Need to Defeat Forces Opposing Somnath Rebuild: PM Modi

The Prime Minister noted that one of the names of Lord Mahadev enshrined in Somnath is “Mrityunjay”, the one who has conquered death, who is himself the embodiment of time.

Reciting a Shloka, Modi explained that creation originates from Him (Lord Shiva) and merges back into Him, and affirmed the belief that Shiva pervades the entire universe, that every particle contains Shankar.

“No one could destroy the countless forms of Shankar, for even in living beings we see Shiva, and thus no force could shake our faith,” he pointed out.

The Prime Minister noted that the cycle of time has reduced those fanatical invaders who sought to destroy Somnath to mere pages of history, while the temple still stands tall on the shores of the vast ocean, holding aloft its towering dharma-dhwaja.

He further noted that the spire of Somnath proclaims, “I rely on Chandra Shekhar Shiva, what can even time do to me?”

Underlining that “Somnath Swabhiman Parv” is not only a festival of historical pride but also a medium to make an eternal journey alive for the future, Modi urged that this occasion must be used to strengthen our existence and identity.

The Prime Minister observed that while some nations present even a few centuries-old heritage as their identity before the world, India possesses sacred places like Somnath that are thousands of years old, symbols of strength, resistance, and tradition.

He said that unfortunately, after independence, those with a colonial mindset tried to distance themselves from such heritage, and there were malicious attempts to erase this history.

Recalling the sacrifices made for the protection of Somnath, he mentioned the efforts of rulers like Raval Kanhardev, the valor of Veer Hamirji Gohil, and the bravery of Vegda Bhil. He said that many such heroes are linked to the temple’s history but were never given due recognition.

He stated that some historians and politicians tried to whitewash the history of invasions, disguising religious fanaticism as mere plunder, and wrote books to conceal the truth.

Modi stressed that Somnath was not attacked just once but repeatedly, and if the assaults had been only for economic loot, they would have stopped after the first major plunder a thousand years ago, but that was not the case.

He pointed out that the sacred idols of Somnath were broken, the temple’s form was repeatedly altered, and yet people were taught that Somnath was destroyed merely for loot, while the cruel history of hatred, oppression, and terror was hidden from us.

“Any person honest in their faith would never support such extremist thinking, yet those driven by appeasement have always bowed before it,” he said and highlighted that when India was freed from the chains of slavery and Sardar Patel took the pledge to rebuild Somnath, attempts were made to stop him, and even objections were raised when President Dr Rajendra Prasad came in 1951.

The Prime Minister recalled that at that time, Jam Saheb Maharaja Digvijay Singh Ji, as the ruler of Saurashtra, placed national pride above all, contributing one lakh rupees for Somnath temple and serving as the first chairman of the trust with great responsibility.

Emphasising that unfortunately, even today forces remain active in the country that opposed Somnath’s reconstruction, Modi said that now conspiracies against India are carried out through other malicious means instead of swords.

“India needs to remain alert, united and powerful to defeat them,” the Prime Minister said.

He stated that when society remains connected to its faith, roots, and preserves its heritage with full pride, its civilization’s foundations grow stronger.

The Prime Minister said that the thousand-year journey inspires us to prepare for the next thousand years.

Modi said that despite multiple repeated attempts for its destruction over centuries, the Somnath temple stands today as a powerful symbol of resilience, faith and national pride, owing to the collective resolve and efforts to restore it to its ancient glory.

The Somnath Swabhiman Parv, being held from January 8 to 11 is organised to mark 1,000 years since Mahmud of Ghazni’s invasion of the Somnath Temple in the year 1026. Despite multiple repeated attempts for its destruction over centuries, the Somnath Temple stands today as a powerful symbol of resilience, faith and national pride, owing to the collective resolve and efforts to restore it to its ancient glory. The programme was held to remember the countless citizens of India whose sacrifice to defend the Temple continues to inspire the cultural consciousness of future generations.