Who is Somnath
Somnath, also known as Somanātha, is the presiding deity of the Somnath Temple in Gujarat, revered as the first of the twelve Jyotirlingas—self-manifested lingas of Lord Shiva. The name 'Somnath' means 'Lord of the Moon' (Soma), and the origin of this sacred shrine is intimately connected with the Moon god. According to the Shiva Purana (Kotirudra Samhita, Chapter 23), Soma (the Moon) was cursed by his father-in-law Daksha to wane due to his partiality towards his wife Rohini. Distressed, Soma performed intense penance at Prabhasa Tirtha (the site of Somnath) and built a golden linga to propitiate Shiva. Pleased, Shiva restored Soma's waxing and waning cycle and declared that the linga would be known as Somnath, granting liberation to all who worship there.
The Skanda Purana (Prabhasa Khanda) also extols the glory of this Jyotirlinga, describing it as the foremost among all Shiva shrines, where the deity resides in the form of a radiant pillar of light. Iconographically, Somnath is represented as a linga, typically a smooth, cylindrical stone emblematic of the formless aspect of Shiva. The temple's architecture, a masterpiece of Chalukya style, stands on the coast of the Arabian Sea, symbolizing the union of the divine with the primal waters. The linga is believed to be self-manifested and is associated with the moon's cool, soothing energy. Principal myths include the story of Soma's penance and the legend of the temple's destruction and reconstruction over centuries, reflecting the indestructible nature of Shiva.
The temple has been rebuilt multiple times, most recently in 1951, and remains a symbol of resilience. In Hindu cosmology, Somnath represents the first manifestation of the Jyotirlingas, which are considered the cosmic pillars of light that sustain the universe. Regional worship traditions include the daily aarti and abhishekam with water from the nearby sea, and the temple is a major pilgrimage site, especially during Maha Shivaratri. The Somnath festival, held in the month of Kartik, features grand processions and cultural events. Devotees chant the mantra 'Om Somnāthāya Namaḥ' and recite the Jyotirlinga Stotram to invoke the deity's blessings.
Somnath is not only a temple but a living symbol of Shiva's grace and the eternal cycle of creation and dissolution.
Roots of the name
The name 'Somnath' (Sanskrit: सोमनाथ) is a compound of 'soma' (moon) and 'nātha' (lord), thus meaning 'Lord of the Moon'. The term 'Soma' also refers to the sacred Vedic beverage, but here it directly denotes the lunar deity.
The site is also known as 'Prabhasa' (place of splendor), as per the Skanda Purana. Regional variants include 'Someshvara' (Someswar) in medieval inscriptions.
The Shiva Purana (Kotirudra Samhita, Chapter 23) narrates that the moon god Soma installed a linga here to propitiate Shiva, hence the name. The Jyotirlinga is considered self-manifested (svayambhu), and the name reflects its association with the moon's cooling energy.
Where the deity first appears
The Somnath Jyotirlinga is first enumerated in the Shiva Purana (Jnanasamhita, Chapter 13), which lists it as the foremost of the twelve Jyotirlingas. The Skanda Purana (Prabhasa Khanda) extensively glorifies the site, describing it as a radiant pillar of light.
The Mahabharata (Vanaparva, Chapter 82) mentions Prabhasa Tirtha as a sacred coastal pilgrimage site, though not specifically the temple. The Bhagavata Purana (10.79.19) also references Prabhasa.
The temple rose to prominence in the early medieval period, with the earliest known structural temple dated to the 9th century CE. It became a major center of Shaivism, and its wealth attracted repeated invasions, most notably by Mahmud of Ghazni in 1026 CE.
The site's scriptural importance as the first Jyotirlinga is consistently affirmed in Puranic lists from the 10th-12th centuries.
Names by which the divine is addressed
What they hold
Form, mudras, weapons & vahana
Linga form. Temple with distinctive Chalukya architecture on the Arabian Sea coast.
Sacred utterances
Vedic remediation guidance
- Mental restlessness
- Mother's health
- Emotional imbalance
- Chandra-Mangala dosha
Somnath, as Soma-nātha, is the Lord of the Moon, directly linked to the lunar deity Soma who built a golden linga at Prabhasa to regain his waning form after Daksha’s curse, as detailed in the Shiva Purana. Worship of Somnath is most recommended when the Moon is afflicted by a malefic in the 8th house, during Sade Sati (Saturn’s transit over the natal Moon), or when a weak Mercury occupies a dusthana (6th, 8th, or 12th house), causing mental restlessness, emotional imbalance, or Chandra-Mangala dosha. The remedial pattern involves reciting the Shiva Purana’s Kotirudra Samhita chapter on Somnath, or chanting the Panchakshara mantra “Om Namah Shivaya” 108 times on Mondays, using a white rudraksha mala. Complementary observances include fasting on Monday, wearing white, offering milk and white flowers to the linga, and performing japa under Rohini, Hasta, or Shravana nakshatras to soothe the Moon and restore maternal and emotional harmony.
The year of Somnath
Tīrthas & major shrines
Where to read further
Dance, music, art & literature
Somnath is a major pilgrimage site, especially during Maha Shivaratri, and features in Carnatic and Hindustani compositions, such as Muthuswami Dikshitar's kriti 'Somnatham Bhaje' in the raga Kalyani. The temple's history of destruction and reconstruction has inspired literary works and folk ballads in Gujarati.
In Bharatanatyam and Odissi, the story of Soma's penance is performed as a dance drama. The temple's architecture influenced later Chalukya and Solanki styles.
Somnath is also revered in Southeast Asia, with references in Balinese Hinduism and Cambodian inscriptions. The site's coastal location made it a hub for trade and cultural exchange, spreading Shaivism across the Indian Ocean.