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Somnath Temple & Ram Mandir tell one story—of a wounded civilisation meeting a modern state

Historical and civilisational wounds can be healed by dressing them with the putty of acknowledgement. Participation by all in religious ceremonies is a step in the right direction.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Gujarat on Monday to pay obeisance at the Somnath Temple. He participated in the Somnath Amrut Mahotsav, a festival commemorating 75 years since the inauguration of the restored Somnath Temple by India’s first President, Dr Rajendra Prasad, in 1951. This was a landmark moment in the cultural renaissance of independent India, and the Mahotsav celebrates its enduring importance.

Much has been planned around the Somnath Amrut Mahotsav, with the Prime Minister taking part in a series of sacred religious and cultural ceremonies, including the Vishesh Maha Puja, Kumbhabhishek, and Dhvajarohan rituals, signifying sanctification, devotion, and the ceremonial hoisting of the temple flag.

The PM also released a special stamp and coin honouring the timeless legacy, spiritual significance, and national heritage embodied by the Somnath Temple.

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Why is Somnath important?

The Somnath Temple is regarded as one of the most ancient and revered temples in India, with references to it in sacred Hindu texts, Puranic literature, and historic accounts dating back many centuries. The original shrine is associated with Soma, the Moon God, and is believed to have been constructed in gold. Named after Soma, it is one of the oldest continuously venerated temples in Hindu civilisation.

Somnath holds immense religious significance as the first among the 12 Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva. Each lingam is believed to have appeared on its own, carrying the divine cosmic light of Shiva in the form of a lingam, and representing Him as a pillar of light. Millions of Hindus visit Somnath as an act of spiritual aspiration and deep devotion. The temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva, and the lingam embodies his eternal presence as the destroyer of evil and the protector of cosmic order.

Somnath as a symbol........

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