Sri Somnath Mandir is more than just a symbol of faith – it stands as a testimony to Hindu resistance and their determination to save Dharma.

Priest claims to have fragments of the ancient Shivling

Sitaram Shastry, a priest from a lineage of saints, has claimed custodianship of the broken fragments of the ancient Shivling from Gujarat’s Somnath Mandir, which was demolished by Mahmud of Ghazni in the Eleventh century. In a self-recorded video, Shastry revealed that he has been preserving these sacred fragments for the past 21 years, passed down to him through his family’s Guru-Shishya tradition. Now, he wishes to have them consecrated once again at the Somnath Mandir.

To further this cause, Shastry has sought support from various saints and spiritual leaders, including Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, who has voiced his backing. Shastry recounted to ANI that he received the fragments from his uncle, who had worshipped them for 60 years before entrusting them to him with a directive to ensure their installation at Somnath. His uncle, in turn, had received them from his Guru, Pranavendra Saraswati Ji.

“This is the real Shivling of Somnath,” Shastry stated. “For a thousand years, it has been preserved through Guru-Pratha. My uncle instructed me to ensure that at least two of these sacred pieces are installed in the temple.”

He described how, a millennium ago, the original Shivling—standing three feet tall and suspended two feet above the ground—was the target of repeated invasions. When Mahmud of Ghazni attacked, he not only destroyed the Shivling but also massacred nearly 50,000 devotees and looted the Mandir’s wealth.

Following the destruction, various saints safeguarded the broken fragments, carving multiple statues from them and continuing their worship. These saints collectively resolved that the fragmented Shivling pieces would be restored to the Mandir when the right time arrived.

Shastry shared, “After the temple was desecrated, saints gathered the remnants, crafted statues, and worshipped them, awaiting the right moment for reinstallation. These sacred fragments passed down through Guru Pranavendra Saraswati Ji, my uncle, and finally to me.”

Determined to fulfill his uncle’s wish, Shastry has consulted numerous religious figures regarding the reinstallation. He mentioned that he had approached Shankaracharya Ji, as well as Dhirendra Saraswati Ji, who had assured him that the process would commence after the completion of the Ram Mandir. However, Dhirendra Saraswati Ji attained Samadhi before this could happen.

Undeterred, Shastry then sought guidance from Vijendra Saraswati Ji, who encouraged him to meet Sri Sri Ravi Shankar in Bengaluru. The spiritual leader was pleased to see the sacred fragments and pledged his support for their reinstallation.

Expressing his joy, Shastry declared, “Sri Sri Ravi Shankar Ji has assured me that these fragments will be installed at the Somnath Mandir. This fulfills my life’s purpose. The original Shivling of Somnath will be restored—this is our sacred resolution.”

Kesari Veer – a movie depicting Somnath’s defense by Hamirji Gohil

On the back of Sitaram Shastry’s claims came the teaser of Kesari Veer. It is very rare to see Urduwood, as Bollywood has come to be known after its exposé by Gems of Bollywood, make Hindutva-themed movies. Chaava and Kesari Veer are bucking that trend and showing that there is a growing demand to bring these heroic figures to the forefront. Hamirji Gohil of the Gohil Suryavanshi Rajput dynasty defended the sacred Somnath mandir against invaders.

A Gujarati film was made on Hamirji Gohil titled Veer Hamirji – Somnath ni Sakhate. The movie centered on Rajput warrior Gohil, who fought and sacrificed his life to save the Somnath Mandir. A monument to his memory stood in front of the Somnath Mandir in Gujarat’s Veraval, which was shown at the end of the movie.

It is expected that Kesari Veer will present history as it is, without distorting or diluting it. The teaser, however, looks promising.

When 50000 Hindus embraced death defending the Somnath Shrine from Mahmud Ghazni

When speaking of Somnath, it is essential to highlight its defense by 50000 Hindus who embraced death defending the Mandir. The accession of Mahmud of Ghazni brought regular Islamic raids into Bharat.  Mahmud of Gahzni raided Bharat 17 times between 1000 and 1027 CE.

Even though most contemporary Muslim historians have painted a picture of the ‘infidel armies’ being easily vanquished and there being no opposition worth the name, a different story emerges when we scrutinize all available contemporary and later sources, which testify that Mahmud’s march didn’t go unchallenged.

One of the campaigns for which Mahmud has received lavish praise from Muslim historians is his 1026 CE raid of Somnath. Not only was it a 3-day long struggle but also one where fifty thousand Hindus sacrificed themselves protecting their Bhagwan. Importantly, Mahmud was challenged by Paramdeo, who has been identified with either Bhoja Paramara (1011-1055 CE) or Bhima I Chalukya (1022-64 CE), in addition to being put through hardships by Hindus during his return journey.

The difficulty of the campaign can be judged by the elaborate preparations made by Mahmud. 30,000 camels were loaded with provisions including corn and water as the Islamist armies left for Anhilwara. The Ghaznavid ruler also chose a less taken route to Anhilwara that passed through a barren desert, “where there were neither inhabitants nor food” note several contemporary historians.

Dr. Mishra opines, “It is wrong to accuse Bhima of cowardice. Anhilwara had no natural defenses, and situated as it was on a flat sandy surface, could prove easy meat for Mahmud’s Turkish cavalry. There might have also been an element of surprise in Mahmud’s attack since he did not follow the usual route from Multan to Gujarat”.    

The march of the Islamic invaders did not go unchallenged despite the surprise attack. When the Ghaznavid army reached Modhera, located around 18 miles (about 28-29 kilometers) south of Anhilwara, it was met with an army of 20,000 Hindu soldiers who put up a brave resistance. However, the Hindu force was overwhelmed. Historian AK Majumdar believes that the famous temple at Modhera was constructed to commemorate this gallant action. He cites an inscription dated to Vikram Samvat 1083 (1026-27 CE) in support of his view.

The resistance at Modhera was a peek into the kind of Hindu resistance that the Islamist army would be facing at Somnath. The siege at Somnath was met with a fightback Mahmud would hardly have expected. Attesting to the presence of a fort guarding the temple in his book Kitab-Ul-Hind, Alberuni says “The fortress which contained the idol and its treasures was no ancient, but was built only about a hundred years ago”.

The struggle for Somnath raged on for three full days, where despite their backs to the wall, Hindus were inspired by their zeal to protect their deity and temple with all their might. The spirited resistance wore out the Mahomedans, who were unable to retain their footing and had to retire on the first day so that they could resume the action the next day. The efforts of the Mahomedans on the second day were even more futile than those on the first day. The Hindus were so determined to defend their place that the Islamists who scaled the walls were hurled down headlong by the former.

On the third day, reinforcements arrived to relieve the besieged Hindus. Mahmud, not wanting to relent, ordered a party to hold the siege while he entered the battlefield to engage the Hindu troops that had come to rescue their brethren. It is worth quoting the graphic account of Firishta here, who says, “The battle raged with great fury; victory was long doubtful till two Indian princes with other reinforcements joined their countrymen during the action and inspired them with fresh courage”.        

“Band after band of the defenders entered the temple to Somnath, and with their hands clasped around their necks, wept and passionately entreated him. Then again they issued forth to fight until they were slain, and but few were left alive”, notes Ibn-Ul-Asir, testifying to the faith displayed by the Hindus.

Khond Mir also seconds this view when he says, “those ignorant men ran in crowds to the idol temple, embraced Somnath, and came out again to fight until they were killed. Fifty thousand infidels were killed round about the temple”.

Mahmud left Somnath as quickly as he could after gathering the loot for fear of Paramdeo. The Hindu forces were preparing to meet the retreating Ghaznavid army. Gardizi says that Mahmud returned to Multan by way of Mansura instead of taking the right road back to Ghazni; “for Param Dev, Badshah of the Hindus, stood in his way disputing his path”, he writes.

It is hard, nay impossible, to find the kind of faith that inspired fifty thousand men to give up their lives in defense of their religion and Bhagwan in the history of any other nation of the world!