The Legend of Somnath Jyotirlinga: Unveiling the Mystery of Shiva’s First Jyotirlinga

The Somnath Jyotirlinga is revered as Lord Shiva’s first Jyotirlinga, located in the Saurashtra region of Gujarat state. It is not just a religious site but a living symbol of Indian mythology and faith. According to the Shiva Purana, Chandra Deva (the Moon God) himself established this marvelous Shivalinga, which is why it bears the name ‘Somnath’ (Lord of the Moon).

The Story of Daksha’s Curse

As per the mythological tale, Prajapati Daksha married his twenty-seven daughters to Chandra. After the marriage, Chandra developed excessive attachment to Rohini among his wives and neglected the other 26 daughters.Distressed by Chandra’s discriminatory behavior, Daksha’s daughters approached their father and expressed their pain. Hearing his daughters’ sorrow, Daksha lovingly advised Chandra that he must treat all his wives equally, as unequal treatment towards loved ones leads one to hell. However, due to his intense passion for Rohini, Chandra ignored Prajapati Daksha’s advice and continued to neglect the other wives, forgetting his duty. When Daksha learned of this, he became extremely angry. He advised Chandra again, but when Chandra repeatedly disregarded his insistence, Daksha pronounced a curse: “You shall contract consumption (Kshaya Roga).

Chandra Deva’s Penance and Shiva’s Grace

The moment Daksha cursed him, Chandra suffered from consumption and began to wane. This caused chaos in all three worlds. Worried Devas and Rishis sought refuge with Brahmaji.Brahmaji explained that no one could overturn Daksha’s decision, but there was a solution. He commanded Chandra to go to the auspicious Prabhas Kshetra (the present-day Somnath area) along with the Devas and Rishis, and worship Lord Shiva while performing the Mrityunjaya Mantra ritual. Following Brahmaji’s command, Chandra reached the Prabhas Kshetra, installed a Shivalinga there, and performed rigorous penance for six months. He chanted the Mrityunjaya Mantra ten crore times and meditated on Lord Shiva with a resolute mind. Pleased with Chandra Deva’s intense penance, the Bhaktavatsal (Lover of Devotees) Lord Shankar appeared and asked him to seek a boon.

The Manifestation of Somnath Jyotirlinga

Chandra prayed to Lord Shiva to relieve him of the consumption disease. Lord Shiva granted him a boon that Chandra Deva’s phase would wane daily during one fortnight (15 days), while it would continuously increase daily during the other fortnight (15 days). Thus, you shall remain healthy and worthy of public respect. Receiving this wonderful grace, Chandra Deva felt immense joy. Witnessing his firm devotion, the formless Lord Shiva manifested in the form of a visible Linga at that very spot. Since Chandra (Soma) worshipped Shiva as his Nath (Lord/Master), the place became renowned in the world as the Somnath Jyotirlinga. This story teaches us that true devotion and penance can make the impossible possible. The temple remains a center of faith and liberation for millions of devotees even today.