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Sri Somnath Temple
Sri Somnath Temple is located in Prabas Patan, Saurashtra, Gujarat. This is the first and the foremost of all twelve ‘Jyotir Lingas‘. According to legends, King Daksha’s twenty seven beautiful daughters had the names of all twenty seven stars and were married to Lord Chandra. But Lord Chandra liked Rohini very much among them. The other twenty six daughters went to their father and expressed their anguish regarding their husband’s negligence.
Consequently, King Daksha cursed Lord Chandra that he would suffer from tuberculosis. With the disease Lord Chandra’s health was at stake. His brilliance became diminished gradually. As a result, all ‘lokas’ suffered from terrible darkness. All deities and saints went to Lord Brahma to express their pain and agony. On hearing this Lord Brahma told Lord Chandra to go to ‘Prabhasa Thirtha’ in Sourastra and prepare clay ‘Linga’ and pray to Lord Shiva chanting the ‘Mrutyumjaya Mahamantra‘. With utmost piety, Lord Chandra did so. Pleased with the staunch devotion of Lord Chandra, Lord Shiva cured his disease and blessed him with devotion. Lord Shiva became ‘Somanadheswara’ as Jyothirlinga.
How To Reach Somnath Temple:
By Train:Â Veraval, (5 kms.) is the closest Railway station.
By Bus:Â State transport buses and private luxury coaches connect various centres of Gujarat to Somnath.
By Flight:Â The nearest Airport is at Keshod, (125 kms.) which is connected with Mumbai.
