Somnath Shivling to Unite with Lord Mahakal in Udaipur

Welcome Procession, Maha Rudrabhishek and Jyotirlinga Darshan at Mahakaleshwar Temple

Udaipur: The Somnath Shivling Bharat Yatra will reach Udaipur on December 30. On this occasion, a historic and spiritually significant event will take place at the Mahakal Temple, where the Somnath Shivling fragments will symbolically unite with Lord Mahakal. A large number of devotees are expected to witness this rare moment.

Fragments of the original Somnath Jyotirlinga will be displayed for devotees at the Mahakal Temple in Udaipur. Addressing a press conference at Geeta Sadan in Sardarpura, Art of Living Vedic Dharma Sansthan coordinator and instructor Priyanka Sharma informed that special worship of the Shivling will be performed in Udaipur.

She explained that after the destruction of the Somnath Temple, a total of 11 fragments of the original Shivling were preserved by Agnihotri Brahmins. These sacred fragments were later handed over to Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar. Since last year, these fragments have been taken across major cities of the country for public darshan. The fragments being brought to Udaipur will be ceremonially united with Mahakal, followed by a grand Maha Rudrabhishek.

Art of Living instructor Girdhari Lal Garg stated that priests from Bengaluru will perform the Jyotirlinga’s Rudra Puja with proper rituals and Vedic chanting. A special religious program will be organized at the Mahakaleshwar Temple on December 30.

Another Art of Living instructor, Rajni Joshi, said that the event will be unforgettable for Udaipur—not only from a religious perspective but also for the spread of spiritual awareness. The darshan is expected to fill devotees’ hearts with faith, devotion, and positive energy.

Art of Living instructor Ishwin Sachar shared that, as per the guidance of Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, geologists studied the Shivling fragments and discovered that the material used is not found anywhere on Earth. Ancient scriptures also describe the Somnath Jyotirlinga as being bestowed and worshipped by the Moon (Chandra).

Somnath Temple and Mahmud of Ghazni’s Attack

During Mahmud of Ghazni’s invasion of the Somnath Temple in 1026 AD, the Jyotirlinga was broken. The fragments were safeguarded by Agnihotri Brahmins and taken to South India. These sacred pieces were preserved for generations before being entrusted to Sri Sri Ravi Shankar. Under his guidance, the fragments are now being taken to different cities for public darshan. It is believed that the ancient Shivling once levitated due to magnetic properties, and these fragments are symbolic of that divine phenomenon, offering devotees a profound spiritual experience.

Prophecy of the Shankaracharya 100 Years Ago

For generations, the Agnihotri Brahmins of South India continued the ritual worship of the Shivling fragments. In 1924, when they approached the Shankaracharya of the Kanchi Kamakoti Peeth with the fragments, he advised that after 100 years—when the Ram Temple would be constructed—the fragments should be handed over to a saint named “Shankar” in Bengaluru, who would use them appropriately for religious purposes.

True to this prophecy, nearly a century later, the Agnihotri family entrusted the 11 fragments of the Somnath Jyotirlinga to Sri Sri Ravi Shankar. Thereafter, he initiated the Somnath Shivling Bharat Yatra to allow millions of devotees across India to have darshan and perform worship. This sacred journey is passing through 12 states and more than 140 cities across the country.