Somnath Temple Darshan & Aarti Timings — Visiting Guide

English Transliteration

|| Somnath Mahadev Jyotirlinga — Complete Darshan Guide ||
(First Among 12 Sacred Jyotirlingas — Saurashtra, Gujarat)

Somnath is the first and foremost among the 12 Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva.
Located on the western coast of Saurashtra in Gujarat, it faces the Arabian Sea.
It is said that no land exists between Somnath and Antarctica — the "Baan Stambha" (arrow pillar)
inscribed at the temple marks this unique geographical fact.

The temple has been destroyed and rebuilt 17 times, yet it stands eternal — a testament to the
indestructible nature of Lord Shiva.

|| History & Significance ||

The name Somnath means "Lord of the Moon" (Soma = Moon, Nath = Lord).
According to legend, the Moon God (Chandra) built the first golden temple here.
Ravana rebuilt it in silver; Krishna in sandalwood; Bhimdev in stone.
The current temple was rebuilt under Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel in 1951.

|| Darshan & Aarti Timings ||

Temple is open: 6:00 AM to 9:30 PM
Morning Aarti (Mangala): 7:00 AM
Evening Aarti: 7:00 PM
Night Aarti (Shayan): 9:00 PM

Sound & Light Show: 7:45 PM to 8:45 PM (tickets required)

|| Gujarati Devotional Verse — Somnath Mahadev ||

Somnath na darshan karo, Shiv ni krupa pao,
Somnath na charna mein, mukti no updesh pao.
(Have darshan of Somnath, receive Shiva's grace,
At Somnath's feet, receive the gift of liberation.)

|| Gujarati Stuti — સોમનાથ મહાદેવ ||

સૌ પ્રથમ જ્યોતિર્લિંગ, સોમનાથ મહાદેવ,
સૌરાષ્ટ્ર ભૂમિ ઉપર, શિવ ધામ પ્રભ.
અરબ સાગર ના કિનારે, જ્યોતિ ઝળહળ,
ત્રિકાળ પૂજ્ય, ભક્ત ઉર ઉર વળ.

(Somnath Mahadev, the first Jyotirlinga,
On Saurashtra's soil, sacred abode of Shiva.
On the shores of the Arabian Sea, the divine light shines,
Worshipped across three realms, the hearts of devotees turn.)

|| Somnath Aarti ||

Om Namo Bhagavate Somnathaya,
Jyotirlinga Shrestha Shivaya.
Prathama Jyotirlingam, Gujarat Rajye,
Sarva Devanamaste Namaste.

|| Sacred Mantras ||

Somnath Shiva Panchakshara Mantra:
ॐ नमः शिवाय — Om Namah Shivaya

Somnath Jyotirlinga Dhyana Mantra:
सौराष्ट्रे सोमनाथं च — Saurashtre Somanatham Cha
(From the Shiva Dwadasha Jyotirlinga Stotram)

|| How to Reach Somnath ||

By Air: Nearest airport — Diu Airport (65 km) or Rajkot Airport (200 km)
By Train: Somnath has its own railway station — Veraval is the nearest major station (6 km)
By Road: Well-connected by buses from Ahmedabad (400 km), Rajkot (200 km), Surat (400 km)

|| Nearby Pilgrimage Sites ||

• Bhalka Tirth (3 km) — where Lord Krishna's final earthly journey ended
• Triveni Sangam — confluence of Hiran, Kapila, and Saraswati rivers
• Gita Mandir (4 km) — temple with Bhagavad Gita verses inscribed on pillars
• Panch Pandav Gufa (8 km) — cave associated with the Pandavas

|| Om Namah Shivaya ||