Digital
Cultural heritage is an area of study that aims at conserving all relevant
cultural artefacts in a digital form. Each piece of culture has its own essence
and with developing times, it becomes especially important to record and
document it. One such important heritage site in Ahmedabad is the Somnath
Mahadev Temple in Gyaspur. This ancient temple has stood the test of time and
still provides solace and strength to diverse devotees.
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| Shree Somnath Mahadev |
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| Nandi |
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| Tortoise: a characteristic part of a Shiva Temple |
Given here is a soundscape of the evening aarti of the Somnath Mahadev
Temple of Ahmedabad. Situated in the outskirts of the city, this gem of a
temple is 1000 years old. As the name suggests, the temple is a shrine of Lord
Shiva.
The Somnath
Mahadev Temple has a Swayambhu Shiva Linga. This means that it emerged naturally,
without any human intervention. Initially, the Linga was worshipped and taken
care of by some Rishis. The temple stands at what used to be the Shahwadi
village. It was situated on the bank of the river Sabarmati. Due to frequent floods,
the villagers had to evacuate the village. They assigned the responsibility of
running the temple to a Tripathi Brahmin. Much later, when the Ahmedabad Municipal
Corporation (AMC) was developed, the area was made into a sewage farm. It
became the city’s sewage collection site and had an unbearable stench.
Consequently, no one would visit the temple. In 2002, the temple was
transferred to the Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC) jurisdiction. The committee took
up the task of renovating and rejuvenating the temple. A trust was formed for
the temple called the Sewage Farm Khedut Mandal. To this day, this is the trust
that looks into the administration of the temple.
The temple is called Somnath Mahadev temple. It
is believed that when Mahmud Ghazni attacked the Somnath Mahadev Temple at Prabhas
Patan, the Shiva Linga was brought to Ahmedabad. Due to this fabled connection
with the Somnath Mahadev Temple of Prabhas Patan, this temple at Gyaspur is
also called Somnath Mahadev Temple.
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| Shrine of the Rishis who performed seva for the Linga |
While the temple doesn't have many architectural
attractions, it has historical significance. This 1000-year-old temple houses a
Gaushala (cow shelter) and several yagnakundas. The temple
performs only Satvika vidhis such
as Navagraha vidhi, Maharudra Vidhi and Chandi
Path. No Tamasik vidhis are
conducted here. The Gaushala is home to 40 cows. It was started when someone
abandoned an ill cow on the temple premises. Later, some cows were brought to
the temple and this way, the Gaushala gained shape.
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| Yagnakunda |
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Yagnakunda
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| Gaushala |
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| Gaushala |
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Gaushala | | Gaushala |
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| Gaushala |
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| Fodder |
The temple opens at 5 AM. Until 7 AM,
the temple priests perform the daily rituals of Shringar. This is followed by the morning aarti at 7 AM. Once this is done, the temple is open to the
devotees. They are allowed to perform Abhishekas
and other forms of worship in the garbhagriha
itself. These activities are done without any sort of gender
discrimination. At 4 PM, the temple priest performs the Shringar (beautifying the idol with flowers) of the idol. Each Monday an elaborate and delightful Shringar is done. Finally, the aarti takes place at 7 PM. The aarti times change as per the seasons.
Devotees after the evening aarti
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| Shringar |
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| Shringar |
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| Shringar |
The temple
has definite times for changing the Dhwaja (flag). The
main Dhwaja of the temple hoisted on the garbhagriha is
changed every Amavasya day (new moon day as per the Hindu
calendar). Similarly, the temple's Dhwaja is changed every Purnima day
(full moon day as per the Hindu calendar). Devotees are allowed to make this
change. The Dhwaja is also changed during the festival of Shivaratri.
However, this special change is done by the temple authorities only.
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| Dhwaja on garbhagriha |
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| Temple Dhwaja |
Other special poojas include the ones done on Pradosh days. Pradosh
is the 13th Tithi of the
month as per the lunar calendar. On this day, a pooja is
organized and conducted by the temple. A priest conducts and guides the devotees doing the pooja. The devotees observe a fast on this day and break it only after the pooja is done. This pooja is done during the Pradosh time, i.e. 1.25 hours before and after sunset. Pradosh occurs twice a month (Krishna Paksha Pradosh and Shukla Paksha Pradosh). Given here is an excerpt of the Pradosh pooja. The temple conducts a 2-day Mahamrityunjay
Mantra Yagna on Jeth Sud Teej,
where 1250000 aahutis or more are offered. This day marks the anniversary
of the emergence of the Linga. Many devotees attend this yagna to receive divine blessings.
Pradosh pooja
Pradosh pooja
Mahashivaratri is celebrated with great zeal and devotion all over India. Some people celebrate it as the marriage of Shiva and Parvati. Others see it as the day Shiva conquered all his enemies. People observe this festival by practising austerities, fasting, performing abhisheka with milk and water and conducting various Shivaratri rituals. Bel tree leaves and Bhaang are offered to the Shiva Linga. On this day, aarti is
done four times in a grand manner. The temple is visited by roughly 70000-80000
devotees.
The fifth month of the Hindu calendar- Shravan is
also a special period for the Mahadev temple. A lot
of devotees visit the temple during this period. Lord Shiva is the ruling deity
for the month of Shravan. During this month, devotees worship Lord Shiva, fast,
observe austerity and perform abhisheka with milk, water and
flowers. Therefore, the period of Shravan is a time when the temple
is thronged with devotees. It is also in this month that Bhandaras (a
religious feast held in the temple on behalf of donors or the temple itself)
are held.
Earthen lamps are lit for the first 5 days of Diwali.
Additionally, on the day of Dev Diwali (Kartik Poornima occurring
15 days after Diwali) Annakoot- offering food to the deity- is
done.
The temple has a soothing and serene atmosphere. The
silence is punctuated by the occasional sounds of ringing bells. The walls of
the temple showcase the 12 Jyotirlingas
of India. Additionally, mantras like Dwadasha
Jyotirlinga Stotram and Hanuman
Chalisa are mounted on the walls. Outside the temple stands the
characteristic Banyan tree. Many devotees circumambulate the Holy Tree with the
belief that their problems or doshas may be removed. In the
adjacent yagnakundas, devotees can be seen conducting havans. Given here is a soundscape of an ongoing yagna.
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| The Banyan Tree |
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| Dwadasha Jyotirlinga Stotram |
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| Hanuman Chalisa |
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| Shiva Linga at Somnath Mahadev Temple |
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| Trishul |
This historic Somnath Mahadev Temple is a 1000-year-old shrine of Lord Shiva. It is a dynamic and lively place. At the same time, it is a temple that provides peace and tranquillity to the minds of its devotees.
Source: The history of the temple given is as narrated by the Temple Administrator and some devotees.
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