Somnath Mahatmyam : Sanskrit Poem on Lord Somnatha

Contents: 1. Greatness of Lord Shiva. 2. Twelve Jyotirlingas. 3. Parvati stotram. 4. Significance of Aum. 5. Significance of Lord Shiva. 6. Significance of Somnatha. 7. Narrative. 8. Epilogue. 9. Personal. 10. Stone inscriptions about Lord Somnatha. 11. Pauranic references.

From the preface: "Lord Somnatha’s temple at Prabhas Patan near Veraval in Saurashtra is one of the holiest places of pilgrimage since time immemorial. To Hindus God is Divine Light and Lord Shiva is known as such Divine Light and hence. He is represented in gross form as the symbol of light known as Jyotirlinga in Sanskrit. India has such twelve major places of pilgrimage where Lord Shiva is worshipped with great respect and ceremonial grandeur. Lord Shiva who is Divine Light is also the positive principle behind all creation and so he is represented in a particular form of an egg. This cosmic egg has the inherent and potential negative principle known as Primeval Energy (Adi Shakti) which is represented as Divine Mother, the spouse of Lord Shiva. This is why in the temple of Lord Shiva the icon of Divine Mother known as Uma, Parvati, Ambika, etc. is installed.

Lord Shiva is also Lord of cosmic time principle. In Hinduism the serpent is symbolic of this principle of cosmic time. Hindus, thus are not worshippers of serpents and animals as ordinarily misunderstood and misrepresented by scholars who lack in deep and critical insight into Hindu philosophy."