Mahmud Ghazni

The history of Somnath is an extraordinary narrative of cultural survival. While often remembered for medieval invasions, the temple’s true strength lies in its roots as a center of knowledge

75 years after its reconstruction, Somnath Temple stands as a powerful symbol of India’s civilisational revival, maritime resurgence and enduring cultural confidence.

Somnath stands as the unbroken symbol of a civilisation that chose resistance and renewal over surrender, every single time it was attacked.

The destruction of Somnath was more than a religious attack; it was a strategic blow to India’s maritime economy. Today, from traditional shipbuilding to the Indo-Pacific vision, India is reclaiming the civilizational memory of a time when its temples powered global trade.

75 years ago, it was during a ceremony on May 11th 1951, in the presence of the then President of India, Dr Rajendra Prasad, that the restored Somnath Temple opened its doors to devotees.

While the Islamists are suggesting that ‘Hindu nationalists’ or ‘Hindutva goons’ climbed atop a “mosque”, in reality, it is not a mosque but a Dargah or shrine named after Ghazi Syed Salar Masud. It is not even his grave or mazar.

On the occasion of Ram Navami (6th April), some of the activists of Maharaja Suheldev Samman Suraksha Manch (MSSSM), led by one Manendra Pratap Singh, reportedly climbed atop the Dargah of Syed Salar Masud Ghazi and waved saffron flags in the Baharia area of Prayagraj.

Spiritual leader and founder of the Art of Living, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar will be performing the consecration of the fragmants of the Somnath Jyotirling. The broken pieces of the Jyotirlinga were being preserved by generations of Agnihotri Brahmins since its destruction. The pieces are still very active and behave like magnets as demonstrated by Sri Sri Ravi Shankar.

Somnath Mandir had been attacked and pillaged at least six times by Muslim rulers and former PM Pandit Nehru was against its revival.

The Battle Story of Somnath is a multilingual project which will be released in twelve major Indian languages including Hindi, Gujarati, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam and Marathi.