This Maha Shivaratri, For The First Time Millions Across The Globe to Get a Glimpse of The Sacred Relics of The Original Somnath Jyotirlingam, Found after a 1000 years

Bengaluru: Millions from around 180 countries are set to join the Maha Shivaratri celebrations at The Art of Living International Center this year in the divine presence of the global spiritual master Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, both digitally and offline. The presence of the sacred fragments of the original Somnath Jyotirlingam this year, that were thought to have been lost for a thousand years, are also a special draw for millions of devotees from world over.

For those who cannot attend the celebrations at the Art of Living International Center physically, will join the celebrations online on Sattva app, Art of Living's official meditation app. The app will host special meditation with Gurudev at noon on 26th, Wednesday. Also, for the first time app users will get to have virtual darshan of the sacred Somnath Jyotirlingam stones and a special opportunity to meditate with Gurudev on this auspicious day. The meditation will conclude with a sacred abhishekam Kalash with the blessed water from all the twelve Jyotirlingas of the country kept in the Ashram.

Shivaratri is one of the most significant days to meditate and it is said that meditation done on this day is a hundred times more effective than on other days as Shiva Tattva or the Shiva principle can be experienced effortlessly on this day.

On 26th February, the festivities will begin 7PM onwards in Gurudev's presence with a Rudra Puja, a special Vedic ceremony where Lord Shiva is worshipped in the form of Rudra. As powerful and meditative Rudram chants fill the air, there will also be soulful devotional bhajans and music to immerse oneself in, with millions in attendance. In an unforgettable collective experience of peace and stillness, Gurudev will guide all the participants through a unqiue meditation at 11.30 PM.

As devotees spend the night chanting, discussing knowledge and wisdom and enjoying the delicious and light prasad available at the prasad counters, Shivaratri celebrations will draw to a close with Maha Rudra Homa at 4 AM with Gurudev.

Why The Relics of the Original Somnath Jyotirlingam kept at the Ashram are so special?

One of immense spiritual and historical significance, these sacred fragments that belonged to the original Somnath Jyotirlinga were thought to have been destroyed in 1026 CE, when Mahmud of Ghazni attacked and destroyed the revered Somnath Temple and its Jyotirlinga. This was no ordinary Lingam—it levitated about two feet above the ground.

As history has shown, the power of faith is invincible. The grief-stricken Agnihotri Brahmins carried these fragments to Tamil Nadu, preserving and worshipping them in secrecy for a thousand years. Passed down through generations, these sacred remnants eventually came into the care of Pandit Sitaram Shastri, who safeguarded them for two decades, awaiting their resurgence.

A century ago, Saint Pranavendra Saraswati presented these fragments to Kanchi Shankaracharya Swami Chandrasekharendra Saraswati, who made a prophecy that their consecration would only happen a hundred years later and that they'd have to wait until then.

Last year, Pandit Sitaram Shastri sought guidance from the present Kanchi Shankaracharya about the future of these sacred stones. “Take them to Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shanakr. He will guide you in their consecration.”

In January, Pandit Sitaram Shastri arrived at The Art of Living International Center and took the relics to Gurudev.

Unveiling these relics for the first time in a thousand years, Gurudev remarked, “This exudes a magnetic quality.  reminding us that what we know of reality is just a tiny part of the entire existence. We only need to open our eyes wider and look”.

A geological analysis of these relics conducted in 2007 has amazed the geologists. Unlike any known earthly material, the fragments of the Lingam displayed an unusual magnetic field at their core—yet with an iron content far too low to explain their magnetism. This anomaly has puzzled many scientists, leading some to believe that these stones might not be of this earth at all.

Before their grand reinstallation at Somnath, these sacred relics will journey through India’s holiest sites, marking a historic spiritual homecoming.