The bond between Somnath Temple and Prime Minister Narendra Modi is both deep and divine. In India, there is a special place where the Ganesh idols gifted to Modi from various foreign countries are preserved—the Shri Ram Temple under the Somnath Temple Trust.
So far, Modi has handed over more than 163 Ganesh idols to the Somnath Temple Trust. Spiritually, Somnath Temple holds a special place in his heart.
Beyond being a significant temple in Modi’s home state, Somnath Temple is one of the most historically important temples in India. Revered as a sacred site in Saurashtra, it is the first among the twelve Jyotirlingas. With Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit on March 2, Somnath Temple has once again made headlines.
According to legend, the Somnath Temple was originally built by Som, also known as Chandra Deva. Lord Shiva, the divine protector of Som, is worshipped here. This temple, located in Prabhas Patan near Veraval in Gujarat, is considered the first among the twelve Jyotirlingas, the holiest abodes of Lord Shiva. References to this sacred temple on the Saurashtra coast can be found in ancient texts, including the Mahabharata and the Bhagavata Purana.
