“From Ghazni to Aurangzeb, they are all buried in the annals of history, but Somnath still stands,”- PM Modi in Somnath

PM Modi addressed the valor ceremony in Somnath. (Photo: X/@NarendraModi)

Addressing a valor ceremony in Somnath after performing Puja , PM Modi mentioned the attacks on the Somnath temple by foreign invaders, the sacrifices of the heroes who fought against them, and the historical contribution of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel in laying the foundation for the temple’s reconstruction.

Somnath: Prime Minister Narendra Modi participated in the Somnath Temple Swabhiman Parv on Sunday January 11, 2026 . He took part in a procession featuring 108 horses. This procession was organised to pay tribute to the countless brave warriors who sacrificed their lives defending the Somnath Temple, and it is considered a symbol of valor, courage, and sacrifice. Following this, Prime Minister Modi offered prayers at the Somnath Temple and addressed a public gathering.

Addressing the Shaurya Sabha, PM Modi said, “I consider it my great fortune that, as the chairman of the Somnath Temple Trust, I have had the opportunity to actively serve at the Somnath Swabhiman Parv. Today, millions of people from every corner of the country have joined us, and I extend my greetings of Jai Somnath to all of them. This time is extraordinary, this atmosphere is extraordinary, this celebration is extraordinary. On one side, Lord Mahadev, the lord of all gods, and on the other, the waves of the sea, the rays of the sun, the resonance of the mantras, this surge of faith, and the presence of the devotees of Lord Somnath in this divine atmosphere… all of this is making this occasion grand and divine.”

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, speaking about the Somnath Swabhiman Parv, said that this event embodies pride, dignity, and glory, and also imparts a sense of reverence. It carries the legacy of grandeur, the experience of spirituality, joy, intimacy, and the blessings of Lord Shiva, the supreme deity. PM Modi said, “72 hours of continuous chanting of mantras. I witnessed last night the display of the 1000-year history of Somnath by 1000 drones, in the presence of 1000 students from Vedic Gurukuls, and today, the magnificent procession to the temple with 108 horses, the wonderful presentation of mantras and hymns… everything is mesmerizing. This experience cannot be expressed in words; only time can truly capture its essence.”

Referring to the history of the first attack on the Somnath temple by Mahmud of Ghazni in 1026 AD, Prime Minister Modi said, “A thousand years ago, what must the atmosphere have been like in this very place? The ancestors of those of you present here, our ancestors, risked their lives… For their faith, for their beliefs, for their Mahadev, they sacrificed everything. A thousand years ago, those tyrants thought they had conquered us, but even today, a thousand years later, the flag flying over the Somnath Mahadev temple is calling out to the entire world, proclaiming the strength and power of India.”

Ghazni and Aurangzeb are history, Somnath remains: PM

Prime Minister Modi said, “When invaders from Ghazni to Aurangzeb were attacking Somnath, they thought that their swords were conquering the eternal Somnath. But those religious fanatics failed to understand that the name Somnath itself contains the word ‘Soma,’ meaning nectar. It embodies the idea of ​​immortality even after consuming poison. Within it resides the conscious power in the form of Sadashiva Mahadev, which is both benevolent and the source of the fierce Tandava dance of Shiva. All the invaders who attacked Somnath, from Ghazni to Aurangzeb, have been buried in a few pages of history, but the eternal Somnath temple stands tall on the shores of the sea.”

Somnath’s history is one of victory and reconstruction: PM

Prime Minister Modi said that the “Somnath Swabhiman Parv” is not just a commemoration of the destruction that took place 1,000 years ago. This festival is a celebration of a thousand-year journey. It is also a festival of the existence and pride of our India. He said, “The history of Somnath is not a history of destruction and defeat. It is a history of victory and reconstruction.

Lord Mahadev, who resides in Somnath, is also known as Mrityunjaya, the one who has conquered even death, who is the very embodiment of time. It is also a happy coincidence that today marks 1,000 years of the Somnath temple’s journey of self-respect, and also 75 years since its reconstruction in 1951. I extend my heartfelt greetings to crores of devotees around the world on the Somnath Swabhiman Parv.”

The contractors of appeasement bowed down before fundamentalism

Prime Minister Modi said that India has thousands of ancient holy sites like Somnath. These sites have been synonymous with our strength, resilience, and tradition. But unfortunately, after independence, people with a slave mentality tried to distance themselves from them. He said, “People with a colonial mindset tried to erase our glorious past. They made every possible effort to erase history… Those who sacrificed for the Somnath temple were not given due respect and importance. Some historians and politicians even tried to hide the history of these invaders. Religious aggression was termed as mere looting… We were taught in textbooks that the Somnath temple was demolished to loot its treasures. The brutal history of hatred, oppression, and terror was hidden from us.”

Opponents of Somnath are still active; they must be defeated.

PM Modi said, “If the attacks on Somnath were solely for economic reasons, they would have stopped after the first looting 1000 years ago. But the attacks continued repeatedly. The history of hatred and cruelty was hidden from us. True religious people do not conceal such extremism. The contractors of appeasement bowed down before this radical ideology. When India was freed from the shackles of slavery, when Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel took the oath to rebuild Somnath, attempts were made to stop him as well. In 1951, objections were raised even when India’s then-President, Dr. Rajendra Prasad, visited. The forces that opposed the reconstruction of the Somnath temple are still present and active in India. They may not be wielding swords anymore, but they have changed their methods. They are conspiring against India, so we must remain vigilant. We must become powerful. We must unite and defeat all those forces that are conspiring to divide us.”

India has taught the world how to win people’s hearts.

The Prime Minister said, “In our civilization, the path of faith does not lead to hatred. Power does not give us the arrogance to destroy. Somnath has taught us that the path of creation is long, and that is its permanence. Civilizations that try to advance by destroying others eventually perish. Thus, India has not taught the world to conquer by defeating others, but to win people’s hearts. The history of Somnath over the past 1000 years will inspire us to prepare for the next 1000 years.”