Editorial : Sanatan Swabhiman Parva

One thousand years have been completed since the first Mughal attack on the world-famous Somnath Temple. On this occasion, the festival of ‘Somnath Swabhiman Parva’ was organised. The thoughts expressed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the programme were useful and appropriate. The essence of his speech was – ‘Many attempts were made to destroy the Somnath Temple; however, no one could destroy it. Such is the extraordinary strength of the Temple and of Shri Somnath’. While the first Prime Minister of the country made efforts to ensure that this Temple not be rebuilt, the present Prime Minister expressed gratitude unto this Temple.

The first Jihadi attack on the Somnath Temple took place in the year 1026. From then until today, that is, over these one thousand years, the journey of this Temple is truly beyond the grasp of the intellect. This proves the indestructibility of Sanatan Dharma.

‘Dwadash Jyotirlinga (Sacred symbols of Deity Shiva situated at 12 places in India) Stotra (A hymn in praise of the Divine)’ mentions the 12 Jyotirlingas in India. At the very beginning, it says, ‘Saurashtre Somnatham cha…’, meaning, that among the Jyotirlingas, Shri Somnath is the first. How could people steeped in grave sins tolerate the Chaitanya (Divine consciousness) of a temple housing such a Shivalinga ? Hence, relentless attempts were made to destroy this Temple. Each time the attackers such as Aurangzeb and Ghazni assaulted this Temple, it rose again with the same grandeur. This itself is truly miraculous. What greater proof can there be than this that Bhagawan Shiva Himself resides there ?

On 31^st October 1947, the then Union Minister NV Gadgil and Home Minister Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel visited the Somnath Temple, which was then in a dilapidated condition, and announced its reconstruction. The then Hindu-hating Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru opposed this as much as he could. Despite this, the Temple once again stood tall in all its splendour.

In 2021, Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi spewed venom – ‘Since I am a descendant of Mohammad Ghazni, I will again demolish the Somnath Temple.’ Following this, in 2023, Maulana Mohammad Sajid Rashidi, President of the ‘All India Imam Association’, made the outrageous statement – ‘Ghazni committed no mistake by demolishing the Somnath Temple’. The point is that from the pre-Independence era till today, an astonishing similarity is seen between Congressmen and people of a Jihadi mentality in their opposition to this Temple. Should they be called modern-day Ghaznis ?

Acts of the modern-day Ghaznis

On the completion of one thousand years since the first attack on the Somnath Temple, the function ‘Somnath Swabhiman Parva’ was organised. The mind of every Hindu was filled with gratitude unto Shri Somnath. On the other hand, it is also an undeniable reality that the Hindu-hating acts carried out by Aurangzeb and Ghazni continue even today. Their legacy is being carried forward by today’s Jihadis.

In India and abroad, especially in Islamic countries such as Pakistan and Bangladesh, Hindu temples are attacked and destroyed daily. Idols of Deities are desecrated by urinating on them, Idols are vandalised and subjected to heinous sacrilege, Love Jihad is carried out to violate the honour of mothers and sisters, Hindus are forcibly converted, and Hindus are killed after asking them their religion.

These acts of the modern-day Ghaznis must be stopped through legal means. Learning from the injustices of history we need to draw inspiration to fight the future injustices. Aurangzeb and Ghazni spent their entire lives destroying Hindu sacred sites. Today’s modern-day Aurangzebs and Ghaznis have gone a hundred steps ahead and are attempting to destroy Sanatan Dharma itself. To fulfil this goal, they seem to have created riots and bomb blasts to the Hindu-hating acts mentioned above their very life-mission.

They also receive support from many traitors to the Nation. Those who speak against God, Nation and Dharma receive immediate protection from the so-called progressive brigade. Not only this, they have repeatedly received sympathy even at the political level in the past. The ‘Individual freedom’ card is played for their sake. All these tendencies are fiercely opposed not only to Sanatan Dharma, but also to this Nation. Hence, the Government must take firm action against them immediately. At the same time, Hindus too must remain alert against attacks on God, Nation and Dharma. For this, awakening among Hindus is of foremost importance.

Sanatan is indestructible

Therefore, awakening society to history is important. However, in the name of modernity, attempts are being made to push history into oblivion and give hollow advice such as ‘forget what happened in the past and move on’. It must be remembered that those who do not know their history cannot protect themselves in the future; this too is a lesson history teaches. In such a situation, programmes like the ‘Somnath Swabhiman Parva’ become initiatives that awaken Hindu identity.

The ‘Somnath Swabhiman Parva’ proves that no matter how adverse the times may be, Truth (Sanatan) is never erased. The Shriram Mandir in Ayodhya, the transformation of Kashi, and now this grand celebration of Shri Somnath herald the rise of a cultural superpower. This journey is towards the creation of a fearless and self-respectful Hindu society.

Recalling the incidents of the destruction of the Somnath Temple does not mean spreading hatred; it means creating awareness about the truth. Without accepting the truth, self-esteem cannot be built, and without self-esteem, self-respect cannot arise. Hence, we must learn from history and remain alert and united in the present. For this, we will always have the blessings of Shri Somnath.

The divinity of God manifests on its own, but humans must demonstrate their own capability. Let the 100 crore Hindus of this country together create such an awe that the descendants of Aurangzeb and Ghazni do not dare cast an evil-eye on Sanatan Dharma, Scriptures, Deities, Saints and National icons.

If this happens, then for generations to come, followers of Sanatan Dharma will celebrate the ‘Sanatan Swabhiman Parva’.