Diu's maritime history is intertwined with Portuguese colonial rule dating back to 1535, when the Portuguese secured rights to construct the Diu Fortress. Despite centuries of colonial dominance, the local Hindu trading families, Kharwa sailors, and agricultural communities preserved their ancestral religious roots through interior village sanctuaries like Somnath Mahadev.
Historical documents and temple records indicate that the shrine was patronized by local Gujarati merchant guilds who made generous endowments for the maintenance of regular Agamic rituals and the preservation of religious traditions during periods of foreign naval administration.
