Why is it in News?
→ India is commemorating 1,000 years since the first destruction of Somnath Temple.
→ Prime Minister highlighted Somnath as a symbol of civilisational resilience.
Important Points:
- Somnath Temple located at Prabhas Patan, Gujarat.
- It is the first Jyotirlinga among the 12 Jyotirlingas.
- First major destruction occurred in 1026 CE by Mahmud of Ghazni.
- Temple rebuilt multiple times; current structure is the 7th reconstruction.
- Reconstruction initiated by Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel in 1947.
- Pran-Pratistha performed by President Dr Rajendra Prasad in 1951.
- Built in Kailas Mahameru Prasad architectural style.
- Situated at the confluence of Kapila, Hiran, and Saraswati rivers with the Arabian Sea.