Bengaluru: Somnath Jyotirlinga to be consecrated at Art of Living Ashram on Maha Shivaratri

Bengaluru’s Art of Living International Centre is set to host a historic Maha Shivaratri celebration this year, highlighted by the long-awaited unveiling of the original Somnath Jyotirlinga after 1,000 years. The sacred Linga, believed lost after the destruction of the Somnath temple by Mahmud of Ghazni in 1025 AD, was secretly preserved by the Agnihotri Brahmins and will now be revealed in a grand ceremony led by Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar.

A sacred Linga hidden for a millennium

The Somnath Jyotirlinga, composed of a rare stone with reported magnetic properties, was once believed to float above the ground. After the temple’s destruction, fragments of the Linga were secretly worshipped in South India, passing through generations before reaching Sitarama Shastri, who safeguarded them for 20 years.

In 1924, Kanchi Shankaracharya Swami Chandrashekendra Saraswati prophesied that the Linga would be reinstalled in 100 years—a moment that will now take place in 2025. With the blessings of the current Kanchi Shankaracharya, the Linga was brought to the Art of Living Ashram earlier this year.

Scientific mystery: The Linga’s unique properties

A geological study in 2007 found that the Linga has mysterious magnetic properties, despite its low metal content. Scientists are still studying its unexplained characteristics.

Maha Shivaratri 2025: A grand spiritual experience

The official unveiling of the Somnath Jyotirlinga will take place on Maha Shivaratri, February 26, 2025, at the Art of Living Ashram. The celebrations will feature Maha Rudrabhishek, Maha Satsang, and Maha Rudra Homa, culminating at dawn on February 27.

Entry is free, and devotees are invited to witness this once-in-a-lifetime spiritual moment in the presence of Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar.