Narendra Modi addresses the Somnath Swabhiman Parv in Somnath, Gujarat

Narendra Modi addressed the Somnath Swabhiman Parv in Somnath, Gujarat today. Speaking on the occasion, the Prime Minister remarked that this time is extraordinary, this atmosphere is extraordinary, and this celebration is extraordinary. He highlighted that on one side stands Lord Mahadev himself, and on the other, the vast waves of the ocean, with the rays of the sun, the resonance of mantras, and the surge of devotion. He stated that in this divine environment, the presence of all devotees of Lord Somnath is making the occasion divine and grand. Shri Modi expressed that he considers it a great fortune that, as Chairman of the Somnath Temple Trust, he has received the opportunity to actively serve in the Somnath Swabhiman Parv. He noted the uninterrupted chanting of Omkar for 72 hours and the continuous recitation of mantras for 72 hours. He highlighted that yesterday evening, a thousand drones, along with the presence of a thousand students from Vedic Gurukuls, presented the saga of Somnath’s thousand years, and today, the ‘Shourya Yatra’ with 108 horses reached the temple. He emphasized that the mesmerizing presentation of mantras and bhajans is beyond words, and only time can capture this experience. The Prime Minister underlined that this celebration embodies pride and honor, dignity and knowledge, grandeur and heritage, spirituality and realization, experience, joy, and intimacy. Above all, he stressed, it carries the blessings of Lord Mahadev.

The Prime Minister remarked that as he speaks today, the thought repeatedly arises in his mind of what the atmosphere must have been like exactly a thousand years ago at this very place where people are now seated. He highlighted that the forefathers of those present, our ancestors, risked their lives for their faith, for their belief, and for their Lord Mahadev, offering everything they had. He stated that a thousand years ago, the invaders believed they had won, but today, even after a millennium, the flag atop Somnath Mahadev’s temple proclaims to the entire creation the strength and capability of Hindustan. Shri Modi underlined that every particle of the soil of Prabhas Patan is a witness to valor, courage, and heroism, and that countless devotees of Shiva sacrificed their lives for the preservation of Somnath’s form. He said that on the occasion of Somnath Swabhiman Parv, he bows first to every brave man and woman who dedicated their lives to the protection and reconstruction of Somnath, offering everything to Lord Mahadev. 

Emphasising that Prabhas Patan is not only the domain of Lord Shiva but also sanctified by Lord Shri Krishna, Shri Modi said that even the Pandavas performed penance at this sacred site during the Mahabharata era. He remarked that this occasion is therefore an opportunity to pay homage to the countless dimensions of India. He noted the fortunate coincidence that as Somnath’s Swabhiman journey completes a thousand years, it also marks seventy-five years since its reconstruction in 1951. The Prime Minister extended his greetings to millions of devotees across the world on the occasion of Somnath Swabhiman Parv. 

Stressing that this festival is not merely a remembrance of the destruction that occurred a thousand years ago, the Prime Minister remarked that it is a celebration of a thousand years of journey, as well as of India’s existence and pride. He highlighted that at every step and milestone, unique similarities can be seen between Somnath and India. Just as there were countless attempts to destroy Somnath, foreign invaders tried for centuries to annihilate India. Yet neither Somnath was destroyed, nor India, because India and its centers of faith are inseparably united.

Shri Modi remarked that one must imagine the history of a thousand years ago, when in 1026 AD, Mahmud of Ghazni first attacked and destroyed the Somnath temple, believing he had erased its existence. He highlighted that within a few years, Somnath was rebuilt, and in the twelfth century King Kumarapala carried out a grand restoration of the temple. He noted that at the end of the thirteenth century Alauddin Khilji again dared to attack Somnath, but the ruler of Jalore fought valiantly against Khilji’s armies. The Prime Minister stated that in the early fourteenth century the king of Junagadh once again reinstated the temple’s prestige, and later in the same century Muzaffar Khan attacked Somnath, but his attempt also failed. He recalled that in the fifteenth century Sultan Ahmed Shah tried to desecrate the temple, and his grandson Sultan Mahmud Begada attempted to convert it into a mosque, but through the efforts of Mahadev’s devotees the temple was revived once more. He emphasized that during the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, Aurangzeb desecrated Somnath and tried again to turn it into a mosque, yet Ahilyabai Holkar later established a new temple, bringing Somnath back to life. “The history of Somnath is not one of destruction and defeat, but of victory and reconstruction”, underlined the Prime Minister. He stressed that invaders kept coming, new assaults of religious terror occurred, but in every era Somnath was re-established again and again. He remarked that such centuries-long struggle, such prolonged resistance, such immense patience, creativity, and resilience in reconstruction, and such unwavering faith in culture and belief is unparalleled in world history.