Somnath Jyotirlinga
सोमनाथ ज्योतिर्लिङ्ग
Mythological Origin
The origin of Somnath Jyotirlinga is rooted in the poignant tale of Chandra, the Moon god. Daksha Prajapati, the primordial creator, had twenty-seven daughters — the Nakshatras — all of whom were married to Chandra. However, Chandra was deeply enamored with Rohini and neglected his other wives. Grieved by their suffering, the twenty-six neglected daughters complained to their father. Daksha admonished Chandra repeatedly, but when the Moon god refused to change, Daksha pronounced a devastating curse: Chandra would lose his radiance and waste away into nothingness. As the curse took hold, Chandra began to fade, and with him, the world was plunged into darkness. Herbs lost their potency, tides faltered, and all beings dependent on moonlight suffered. Desperate, Chandra sought counsel from Brahma, who advised him to worship Lord Shiva at the sacred confluence of the rivers Kapila, Hiran, and Sarasvati in Prabhas Kshetra on the western coast of Saurashtra. Chandra performed intense penance there, fashioning a Linga from the sands and worshipping Mahadeva with unwavering devotion for six months. Pleased by his austerity, Lord Shiva appeared and partially lifted the curse — Chandra would wax and wane in a perpetual cycle, losing his light for fifteen days but regaining it for fifteen, thus establishing the lunar phases that govern Hindu calendrics and rituals to this day. Overjoyed and grateful, Chandra built a magnificent golden temple at the site and installed the Linga, praying that Shiva remain there eternally. Because Soma (another name for Chandra) was the lord (Natha) who found redemption here, the shrine came to be known as Somnath — the Lord of the Moon. It is revered as the first among the twelve Jyotirlingas, the self-manifested pillars of divine light.
Step-by-Step Rituals
Step 1: Purification at Triveni Sangam — Pilgrims begin by bathing at the sacred confluence of the Kapila, Hiran, and Sarasvati rivers near the temple, performing Sankalpa (sacred resolve) and offering Tarpana to ancestors, as this site is also considered a Pitru Tirtha.
Step 2: Darshan of the Jyotirlinga — After purification, devotees enter the Somnath Mahadev temple and proceed to the Garbhagriha to behold the ancient Shivalinga. One circumambulates the sanctum clockwise (Pradakshina) three times while chanting 'Om Namah Shivaya' before offering Abhishekam with water, milk, or Panchamrita.
Step 3: Offering of Bilva Patra and Flowers — Devotees present Bilva (Bael) leaves, Dhatura flowers, Akshata (unbroken rice), and white flowers to the Linga. Lighting a ghee lamp and burning incense, they recite the Shiva Panchakshara Stotram or Rudram while seated before the sanctum.
Step 4: Attending the Evening Aarti and Light-and-Sound Show — The temple's evening Aarti is a deeply moving ceremony with bells, chanting, and camphor flames. Following this, pilgrims attend the renowned light-and-sound show at the temple premises, which narrates the history of Somnath's repeated destruction and resilient reconstruction.
Step 5: Parikrama of the Temple Complex and Arrow Pillar Visit — Pilgrims walk the full Parikrama path around the temple exterior along the Arabian Sea shore, absorbing the sacred atmosphere. They visit the Baan Stambha (Arrow Pillar) on the sea-facing terrace, an ancient column inscribed with the verse declaring that no land lies between this point and the South Pole — a testament to India's ancient geographical knowledge.
Symbolism
Somnath Jyotirlinga embodies the profound Hindu teaching that divine grace can restore what karma has diminished. Chandra's waning represents the consequences of Adharma — imbalance, favoritism, and neglect of duty — while his restoration through Shiva's grace illustrates that sincere repentance and devoted worship can redeem even a celestial being. The perpetual waxing and waning of the moon thereafter symbolizes the cyclical nature of existence itself: growth and decline, creation and dissolution, all held in equilibrium by Mahadeva. As the first Jyotirlinga, Somnath represents the primordial emergence of Shiva's infinite light (Jyoti) in Linga form — the formless taking form so that devotees may approach the unapproachable. The temple's location on the western coast, facing the vast open ocean with nothing beyond, symbolizes the boundary between the known and the infinite, the material and the transcendent. Somnath's extraordinary history of destruction by invaders and repeated reconstruction is itself symbolic — it stands as a testament to the Hindu concept of eternal Dharma, which may be obscured but never annihilated, always rising again like the moon after Amavasya.
Regional Variations
Gujarat (Primary Site)
Gujarat is the home of Somnath, and the pilgrimage is deeply woven into Gujarati identity. Devotees from across Saurashtra undertake the Somnath Yatra especially during Kartik Purnima, Maha Shivaratri, and Shravan month. The temple trust organizes elaborate Abhishekam, Rudrabhishekam, and Maha Aarti ceremonies. Many Gujarati families combine the visit with trips to nearby Dwarkadhish temple, creating a combined Shaiva-Vaishnava pilgrimage circuit.
North and Central India
Pilgrims from Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and Rajasthan often undertake the Dwadash Jyotirlinga Yatra, visiting all twelve Jyotirlingas in a single extended pilgrimage. For them, Somnath holds pride of place as the first Jyotirlinga. Many North Indian groups organize bus yatras during Shravan month. Devotees from Varanasi particularly revere the connection between Somnath and Kashi Vishwanath, seeing them as complementary manifestations of Shiva's light.
South and East India
South Indian devotees, particularly Tamil and Telugu Shaivites, revere Somnath within the broader Jyotirlinga tradition celebrated in texts like the Shiva Purana. Tamil pilgrims often recite Tevaram hymns during their visit. In eastern India, Bengali devotees associate Somnath with the Soma (lunar) tradition important in Bengali Shaiva practice. Many organize group pilgrimages combining Somnath with Rameshwaram Jyotirlinga in Tamil Nadu, linking the northern and southern extremities of Shiva worship.
Diaspora Home Guide
For Hindus living abroad who cannot visit Somnath in person, the pilgrimage's essence can be honored at home. Set up a small Shiva altar with a Shivalinga or image of Somnath temple. On auspicious days like Maha Shivaratri or Kartik Purnima, perform Abhishekam by pouring milk, water, and honey over the Linga while chanting 'Om Namah Shivaya' 108 times. Offer Bilva leaves (or bay leaves as a substitute), white flowers, and Dhatura if available. Light a ghee lamp and incense, and recite the Dwadash Jyotirlinga Stotram, which invokes all twelve Jyotirlingas beginning with Somnath. Watch recorded videos of the Somnath Aarti and light-and-sound show with your family to create an immersive experience. During Shravan month (July-August), observe Somvar Vrat (Monday fasts) dedicated to Shiva. Many diaspora Shiva temples in the US, UK, and Canada host special Rudrabhishekam ceremonies — participating in these communal rituals connects you to the same devotional energy. Teach children the story of Chandra's redemption through Shiva's grace, reinforcing the values of humility, repentance, and divine compassion that Somnath embodies.
Foods Offered
- Panchamrita (sacred mixture of milk, curd, ghee, honey, and sugar offered for Abhishekam)
- Bhaang Thandai (a traditional Shiva offering made with milk, almonds, and spices)
- Modak and Pedha (sweet offerings placed before the Linga)
- Khichdi (simple rice and lentil preparation offered as Naivedyam during Shravan)
- Malpua (sweet pancakes traditionally prepared by Gujarati pilgrims as prasad)
Colors
Mantras
ॐ नमः शिवाय
Om Namah Shivaya — I bow to Lord Shiva, the auspicious one. The Panchakshara mantra, most fundamental invocation of Shiva.
सौराष्ट्रे सोमनाथं च श्रीशैले मल्लिकार्जुनम्। उज्जयिन्यां महाकालम् ॐकारममलेश्वरम्॥
In Saurashtra, Somnath; in Shrishailam, Mallikarjuna; in Ujjain, Mahakal; and Omkareshwar the pure — opening verse of the Dwadash Jyotirlinga Stotram enumerating all twelve sacred Lingas.
कर्पूरगौरं करुणावतारं संसारसारं भुजगेन्द्रहारम्। सदा वसन्तं हृदयारविन्दे भवं भवानीसहितं नमामि॥
I bow to the one white as camphor, the incarnation of compassion, the essence of worldly existence, who wears the serpent king as garland, who forever dwells in the lotus of the heart — Shiva along with Bhavani.