New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has highlighted the enduring legacy of the Somnath temple, describing its survival and revival over the last 1,000 years as a powerful symbol of India’s resilience and spiritual strength. In a reflective blog marking a millennium since the first attack on the shrine in 1026 AD, he wrote that Somnath’s story is defined not by destruction, but by renewal and unbroken faith.
Recalling that the temple was first attacked exactly a thousand years ago, the Prime Minister noted that Somnath today stands in renewed splendour on Gujarat’s western coast at Prabhas Patan. He described the shrine as an “eternal proclamation of India’s soul”, emphasising its place as the first of the twelve Jyotirlings revered in Hindu tradition and its ability to inspire devotion across centuries.
PM Modi observed that Somnath has long held immense spiritual as well as cultural significance. Located on the coast, the temple once stood as a beacon for a prosperous maritime society, with traders and seafarers carrying stories of its grandeur across distant lands. He acknowledged the repeated attempts by foreign invaders to destroy the shrine, noting that these acts were driven by demolition rather than devotion.
With 2026 marking a thousand years since the first assault, the Prime Minister said Somnath’s survival reflects the enduring spiritual strength of India. He wrote that the temple’s history is a testament to the courage and conviction of generations who rebuilt it time and again, refusing to let faith be extinguished.
Highlighting Somnath’s inclusive legacy, PM Modi said the shrine has historically brought together people from diverse faiths and traditions. He recalled an episode involving a revered Jain monk centuries ago, noting that the temple has always possessed the power to awaken something profound within the human mind and soul.
Drawing a poetic parallel with the sea, the Prime Minister wrote that the waves crashing against Somnath’s shores continue to tell a story of resilience. Just as the waves rise again and again, so did the temple, outlasting those who sought its destruction.
He concluded that while forces driven by hatred may destroy for a moment, faith, goodness and conviction possess the power to create for eternity, with Somnath standing as a lasting symbol of hope, belief and civilisational continuity.
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