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Somnath Temple, Gujrat
The Somnath is known as the Eternal Shrine as it has withstood the shocks of time and the attacks of the destroyers. It has risen like a phoenix each time it was destroyed.
Somnath is also known by several other names like Deo Pattan, Prabhas Pattan, or Pattan Somnath.These names were acquired during its long and eventful history. Somnath was once the most revered shrine in the country, for it had one of the twelve pre-eminent Jyotirlingas, which held a special significance for the Hindus. Somnath's glory and fame are legendary. It is said that people from the remotest parts of the country came to worship at the shrine; revenues collected from ten thousand villages were spent on the maintenance of the temple.
The temple faces to east and once had an enormous central hall with three entrances, each protected by a lofty porch. The fragments that lie scattered at a short distance from the site give some idea of the sculpture decorating the temple.
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| The richly carved doorways, the sculptured representations of Nandi, Shiva's bull, and the figures of goddesses and their female attendants must once have presented a grand ensemble of great beauty. In the recesses of the balconied corridor, there is a mutilated form of Nataraja, the dancing Shiva.
Situated 79 kms from Junagadh and 25 kms from Chorwad, is the legendary shore temple of Somnath, one of the twelve most sacred Shiva shrines in India.
It is said Somraj, the moon god, originally built the Somnath Temple out of gold. Then, Ravana rebuilt it in silver and then again Krishna did it in wood and yet again by King Bhimdev Solanki in stone in the 10th century. The temple was so rich that it had over 300 musicians and 500 dancing girls. |
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Dwarkadhish Temple, Dwarka, Gujarat
The city of Dwarka, meaning gateway to moksha or salvation hosts another significant temple of Shri Krishna. It is said that lord spent close to hundred years of his life in this holy city. The city is believed to have been immersed in the sea after lord left for heavenly abode. Dwarka is also popularly known as city of gold.
The famed Dwarkadhish temple was just a small umbrella type monument in the year 400 BC; which was renovated time and again in different periods to finally in the year 1960, when Government of India took it over and renovates its from time to time.
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Devotees from all over India, visit the holy place during Janmashtami. The festival is celebrated in a special way; the entire place is very well decorated with rows of lighting everywhere. Special pooja is performed on the day by aboti brahmins; a special caste of brahmins who have been performing pooja for centuries. The pooja is based on a daily routine. Arti is performed at different times during the day, abhishek of lord's idol is done, followed by shringar wherein the idol is adorned with new clothes, jewels and flowers; distribution of sweet meat or prasad to devotees happens in the end. It is said devotees visiting the temple during janmashtami are freed from all sufferings.
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