PM Modi Reflects on Somnath Temple’s Enduring Legacy Ahead of Millennium of First Attack

New Delhi:Prime Minister Narendra Modi has reflected on the enduring legacy of the Somnath temple, describing its survival and revival over the past 1,000 years as a powerful testament to India’s civilisational resilience and spiritual strength.

In a blog post marking a millennium since the first recorded attack on the shrine in 1026 AD, the Prime Minister said Somnath stands today not merely as a restored monument, but as a timeless symbol of the nation’s unbroken faith despite repeated attempts at destruction.

The Prime Minister noted that the temple, located at Prabhas Patan on the western coast of Gujarat, was first destroyed exactly 1,000 years ago, yet continues to stand in renewed splendour. Calling Somnath an “eternal proclamation of India’s soul,” Modi highlighted its significance as the first of the twelve Jyotirlings mentioned in the Dwadasha Jyotirling Stotram and a centre of devotion for millions across centuries.

At the same time, he recalled the historical trauma associated with the shrine’s repeated destruction by foreign invaders, stating that their intent was demolition rather than devotion. With 2026 marking 1,000 years since Mahmud of Ghazni’s attack on the temple, Modi said Somnath’s continued existence reflects the enduring spiritual strength and resilience of India.

“Somnath held immense spiritual significance. It was also situated on the coast, strengthening a society with great economic prowess, whose sea traders and seafarers carried tales of its grandeur far and wide,” the Prime Minister wrote.
“Yet, a thousand years after the first attack, the story of Somnath is not defined by destruction. It is defined by the unbreakable courage of crores of children of Bharat Mata.”

Modi further emphasised that Somnath has historically united people across faiths and traditions. Citing the visit of renowned Jain monk Kalikal Sarvagna Hemchandracharya centuries ago, the Prime Minister recalled a verse recited at the shrine that speaks of liberation from worldly afflictions, underscoring the temple’s enduring spiritual influence.

“Since time immemorial, Somnath has brought together people from different walks of life,” Modi wrote, adding that even today, the shrine continues to awaken something profound in the human mind and soul.

Using the imagery of the Arabian Sea, the Prime Minister said the waves that strike Somnath’s shores echo the temple’s history of resilience.
“A thousand years after the first attack in 1026, the sea at Somnath still roars with the same intensity. No matter what, just like the waves, Somnath kept rising again and again,” he wrote.

Drawing a contrast between the temple and its attackers, Modi said the aggressors of the past have faded into history, while Somnath continues to shine as a symbol of hope.
“While hate and fanaticism may have the power to destroy for a moment, faith and conviction in the power of goodness have the power to create for eternity,” he said.

The Prime Minister concluded by describing Somnath as a living reminder of India’s eternal spirit — one that remains undiminished even after a thousand years.