The temple of Somnath is one of the oldest holy places in India. The story of Chandra, the Moon-god associated with the shrine, adds to the mystery of it. Among the twelve Jyotirlingas of Shiva, the one at Somnath has precedence over all the others. Somnath had a chequered history. Every time it was destroyed, it rose again with added splendour. Its destruction at the hands of Mahmud of Ghazni was the precursor of the loss of India's independence and its final renovation followed regaining her lost freedom. It was destroyed by Allauddin Khilji and Aurangazeb, and every time it was rebuilt. Ahalyabai Holkar of Indore rebuilt the temple adjacent to the original site.
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