Jyotirlinga Series: Somnath Temple

Jyotirlinga Series: Somnath Temple of Gujarat is one of the most well known temples of India, and is also one of the 12 major Jyotirlingas in the country - the temples which are dedicated to Shiva. Let us know a little more about the story of this temple.

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Chandra (moon) was married to 27 daughters of king Daksha.

However, he preferred his wife Rohini over the rest of the 26 sisters. This upset the other women, and as a result angered Daksha. He cursed Chandra to lose all his shine and power of light.

Scared, he prays to Brahma who suggests getting help from Shiva.

He this undergoes strict penance, takes a dive in the river Saraswati, the place which then came to be known as Prabhas.

Chandra (aka Som) even builds a temple of gold for Shiva which is the Somnath Temple of Gujarat.

It is believed that golden temple was followed up by building of a silver temple by Ravana, and then a sandalwood one by Krishna.

Shiva eventually also helps modifies the curse, as no curse once given, can be undone completely.

So now the time taken by Chandra when he is nearing his favourite wife Rohini, is when he shines the brightness and thus we have the waxing of the moon, followed by a period of time, when he is moving away from her to his other queens, which is today seen as waning of the moon.

This story is in association with The Eternal Epics™. You can check out more such hindu mythological stories on their Instagram, YouTube, Facebook and website.