‘From Ghazni to Aurangzeb’: PM Modi invokes history at Somnath; underscores temple’s resilience | India News

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday invoked the history of Somnath Temple and how ancestors had "staked their lives for the temple 1,000 years ago", saying "flag hoisting at Somnath Mahadev Mandir shows the power of India and its capabilities to the entire world"."From Ghazni to Aurangzeb, all religious fundamentalists thought that by their sword they had won Somnath," PM Modi said, adding that in the cycle of time "those fundamentalist invaders are now reduced to pages of history, but Somnath temple still stands tall".Addressing a gathering during the "Somnath Swabhiman Parv", PM Modi said: "Those present here, your ancestors, our ancestors, bet their lives for their faith, for their belief, for Mahadev - they sacrificed everything they had"."When I am interacting with you, the question arises again and again - exactly 1000 years back, at the same place, what would have been the atmosphere? Those present here, your ancestors, our ancestors, bet their lives for their faith, for their belief, for Mahadev - they sacrificed everything they had. A thousand years back, the invaders thought they had defeated us, but today, even after 1000 years, the flag hoisting at Somnath Mahadev Mandir shows the power of India and its capabilities to the entire world," PM Modi said.

The attack on the Somnath temple marked the beginning of a long period during which the temple was repeatedly destroyed and rebuilt over centuries. Despite this, Somnath never ceased to exist in the collective consciousness of the people. The cycle of the temple's devastation and revival is unparalleled in world history. It demonstrated that Somnath was never merely a stone structure, but a living embodiment of belief, identity, and civilisational pride.'History of hatred was hidden'PM Modi claimed that the "true history of hatred, atrocity and terror was hidden" and, without taking names, attacked the Congress-led government for "whitewashing the history" that encapsulates the multiple attacks by Mughal invaders on the temple located at Gujarat's coast."If Somnath was attacked for wealth, then the first attack was enough, but it was attacked repeatedly, and its deity was desecrated," PM Modi said. "The True history of hatred, atrocity and terror was hidden from us; we were taught that the attack was attempt to loot the Somnath temple. Those involved in appeasement knelt before such religious extremism," he said.Somnath Swabhiman ParvThe Somnath Swabhiman Parv, being observed from January 8 to January 11, 2026, commemorates 1,000 years since the first attack on the temple in 1026. That assault marked the beginning of a long period during which Somnath was repeatedly destroyed and rebuilt.Despite these repeated attacks, the temple remained deeply embedded in the collective consciousness of the people. Its cycle of destruction and revival is often described as unique in world history, underscoring Somnath’s lasting spiritual and cultural importance.Before his address, PM Modi offered prayers at the Somnath Temple after completing the Shaurya Yatra in the temple town.

During his visit, the Prime Minister paid floral tributes to the statues of Veer Hamirji Gohil and Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.

Veer Hamirji Gohil is remembered for laying down his life in 1299 AD while defending the Somnath Temple during an invasion led by Zafar Khan. Earlier in the day, PM Modi participated in the Shaurya Yatra as part of a four-day national observance marking 1,000 years of uninterrupted faith and resilience since the first recorded attack on the Somnath Temple in January 1026 by Mahmud of Ghazni. The Prime Minister was accompanied by Gujarat chief minister Bhupendra Patel and deputy chief minister Harsh Sanghavi during the visit. As the procession moved through Somnath, Modi was seen blowing a conch shell and acknowledging people who had gathered along the route. The Shaurya Yatra is a ceremonial procession organised as part of the Somnath Swabhiman Parv, an event that symbolises courage, sacrifice and the enduring spirit that helped preserve Somnath through centuries of destruction and rebuilding. Ahead of the yatra, 108 horses from the Gujarat Police Mounted Unit arrived to participate in the procession, adding to its ceremonial significance.