Somnath’s 1000-Year Journey: Destruction, Revival And Political Debate

The year 2026 marks 1,000 years of the Somnath temple’s resilience after its destruction by Mahmud of Ghazni in 1026. One of Hinduism’s most sacred shrines and a revered Jyotirlinga, Somnath has been repeatedly attacked and rebuilt across centuries, symbolising faith and civilisational endurance. As the milestone is commemorated, the temple has once again entered political debate over its reconstruction after Independence. The controversy centres on Jawaharlal Nehru’s refusal to involve the state in the rebuilding and inauguration, a stand now questioned by the BJP. With history, faith and politics colliding, Somnath’s legacy continues to shape national discourse.