Somnath Temple
- location: coastline in Saurashtra, Gujarat
- also called: Prabhasa: place of splendor
Significance
- Jyotirlinga site
- holy pilgrimate site
- one of 5 most revered sites on sea coast of india
- triveni sangam - Saraswati, Kapila, Hiran
- Reconstruction by SVP in Chalukya style
Demolitions
- Mahmud of Ghazni 1026CE - plundered wealth, destroyed sacred jyotirlinga
- Alauddin Khalji 1299
- Zafar Khan 1395
- takeover by aurangeb to convert to mosque
Constructions
- Valabhi kings to replace older structure
- Gurjar pratihara king Nagabhatta II after Arab invasion
- Built in stone by King Bhimadeva of Anhilwara after Ghazni’s Invasion
- built in stone & jewels by Solanki king kumarpala to replace ageing wooden structure
- Chudasama king Mahipala I after attack by Alauddin Khalji
- Queen Ahilyabai Holkar built adjacent smaller temple to continue worship after takeover by Aurangzeb
- current temple by SVP 1951