Devotees throng Somnath to worship Lord Shiva

Rajkot, Feb 26 (UNI) Thousands of devotees thronged Somnath, near Prabhaspatan in Junagadh district, today to offer prayers to Lord Shiva on the auspicious occasion of Maha Shivratri.

On the occasion, a programme of bhajans was organised in praise of Lord Shiva. The devotees offered milk, water, fruit, incense and flowers to 'Shivaling', and conchs were blown and rousing 'aarti' was also performed.

Tight security arrangements were made surrounding the historic Somnath temple.

Police Inspector Ashok Barot told UNI on phone that one State Reserve Police (SRP) company, two Police Inspectors, one Deputy Inspector of Police (DYSP), about 100 police contables and several Swayamsevaks were deployed at the temple, he said.

The Somnath, situated in Saurashtra on the western coast of Gujarat, is one of the 12 'Jyotirlings', which is the most sacred to the Hindus. It is beweued that the Moon (Soma) with his wife Rohini worshipped the deity of the temple, the 'Sparsha Ling', to free himself from the curse of his father-in-law Daksha Prajapati.

Lord Shiva pleased with his penance restored his light for half of the month. Hence, the deity here is known as Someshwar or Somnath, Lord of the moon and the place as Prabhas Kshetra.

UNI AV SSS MA RK1928