Yesterday wasn't just special—it was extraordinary. On the auspicious night of Sharad Purnima, Sumathy and I embarked on a spiritual odyssey through Gujarat that left us speechless.
Picture this: One sacred day. Two legendary temples. FOUR separate darshanams.
In the early morning, was the magnificent Dwarka Krishna Mandir—Sumathy's Ishta Devathai, Lord Krishna Himself, awaited us. To witness the Aarthi darshan on Sharad Purnima? Pure divine orchestration! The temple's intricate artisan work rivals the finest South Indian temple architecture. Every pillar, every carving tells a story of devotion that has survived centuries of muslim onslaughts.
Then, we paid homage at the Sudama Temple in Porbandar, celebrating the timeless bond between Krishna and his childhood friend. (Yes, we deliberately skipped the Gandhi birthplace—priorities, people! 😊)
And then... Somnath – the proverbial Phoenix that keeps rising from the ashes.
Let me be clear: I've visited 9 out of 12 Jyotirlingas, but nothing—NOTHING—prepared me for the sheer magnificence of Somnath.
FOUR darshanams in one day, including the breathtaking Aarthi where the Shiva Lingam was adorned with such grandeur that words fail me. The decoration was beyond anything I've witnessed at any big temple.
But what stands out for me is that Somnath is truly a testament to Hindu Resilience
Here's what makes Somnath truly extraordinary: This temple has been DESTROYED and REBUILT 17 times. Yes, you read that right. Seventeen times. From the barbaric invasions of Mahmud of Ghazni in 1026 CE—who plundered this sacred site, murdered thousands of devotees, and reduced the temple to rubble—to subsequent attacks by Afzal Khan, Aurangzeb, and countless other invaders, the Islamic raiders sought to erase our heritage from the Western coast of India. They destroyed the stone. They shattered the idols. They tried to break our spirit.
But they failed.
In 1951, at the exact spot where Ghazni's forces committed their atrocities, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel commissioned the resurrection of Somnath. President Dr. Rajendra Prasad consecrated it, declaring to the world:
"We will NOT be erased. We will NOT be broken. We WILL rise again."
Today's Somnath stands as a monument to Hindu resistance—featuring:
• Spacious, world-class temple precincts
• Modern amenities rivaling ISKCON temples
• Architecture that honors ancient traditions while embracing progress
Both Dwarka and Somnath had endured repeated Islamic invasions meant to destroy Hindu civilization along India's western coast. These weren't mere buildings being destroyed—they were systematic attempts to demolish our culture, our faith, our identity. The Indomitable Spirit of Bharat lives on. Here both temples stand today—more glorious than ever.
Each time they were demolished, our ancestors rebuilt them with MORE determination. Each attack made the foundation STRONGER. Each act of barbarism only deepened our resolve.
These temples whisper a powerful truth to every Hindu, every Indian:
"They tried to erase us. They failed. We are ETERNAL."
The savage invaders are footnotes in history books. But Krishna still dances in Dwarka. Shiva still resides in Somnath.
The Gujarat temple circuit isn't just tourism—it's a journey through resilience, faith, and the unconquerable spirit of Sanatana Dharma.
We visited numerous other temples along the way (stay tuned for a detailed chronicle!), but these two... these two will forever be etched in our hearts.
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