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Lord Somnath is first among the twelve Aadi Jyotirlings of India. 

Ancient Indian traditions maintain a close relationship of Somnath with release of Chandra (Moon God)from the curse of his father-in-law, Daksha. Moon was married to Twenty-Seven daughters of Daksha. However, he favored Rohini and neglected other queens. 

The aggrieved Daksha cursed Moon and the Moon lost power of light. With the advice of Lord Brahma, Moon arrived at the Prabhas Teerth and worshipped Lord Shiva. 

Pleased with the great penance and devotion of Moon, Lord Shiva blessed him and relieved him from the curse of darkness. 

Hindu traditions maintain that Moon had built a golden temple, followed by a silver temple by Ravana, and Lord Krishna is believed to have built Somnath temple with Sandalwood.

The research based on ancient Indian classical texts show that first Somnath Jyotirling Pran-Pratistha was done on the auspicious third day of brighter half of Shravan month during the tenth Treta yug of Vaivswat Manvantar.

The later sources of history account for several desecrations by Muslim invaders during eleventh to eighteen century A.D. The temple was rebuilt every time with the reconstructive spirit of the people. 

The modern temple was reconstructed with the resolve of Sardar  Vallabhbhai Patel who visited the ruins of Somnath temple on November 13, 1947. Then President of India, Dr. Rajendra Prasad, did the Pran-Pratistha at the existing temple on 11 May 1951.

The present temple is built in the Chalukya style of temple architecture or "Kailash Mahameru Prasad" style and reflects the skill of the Sompura Salats, one of Gujarat's master masons. The temple's main spire, is 15 meters in height, and it has an 8.2-metre tall flag pole at the top.

The temple is situated at such a place that there is no land in a straight line between Somnath seashore until Antarctica, such an inscription in Sanskrit is found on the Baṇastambha (arrow pillar) erected on the sea-protection wall. 

The Baṇastambha mentions that it stands at a point on the Indian landmass that is the first point on land in the north to the South Pole at that particular longitude.

 A statue of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel stands in front of the temple as a mark of honor for his contribution towards building the temple.

Ahalyabai temple is  adjacent to the main temple, which was built by the queen mother   Ahalyabai Holker during 1782. This temple maintained the Pooja Parampara of Lord Shiva during the hostile political conditions.