Sacred places around Somnath
Om! Sri Raghavendraya Namaha!
Om! Namo! Bhagavathe! Vasudevaya!
Om! Ham! Hanumathe! Sri Rama Doothaya Namaha!
(View of Triveni Sangam Ghat at Somnath)SACRED PLACES AROUND SOMNATH
There are many temples and places of historical and religious importance around Somnath in Prabhasa Theertha, the seat of one of the twelve most revered Jyothirlingas. Some of the most important of them are,
Sri Parashuram Temple
Known as Parashurama Kshetra or Parashurama Tapo Bhoomi, this is a sacred spot at the holy banks of Triveni where, Lord Parashurama conducted his long penance and was relieved from the curse of Kshatriya killings. It is located at a distance of about 5 km on Veeraval highway. There is Parashurama temple and two kunds and also temples of Jaleshwar-Tapeshwar Mahadev and Jamadagneshwar Mahadev at this place.
Sri Shashibhushan Mahadev &
Bheedbhanjan Ganapathi Temple
It is located at a distance of 4 km on the Somnath-Veraval highway with a beautiful sea-shore. Lord Shashibhushan (Lord Shiva) with Bheedbhanjan (Savior form of Ganesh) is worshipped here. We can find Shiva Lingas on the sea side known as Baan Ganga Shiva Linga. The Jhara poacher (hunter) is said to have taken aim from this spot while hitting an arrow towards Lord Sree Krishna.
Shri Veneshwar Mahadev Temple
Rajputa Vaja clan was in charge of Somnath during the Muslim desecrations. The devotional episode of the princess Veni is said to have been depicted in the novel by Shri K.M. Munshi. The temple was outside of the fort wall of Prabhas Pattan at the time of holy war with Gazani. The soldiers of Gazani attempted an abduction of the princess Veni, an ardent devotee of Lord Shiva who used to regularly visit the temple to offer her services to the Lord Shiva. The traditions maintain that the Shiva linga spontaneously got divided and the princess got buried into it. The Shiva temple here is known as Veneshwar temple after the fond memory of the divine episode of Veni.
Triveni Sangam Ghat
Triveni Sangam Ghat in Somnath is at the confluence of three holy rivers Kapila, Hiranya and a mystical River Saraswati (also known as Gupta Saraswati) from where the rivers flow to the ultimate destination of Sea. This is a sacred place to take bath and it is believed that the bath in the waters at this Ghat offers relief from all curses and ills happened. It is considered to be a Moksha theertha. It is also a sacred place to pay homage to ancestors and offer Pitru tarpana. In Chaitra and Bhadrapada months of Hindu calendar huge crowds are seen here. The ghat has been named after Morarji Desai former Prime minister of India who was also the chairman of Shri Somnath Trust for several years. The Ghat has good arrangements for bathing and changing of clothes.
Sun temple (Surya Mandir)
It is a very ancient temple dedicated to the Sun God. The Sun temple of Prabhas Pattan has a sabha mantapa, sanctum sanctorum and intricate carvings.
Pandav Gufa & Hinglaj Mata Mandir
Next to the Sun temple there is Pandav Gufa, a cave associated with the Pandavas, at an elevated place dedicated to Pandavas. Inside there is an underground cave temple called as Hinglaj Matha Mandir, a form of Goddess Durga. Pandavas during their Vanavasa are said to have visited this place and worshipped this Goddess.
Kamnath Mahadev Temple
It is said that, this was the place where Rathi Devi wife of Manmatha also known as Kamadev did severe penance to get back the life to her husband. Earlier Manmatha who had disturbed Lord Shiva from his penance became a victim to his wrath and got converted into ashes. Pleased with Rathi Devi’s prayers and penance, Lord Shiva blessed her husband life back without physical body and fulfilled her desire. Thenceforth, Lord Shiva at this place came to be known as Kamnath Mahadev.
The Kamnath Mahadev temple, built about 200 years ago by a Mayurdhwaj King, is a renowned temple located in Somnath. There is a large temple complex with a holy pond and its water is said to have majestic healing powers. It is said that Mayurdhwaj King recovered from leprosy after taking bath in this place. There are idols of Adi Sankaracharya and Lord Nrusimha. Replica of Dwadasa Jyothirlingas is enshrined in this temple. Sankaracharya Mutt, Sharada Peeth is inside the temple complex.
Somnath Beach
Just behind the new Somnath temple is the Somnath beach with pleasant sands, extensive sea view, camel and pony rides.
Porbandar
Sudhama Mandir
Known in Puranas famously as Sudhamapuri, Porbandar is said to be the birthplace of Sudhama also known as Kuchela a contemporary fellow-student and an ardent devotee of Lord Sri Krishna. There is a fine temple dedicated to Sudhama at his birthplace. Sudhama and his devoted wife Susheeladevi are worshipped here. One can find fine coloured paintings of Sudhama and Sri Krishna depicted on the walls of the temple. There are small temples of other devotees including Lord Hanuman around the temple complex. To the left of Sudhama temple, there is a large quadrangle where hundreds of pigeons feed on grains provided by devotees. The city bus-stand is just opposite to the temple gate where one can find number of vehicles readily available for conveyance.
Keerthi Mandir (Birth place of Mahatma Gandhi)
About half kilometer away from Sudhama Mandir, is the birthplace of Mahatma Gandhi the architect of Indian Freedom. His ancestral house is preserved and the place of birth is marked out. Portraits of his parents can be seen on the wall. It is a three floored building with 22 rooms. Adjacent to the house, there is Keerthi Mandir, a monument to the Father of the Nation, where several photographs showing various important events in his life are exhibited. Behind the house of Mahatma Gandhi there lies the parental house of Kasturba Gandhi, wife of M.K. Gandhi where she was born, bought up and lived till her marriage with Mahatma Gandhi.
EXCURSIONS AROUND SOMNATH
Gir National Park & Wildlife Sanctuary
The Gir National Park and wild life Sanctuary one of the most important wild life preserves of India is situated in Junagadh district of Gujarat State about 45 km away from Somnath. Also known as Sasan–Gir, spread over an area of 1412 sq. km is the last home of the Asiatic Lions. This sanctuary was set up to protect the lions where it is said that one can find at present more than 300 lions. It is closed for visitors on Wednesday.
Diu Island
The island of Diu has chaptered history having been under the possession of and ruled by many Kings and Dynasties dating back to pouranic period. Lastly it was under the rule of Portuguese from whom it was liberated along with Goa and Daman in the year 1961. It is believed and said that Pandavas had spent some time in this island during their exile in forests. It is about 95 km from Somnath.
Sri Krishnaarpanamasthu
PS: Information about sacred places related to Lord Sri Krishna's Niryana are covered in a separate post.
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