Participating in the Somnath Swabhiman Parv organized to commemorate the centenary of the attack on the Somnath temple located on the Arabian Sea coast, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi affirmed the victory of India’s invincible cultural values.
Addressing the Shaurya Sabha, he said that the lessons of the last thousand years will guide India’s future for decades. He emphasized that Somnath Temple is not just a religious place, but a symbol of India’s unwavering faith, self-respect and cultural spirit. Despite efforts to erase its past, Somnath’s history is one of conquest and reconstruction, not destruction and defeat.
The Prime Minister said that the attack on Somnath temple shows that hearts cannot be won by force and the civilization which progresses by crushing others ultimately fades into history. He said that Somnath Swabhiman Parv is not about remembering the destruction, but about celebrating thousands of years of resilience and reconstruction. Despite repeated attacks by foreign invaders, neither Somnath nor India was destroyed, because the soul of India and the centers of its faith are indestructible.
On the second day of his visit during the Somnath Swabhiman Parv celebrations, the Prime Minister performed rituals as per tradition and offered prayers to Lord Somnath. Earlier, he participated in Shaurya Yatra along with Chief Minister Shri Bhupendra Patel, Deputy Chief Minister Shri Harsh Sanghvi and Minister Shri Jitubhai Vaghani. During the Shaurya Yatra, which included a procession of 108 horses and riders wearing saffron turbans, the Prime Minister and other dignitaries received greetings from devotees.
Floral tributes were offered in front of the statues of Veer Hamirji, who sacrificed his life to protect the Somnath temple, and Sardar Patel, who led the reconstruction of the demolished temple, located in the temple complex.
The passage of time shows that those who wanted to destroy Somnath are now a part of history, while the Somnath temple still stands strong on the seashore with its flag flying high. He emphasized that the history of Somnath is one of conquest, courage, sacrifice and reconstruction and it is our duty to preserve this rare heritage of faith and culture for future generations.
Many invaders from Ghaznavi to Aurangzeb attacked the Somnath temple but failed to understand the real essence of the Sanatan tradition. He said that the name ‘Somnath’ itself means ‘Soma’ or nectar and Mahadev here represents the conscious, benevolent and indestructible power.
The Prime Minister said Lord Shiva at Somnath is ‘Mrityunjaya’, the conqueror of death and the source of creation, preservation and dissolution. He said that since Shiva is present in every particle of India’s faith, no attack can destroy this spiritual consciousness.
Referring to the post-independence era, the Prime Minister said that the resolve taken by Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel for the reconstruction of Somnath was a symbol of national self-respect. He said that despite many obstacles during reconstruction in 1951, eminent personalities like Jam Saheb Maharaja Digvijaysinhji made important contributions by keeping the national interest supreme.
The Prime Minister warned that anti-national and divisive forces still exist in new forms. He urged citizens to remain united, alert and strong, saying that protecting our faith, roots and heritage is essential for India’s strength in the next thousand years.
The Prime Minister said that invaders once believed that they had conquered India, but today the flag of Somnath proves India’s invincible strength and resolve. With the blessings of Somnath Mahadev, India stands strongly in front of the world with its rich heritage and self-respect.
Addressing the Shaurya Sabha, the Prime Minister said that a thousand years ago our ancestors had sacrificed everything to protect their faith. He said that every part of Prabhas Patan is a witness to his courage and valor, and because of the sacrifice of Shiva devotees and protectors of culture, the legacy of Somnath and our culture is still alive today.
The Prime Minister said that he has presented before the country his grand vision for the next one thousand years of India and expressed the resolve to move forward with the vision of ‘from God to country’. He said that today India’s cultural revival is creating new confidence among crores of citizens. Every citizen has a strong belief in the mind of a developed India.
Saying that 140 crore Indians are committed to the goals of the future, the Prime Minister said India will take its pride to new heights, win the fight against poverty and achieve new milestones of development. He said that the country is fully prepared to become the world’s third largest economy and the journey beyond.
Referring to the strengthening of India’s heritage through the cultural complex of Somnath Temple, the establishment of Somnath Sanskrit University and the growing popularity of Madhavpur Fair, the Prime Minister said that today’s India is moving forward with the inspiration of ‘Development too, Heritage too’ and the spirit of this mantra is continuously being realized in Somnath.
The Prime Minister said that the conservation of Gir Sher has increased the natural attractiveness of the area and new dimensions of development are being created in the Prabhas Patan area. With the expansion of Keshod airport, devotees from India and abroad will be able to reach Somnath directly, while the introduction of Ahmedabad-Veraval Vande Bharat train is saving the time of pilgrims and tourists. Moreover, the development of pilgrimage circuits is giving new impetus to spiritual tourism.
Finally, the Prime Minister said that Somnath Swabhiman Parv brings together heritage, spirituality and pride and is not just a festival but an experience of self-respect. Through this divine event the young generation is witnessing the strength of Indian culture. He called upon the devotees to join in the festivities with chants of Har-Har Mahadev.
Describing the Somnath Swabhiman festival as a celebration of national self-respect and unwavering faith, Chief Minister Shri Bhupendra Patel said that the Somnath temple, the first of the twelve Jyotirlingas, is a symbol of faith, self-respect and unwavering determination and with the inspiration of the Prime Minister, this festival will take faith to new heights.
The Chief Minister said that despite centuries of invasions, faith in Lord Somnath remains unwavering and the sacrifices of warriors like Veer Hamirji Gohil, Chaula Devi and Vegada Bhil are remembered with pride. He said that through Swabhiman Parv, the Prime Minister has honored the martyrdom of the brave warriors who protected Somnath Dada, while the world focuses on self-upliftment.
Referring to the reconstruction of Somnath Temple, the Chief Minister said that it is a matter of great pride that Prime Minister Shri Narendrabhai Modi has inspired the country to keep alive the valor of self-respecting warriors and further strengthen the spirit of cultural nationalism.
The Chief Minister said that the resolve taken by Sardar Patel to rebuild the Somnath Temple after independence is now visible in its grand form, which is not just bricks and stones but a symbol of his unwavering resolve.
Describing the tradition of overall development of pilgrimage sites under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Bhai Modi as the spiritual resolution of ‘Developed India 2047’, the Chief Minister said that Kashi Vishwanath, Kedarnath, Mahakal, Baba Baidyanath Dham, Ram Temple in Ayodhya, flag hoisting at Pavagadh Temple, development of Ambaji Dham and this Somnath Swabhiman festival are all part of the same continuum.
Appealing to the people, the Chief Minister urged everyone to adopt ‘Developed India, Self-reliant India’ as their life mantra. He wished that Lord Somnath provides unbroken strength to Shri Narendrabhai Modi and Somnath Swabhiman Parv guides India towards becoming a world leader.
Welcoming the Prime Minister with a deafening cry of ‘Jai Somnath’, Deputy Chief Minister Shri Harshbhai Sanghvi said that it is a proud moment to welcome the Prime Minister as the Chairman of the Somnath Trust. The grand ‘Shaurya Yatra’ organized at Somnath and the 72-hour continuous ‘Omkar Mantra chanting’ are being echoed across the country today.
Recalling the history of the beach, he said Somnath represents India’s defiance against the invaders. While Ghaznavi faded into history, Somnath still stands strong, and the sacrifices of Hamirji Gohil and Vegda Bhil remain vivid examples of Indian unity.
Reiterating the resolve of Sardar Patel, Shri Sanghvi said that India will never compromise with its self-respect and under the leadership of the Prime Minister, this resolve has become a national policy. He said the country now takes pride in its culture instead of glorifying the invaders. Through Ayodhya, Kashi and Mahakal Lok, the Prime Minister has taken forward the vision of development as well as heritage, strengthened faith and created new employment opportunities for the youth through temple reconstruction.
Addressing the gathering on this occasion, Agriculture Minister Shri Jitubhai Vaghani said that Somnath is a symbol of self-respect in Sanatan culture and national consciousness and the Prime Minister is the pride of every citizen. For the first time, with the blessings of Girnari saints and sadhus, a procession of Digambara Sadhus was taken out from Bhavanath area of ​​Junagadh. The leadership of the Prime Minister has been accepted by the entire world and with his determination, India is moving towards becoming a world leader.
​On this occasion, various dignitaries welcomed and honored the Prime Minister. On this occasion, Forest and Environment Minister Shri Arjun Modhwadia, Education Minister Shri Dr. Pradyuman Vaza, Minister of State for Energy Shri Kaushik Vekaria, MP Shri Rajesh Chudasama along with MPs and MLAs of neighboring districts, leaders, saints, sadhus and Shiv devotees were present in large numbers.
