Prabhasa Kshetra - The Glory of Somanath
Om! Sri Raghavendraya Namaha!
Om! Namo! Bhagavathe! Vasudevaya!
Om! Ham! Hanumathe! Sri Rama Doothaya Namaha!
(Jyothirlinga Darshan at Somnath)
PRABHASA KSHETRA
(The Glory of Somanath)
The holy place Prabhasa also known as Somanath is situated between 20.53’N latitude and 70.24’E longitude on the south west coast of India in the Sourashtra province of Gujarat State, on the shores of Arabian Sea. Port town of Veeraval is only 2 km away from Somnath. Sanctified with the presence of Jyothirlinga of Lord Shiva known as Somanath, this sacrosanct place Prabhasa, is in existence since time immemorial. Spiritually known as Prabhasa Theertha this place was called as Prabhasa Pattan in olden times and was famous as a town of temples.
In olden times it was known as Arka Theertha or Bhaskara Theertha and Soma Theertha or Chandra Theertha. Over a period of time it came to be known as Prabhasa Theertha. Prabhasa is a Sanskrit word meaning glowing, luminous, shining, the one that generates light. Prabhasa also means dawn. Sun God is also called as Prabhakara. Prabhasa is the place where the Moon God got rid of the curse and regained his lost lustre. Being situated at the western coast, this entire area is radiated by Sun light for a relatively longer period of time and hence called as Prabhasa Pattan, the town that glows.
Prabhasa is located at the holy confluence of the mythological rivers Saraswati, Kapila, and Hiranya known as Triveni said to be in existence since Vedic period. It is a sacred place where mythological river Saraswati flows towards the west and the town is situated on the sea shore. According to Skhanda Purana it is said that, invoked by four Sages, Hiranya, Vajra, Nyanku and Kapila, the holy river Saraswati flowing in Prabhas Kshetra constitutes five different streams of rivers known as Harini, Vajrini, Nyankumati, Kapila and Saraswati.
Prabhasa is a famous Shiva Kshetra known as the Aadi Jyothirlinga Kshetra (Sourashtre Somanathancha….) where Lord Shiva is worshipped as Somanath also known as Someshwar. Named after the Moon God (Soma), it is the place where Moon (Chandra) worshipped Lord Shiva and performed severe penance and got relieved from the ill effects of the curse he had from Daksha Prajapathi.
Prabhasa Kshetra is highly sanctified with the Niryana of Lord Sri Krishna at this place known as Bhalka Theertha where, the Lord undertook his last journey on this Earth and left for his celestial abode ending his glorious Avathara. Known as Parashurama Kshetra (Tapo Bhoomi) it is also the place where, Lord Parashurama did penance to get rid of the ill effects of killing Kshatriya Kings several times. It is also said that, Deva Guru Brihaspathi attained his position as the Preceptor of Devathas by performing penance on the banks of Prabhasa Theertha. Blessed with the glorious presence of Lord Shiva in the form of a Jyothirlinga, and sanctified with the Niryana of Lord Sri Krishna (Avathara of Lord Maha Vishnu) the place Prabhasa is known as Hari Hara Kshetra.
Prabhasa Theertha is known to be a famous pilgrim center even during Pouranic days the reference to which is found in sacred texts like Skhanda Purana, Shiva Purana, Mahabharatha and Bhagavatha Purana. Skhanda Purana has made an extensive reference to the glory of this holy place in its Prabhasa Khanda. As per Skhanda Purana it is said that, Prabhasa Theertha is considered as the crown of all holy places that is incomparable in its merits and capable of liberating a man from all his sins. Spread in an area of five yojanas this sacrosanct place contains several temples of both Lord Shiva and Vishnu apart from Sun temples. Dwelling about the merits of this place it is said that, anyone who has the good fortune of living in this Prabhasa Kshetra and not abandoning it, despite hardship and troubles is certain to get absolved from his sins and attain salvation.
It is said that in those days Prabhasa Theertha was only 24 miles to the East of Dwarka and people from Dwarka used to reach Prabhasa within couple of hours. Devoted to its sanctity as a place of meditation and penance, Prabhasa Theertha was a frequent pilgrim of both Pandavas and Yadavas. It is said that Pandavas during their Vanavasa (exile in forest) period had stayed here for some time. It is said that Lord Sri Krishna and Balarama also had done pilgrimage to Prabhasa. As per Bhagavatha purana it is said that Lord Sri Krishna had advised his clan to move to Prabhasa Theertha before his Niryana. Finally, Lord Sri Krishna himself moved to Prabhasa Theertha for his ultimate journey.
Prabhasa known as the Aadi Jyothirlinga Kshetra, first among the Dwadasa Jyothirlingas is a historical and holy religious tourist center, attracting lakhs of pilgrims and tourists from across the globe throughout the year. Prabhasa is also a place of pilgrimage for the worship of one’s ancestors at the Triveni Sangam, the confluence of three sacred rivers. Somavathi Amavasya and Lunar eclipse bears a special significance at this Kshetra for pilgrimage and for a dip in the Triveni Sangam even dating back to the Pouranic era.
Sri Krishnaarpanamasthu
PS:
For more information about Somnath please look forward for the coming posts
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