Question 35 from UPSC CSE 2022 - Current Affairs

Question

The Prime Minister recently inaugurated the new Circuit House near Somnath Temple at Veraval. Which of the following statements are correct regarding Somnath Temple?
1. Somnath Temple is one of the Jyotirlinga shrines.
2. A description of Somnath Temple was given by Al-Biruni.
3. Pran Pratishtha of Somnath Temple (installation of the present day temple) was done by President S. Radhakrishnan.
Select the correct answer using the code given below:

Accepted Answer

Correct Option: A. 1 and 2 only

Strategy: The strategy involved verifying each statement individually against factual knowledge. Statement 1 confirms Somnath as one of the twelve Jyotirlinga shrines. Statement 2 aligns with historical records that Al-Biruni documented Somnath Temple. Statement 3 contains a critical trap: the temple's modern Pran Pratishtha in 1951 was performed by President Rajendra Prasad, not S. Radhakrishnan. Therefore, any answer including statement 3 must be eliminated, making option A (1 and 2 only) the correct choice.

Key Info: Somnath Temple:
*   Located at Prabhas Patan near Veraval in Saurashtra, Gujarat, on the Arabian Sea coast.
*   It is one of the twelve sacred Jyotirlingas dedicated to Lord Shiva; the Jyotirlinga is believed to be self-manifested (Swayambhu).
*   The temple is historically significant--its earliest references appear in ancient texts, including the Rigveda, and its prominence as a Hindu pilgrimage site is well established.
*   Somnath has faced destruction and rebuilding on several occasions, famously pillaged by Mahmud of Ghazni in 1025 CE. It is called 'the shrine eternal' for its repeated reconstruction after invasions.
*   Al-Biruni (Abu Rayhan al-Biruni), a Persian scholar who visited India in the 11th century, documented the temple's grandeur and its sacking by Mahmud of Ghazni in his writings. Al-Biruni's accounts are major historical sources on early medieval India.
*   After Independence, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel led the effort to reconstruct the Somnath Temple. The present temple was rebuilt and the Pran Pratishtha (consecration) was performed by President Dr. Rajendra Prasad in 1951.
*   S. Radhakrishnan became President in 1962; he was not associated with the Pran Pratishtha event at Somnath.
*   The temple is managed by the Shree Somnath Trust, with Sardar Patel as its first chairman.
*   Its location is also significant, being close to the confluence (Triveni Sangam) of three rivers: Kapila, Hiran, and Sarasvati (mythical).
*   The temple's architecture, coastal location, and association with religious and national resurgence post-independence enhance its cultural and historic value in India.

Answer

Option B: 2 and 3 only

Answer

Option C: 1 and 3 only

Answer

Option D: 1, 2, and 3