Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday, 11th January, delivered a strong and emotional address at the Somnath Temple, recalling a thousand years of sacrifice, struggle and revival linked to the shrine. Referring to repeated attacks on Somnath, PM Modi said rulers from Mahmud of Ghazni to Aurangzeb believed they had defeated the temple with the power of the sword, but time proved otherwise.
PM MODI : "Invaders believed they had triumphed a thousand years ago"
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"But even today, the dhwaja flying atop Somnath stands as a symbol of India’s enduring strength and resilience before the world.” 🚩🚩
Historic speech by PM Modi !! pic.twitter.com/x1RLMCMuXk
“Those invaders are now confined to the pages of history, while Somnath continues to rise with pride,” he said.
Speaking during the Somnath Swabhiman Parv, the Prime Minister said the hoisting of the flag at Somnath Mahadev Mandir after a thousand years sends a clear message to the world about India’s strength and civilisational confidence. He said Somnath’s survival shows that faith built on sacrifice cannot be destroyed by force.
Remembering a thousand-year-old sacrifice
Addressing devotees, PM Modi said the people gathered at Somnath today are descendants of those who once staked their lives to protect the temple. He said standing at the same spot naturally raises questions about what the atmosphere must have been like exactly a thousand years ago, when people chose faith over fear.
He said invaders once believed they had crushed India forever, but Somnath’s continued presence shows that belief and courage outlast violence. “Our ancestors sacrificed everything for Mahadev. Today, the flag flying here tells the world that their faith is never lost,” he said.
Somnath’s journey of destruction and revival
The Prime Minister recalled that the first attack on Somnath in 1026 marked the beginning of a long phase when the temple was repeatedly destroyed and rebuilt. Despite centuries of assaults, Somnath never disappeared from the hearts of the people, he said.
He described the cycle of destruction and reconstruction as unique in world history, adding that Somnath was never just a stone structure. Instead, it remained a living symbol of belief, identity and civilisational pride. According to him, the temple’s repeated revival proves that India’s cultural roots run deeper than any invasion.
Truth of hatred was hidden
PM Modi also said the real history behind the attacks on Somnath was hidden for decades. Without naming anyone, he criticised Congress-led governments for whitewashing history and presenting the attacks as simple attempts to loot wealth.
He said if money was the only motive, the first attack would have been enough. Instead, Somnath was targeted again and again, and even its deity was desecrated. The Prime Minister said the true story of hatred, violence and terror was kept away from the people, while appeasement made some bend before religious extremism.
A thousand years of faith marked by Swabhiman Parv
The Somnath Swabhiman Parv is being observed from 8th January to 11th January, marking 1,000 years since the first recorded attack on the temple. The four-day event commemorates a millennium of faith and resilience during which Somnath was destroyed many times but never abandoned.
Before addressing the gathering, PM Modi offered prayers at the temple after completing the Shaurya Yatra in the temple town. He also paid floral tributes to Veer Hamirji Gohil, who gave his life defending Somnath in 1299 during an invasion led by Zafar Khan, and to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, who played a key role in the temple’s reconstruction after Independence.
The Shaurya yatra adds to the spirit of Somnath
Earlier in the day, the Prime Minister took part in the Shaurya Yatra, a ceremonial procession organised as part of the Swabhiman Parv. As the procession moved through Somnath, he was seen blowing a conch shell and greeting devotees gathered along the route.
The yatra featured 108 horses from the Gujarat Police Mounted Unit, adding to its ceremonial and symbolic importance. PM Modi was accompanied by Bhupendra Patel and Harsh Sanghavi during the visit.
From heritage to future
In his speech, PM Modi said Somnath’s story is not about defeat, but about victory through patience and rebuilding. He said the temple teaches that civilisations survive not by destroying others, but by holding on to their values. “You cannot win hearts with swords. Those who tried to erase others were erased themselves,” he said.
The Prime Minister also linked Somnath’s legacy to modern India’s journey, saying today’s India is moving forward by drawing strength from its heritage. He highlighted development projects around Somnath, improved connectivity, and efforts to balance tradition with progress.
Concluding his address, PM Modi said Somnath’s thousand-year journey inspires India to prepare for the next thousand years with unity, confidence and pride in its roots. “From Ghazni to Aurangzeb, many tried and failed. Somnath stands as proof that faith rooted in truth always outlives violence,” he said.
