Record breaking 66ft.Rudraksha-MahaShivaLinga Darshan at the Somnath Mahotsav 2020 in Gujarat,India
By Mahadev Desai

Batukbhai Vyas is a highly popular, respected, learned, widely traveled, engaging and eloquent narrator of ‘Shiv Maha Puran’ in Gujarati and Hindi, a Vedic Vastu Scholar and also an ardent devotee of Lord Shiva for the past 32 years. Batukbhai, a Brahmin priest and author of “Rudraksha: A Nectar of Divine Life, has for many years nursed a big dream of a mammoth, spectacular Somnath Mahotsav and Rudrakshotsav, at the holy and sacred iconic Somnath Mandir in Gujarat, India, where millions of devotees will be able to do Shivalinga Pooja of a record-breaking 66ft.Rudraksha-MahaShivalinga.He is poised to realize his dream with the planned celebration of historic Somnath Mahotsav 2020. The Somnath temple located in Prabhas Patan near Veraval in Saurashtra on the western coast of Gujarat, is believed to be the first among the twelve Jyotirlinga shrines of Shiva. It is an important pilgrimage and tourist spot of Gujarat.

 

Rudraksha is a Drupe -similar to Cherry It comes from a tree with botanical name Elaeocarpus ganitrus.Devotees wear Rrudraksha garlands or use as malas (rosary) while chanting Om Namah Shivay mantras.Rudraksha itself symbolizes Lord Shiva and Shivalinga.Batukbhai thought of an innovative way of offering devotees an opportunity to pray and get darshan of lakhs of shivlingas simultaneously through his conceptualized Rudraksha Shivalinga. He began with a Shivalinga of eleven inches, progressing successively to 15 inches, three feet,33 ft. (with 2.5 million rudrakshas.He is regarded as pioneer of Rudraksha Maha Shivalinga. The benevolent Batukbhai has dedicated his book, the Rudraksha Yantra and the iconic Rudraksha Maha Shivlinga to the world.Batukbhai’s laudable initiative has been recognized, not once but record-breaking four times in the ‘Limca Book of Records’. He is known for his innate compassion and empathy for the underprivileged in society. He plays an active role in providing food, blankets, school uniforms and supplies to tribal children. He also helps the tribal people get rid of superstitions and blind faith by interacting with them and organizing Shiv Kathas for them.
Shri Batukbhai has visited frequently. During his last visit in Atlanta in August 2018 he recited Shiva Katha in Hindi, at the Sanatan Mandir in Smyrna, He has been invited to visit Atlanta again in July this year and hopefully will be able to accept the invitation.
 

The Somnath Mahotsava will be held from 15th February to 23rd February 2020. The event will consist of
World’s tallest 66 ft.Rudraksha Maha Shivlinga’s Pooja Archana, Abhishek ,151 Kundi Homatmaka yagya, collective Rudrabhishek,and Shiv Maha Puran Katha.
51 Lakh Rudraksh will be used for the Maha Shiva Linga.
The diameter of the Maha Shiva Linga will be 27 Ft.
Daily Abhishek byTeerthajal (holy waters) from every sacred Tirth in India and with one crore (10 Million) Bilva patras on the opening day puja ceremony.
All the four Parampujya Shankaracharya Maharajjis from the four Mathas(monasteries) will be invited along with many noted saints and Mahant Swamijis, civic leaders ,and celebrities. At the opening ceremony, about one lakh (one hundred thousand) Brahmins will recite ShivaMahimna Stotra. Maharudra and AtiRudra Yagya will also be performed.
Many elevators (lifts)will be available for senior citizens to offer abhisheka.
Every afternoon, most revered Shri Batukbhai Vyas will narrate the Shiva Katha.
The esteemed and respected VVIPS and VIPs gracing the event will be extended a warm welcome and respectfully recognized and felicitated.
The energy, vibrations and the auspiciousness generated from the recitation of Aum Namah Shivaya Mantra by millions of devotees, offering of Abhisheka (Water Oblations) by millions and the sacred chanting of Yajna mantras in the Atirudra will generate positive spiritual energy which will have the potential of enhancing World peace and impacting Global warming in unparalleled ways.

The Organizers cordially invite your family members, friends, co-workers and acquaintances to participate in this one of a kind ,historic Holy undertaking.
Also invited are all those Devotees and Brahmins who can recite or would like to recite the Shivamahimna stotra.

This mammoth celebrations are possible only because of the cooperation of many devotees and organizations from many different fields. A humble request to all to cooperate in the spirit of devotion.
More than 135 crores (One Billion Three Hundred Fifty Million) handwritten “Aum Namah Shivaya” mantra-in the form of booklets- will be enshrined in a temple for eight days. Attendees will be able to do pradakshina and darshan of the same
On February 23, 2020 the conclusion of the Katha, purnahuti (concluding ceremony of the Yajnas), submerging of the 135 Crore mantra in the Ocean and the Visarjan (Concluding rite) of the Rudraksheswar Shivalinga after the evening aarti will take place.
II Aum Namah Shivaya II

The devotees are requested to write the Panchakshara Mantra –Om Namah Shivay(in either Gujarati,Hindi, Tamil,Telugu,English,etc.), in the books that are being distributed by the Organizers. Each book will have space for 5040 Mantras. In India, so far,20 Crore mantras have already been written. In North America, Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh USA will assist in distributing books to all the 700 plus Temples. About 1,500 books will be distributed in Metro Atlanta. The completed books will be displayed for eight days at the venue during the celebrations.
You are also requested to support this event either by sponsoring an event, the booklet or in kind by volunteering your time and talents.
For further information, kindly contact Praful Desai at sm2020na@gmail.com