prabhāsa Tīrtha” was located at distance of 3km from this Somanāth Temple. The famous cites “Prabhāsa City” was near this temple. Also there are many temples in this city. No convenience for the visitor because there is every facility at the use of people.

According to epics

According to epics of older days Dakṣaprajāpati has 27 daughters and all of them are very beautiful. Dakṣa married all his daughters to the Chandra (Moon). Even though he was married with 27 daughters of Dakṣa, he love Rohini much more than others. Due to this remaining his 26 wives become angry and went to their father Dakṣa and explained their sufferings and also about love towards Rohini by Chandra the Moon. They Dakṣa went to Chandra and tried to convince him to look all his wives alike. But Chandra didin”t change his mind but he now behaves even closer than before with Rohini and showed much more affection towards her. Then Dakṣa became angry and punished Chandra the moon to squeeze down daily so that he will lose his charmins and his natural glow. Due to this heaven all the gods and goddesses being suffered a lot due to glow of Chandra is reducing day by day. Also the whole Universe became life less. Then Chandra with lord Indra and all other goddsses, and saints went to lord Brahma and asked him to do some thing that he should recover. Then creator advised Chandra to pray lord Śiva at Prabhatha tīrtha for salvation of this problem. So that every thing will arrive normal and as usual.

Then Chandra with all goddesses went to Prabhata Kṣetra and worshipped lord Śiva with a great attention for six months. He chanted the “Mṛtyuñjaya Mantra” for 10 crore times. After six months lord Śiva Satisfied with worship of Chandra and appeared infront of him and asked about his desire. Then Chandra explained his punishment given by king Dakṣa and asked to cure his punishment given by king Dakṣa and asked to abolish his punishment so that he will become as he was before. As Lord Śiva is so kind, he accepted the request of Chandra and abolished his punishment and solved chandra’s problem. He adjusted the punishment so that he reduces in fullmoon and grows in new moon.

Thus Chandra the moon regains his glow and charming as usual as he was before.

Then due to the request of all gods and goddesses, lord Śiva was established himself there his wife Parvatī, as Somanātha.

But this Somanāth temple was only seen but not be touched. This is situated at west coastal line and it tooks a like as Triyambakeśvara temple.