DWARAKA
Sri Swamiji traveled on 14th November 2005 from Delhi, to Gujarat for pilgrimage of Dwaraka and Prabhas Teertha and Somnath Shiva temple. Sri Swamiji traveled - Delhi - Mumbai - Jamnagar and then drove to Dwaraka - the sacred place of Lord Sri Krishna on the upper tip of Gujarat state.
Brief back ground
Dwaraka is a town founded by Bhagawan Krishna in Dwaparayug. It is
the land and soil, where Lord Krishna spent most of his grown up
life. Krishna's great grand son Vajra built a temple in honor of
his great grand father - KRISHNA and called the temple DWARAKADHEESH
TEMPLE.
Lord Krishna was born in Mathura (now in Uttar Pradesh
state). He escaped from the evil clutches of his uncle Kamsa. He grew
up in Brindavana. Krishna's elder brother, Balarama married Revati, the
daughter of king Raivata who ruled the Kutch region in Gujarat state.
Krishna wanted his clan - Yadavas to have peaceful days and shifted his
entire kingdom from Mathura (which he had gained after slaying Kamsa)
to Dwaraka on the western part of Gujarat. Krishna requested Vishwa Karma
- the celestial architect to build a city for his clan. Vishwa Karma
after surveying the area felt that more land was needed. Krishna then
requested Samudra Deva (Sea God) to recede and give more space for Vishwa
Karma's city building activity. The sea God agreed to do so with the
condition that the land will be reclaimed back should Adharma increase
among Yadavas. Lord Krishna stayed there along with 8 queens and ruled
the area. Since He was the creator of Dwaraka city, Krishna was called
as DWARAKADHEESH.
After Maha Bharata war which took place near the present Delhi area,
Krishna returned to Dwaraka and continued to rule. After his passing
away, the Yadavas fought among themselves and Adharma increased and the
sea God caused a Tsunami and reclaimed the land he had given earlier.
Krishna's great grandson Vajra (Krishna's son was Pradyumna who begot Aniruddha who begot Vajra) learnt about the great Dwaraka empire (He was in Hastinapura - present day Delhi area - in the court of Pandavas). Vajra traveled to Dwaraka and built a temple in honor of Lord Krishna. This temple exists even today and is called as Dwarakadheesh temple. The temple is inside a small fort. Other shrines inside this fort are - Shiva temple, Devaki temple, Pradyumna temple, Aniruddha temple, Dattatreya temple and Bala Deva temple. The archeologists who have carbon dated this temple have concluded that it is more than 3000 years old. The intricate carvings of this stone temple is a feast to the eyes. Since Dwaraka area is on a flat land, the 150 feet tall temple is visible from a very long distance. A huge flag is flown atop the temple tower. It is changed thrice daily. The idol of Sri Krishna is the original statue as installed by his great grand son Vajra. The black granite idol is about three and half feet tall. The left bottom hand has Shankha (conch). The left upper hand has Chakra (Disc) The right lower hand has Padma and the right upper hand has Gada (Mace). On the idol's lower part are small motifs of Lakshmi and Saraswati holding Chamara (fans). Other adornments that are familiar with a Vishnu statue like Kaustubha Mani, Vaijayanti Mala etc are all there.
Bhagawan Adi Shankara - installed four places of knowledge in the four parts of India. The first was at Dwaraka called Sharada Peetha, Second at Badrinath called Joytishpeetha, the third at Puri called Jagannatha Peetha and the fourth one in the south at Shringeri called Sharada Peetha again. These were representative offices in the four parts of India. East -west - north and south.
Sri Swamiji's visit
Sri Swamiji was the guest of the Sharada Peetha though the Shankaracharya
was on tour in Calcutta area. Sri Swamiji was cordially received by
devotees on 14th night. Sri Swamiji retired for the day.
On 15th November 2005, tuesday, Sri Swamiji visited Gomathy river
which flows right across the temple and joins Arabian sea. After Snana
Sankalpa, Sri Swamiji sprinkled water on devotees. Sri Swamiji then visited
the temple complex and had Darshan of Lord Dwarakadheesh and visited
other shrines. Sri Swamiji was surprised to see a Dattatreya shrine in
the temple complex.
In the evening, Sri Swamiji visited Bet Dwaraka ( island Dwaraka) a small island which lies just across Dwaraka town. There are quarters for the eight queens of Lord Krishna and other small Mandirs. The return crossing of the sea was a small test as the sea had receded due to low tide and the boat was stuck in the mud and hundreds of harassed passengers scrambled to get in to any boat they could - to cross the small stretch of sea.
16th November 2005
Sri Swamiji came upstairs on the roof of the Sharada Peetha for Sun rise
view. We took some very very good photos of Sri Swamiji with the Dwaraka
temple tower. Such beautiful was the scene. Sri Swamiji enjoyed the
upper views of the Dwarakadheesh temple tower, Devaki ji, Balaram Ji
and other temple towers. The scene of Gomati river joining Arabian
sea was majestic with Sun Rising from the east - showering the scene
with golden lights.
Sri Swamiji was greatly moved by the sight. Then Sri Swamiji made the impromptu decision to see the temple area. we walked through the Rani Mandir- the crowd outside was very thick with thousands of people going around the temple. Sri Swamiji went around the Krishna temple and returned to the guest house.
At 8 AM the chief priest of the temple came to guest house and requested Sri Swamiji to visit the temple for the first BHOG program. That is when the day's first Naivedya (food offering) to the deity is made. Sri Swamiji spent about 20 minutes in front of the Dwarakadheesh idol and offered prayers. The idol is about three and half feet tall and the stone is made of black granite. The Krishna statue here is called as DWARAKADHEESH - the chief of Dwaraka. The idol was decorated with sandal paste and looked very beautiful. Sri Swamiji was given some sandal paste that was removed from the idol as Prasad.
Sri Swamiji returned to the guest only to come back to the temple complex again at 9 AM - this time to see the upper parts of the temple where a secret hidden Devi Mandir exists. Mr. Shukla, the temple administrator led Sri Swamiji through some very steep steps and small compounds in the upper floors of the temple. THe Dwarakadheesh temple has seven towers - one inside the other. And on the second tower is a small shrine of ADYA SHAKTI - mother goddess - the very first - Primordial mother goddess. Sri Swamiji stood in front of the small shrine for some time and then performed Pradakshina to the tower. It was a intense moment. To stand atop the temple and see the expansive sea. One but could wonder how it must have felt to be in Dwaraka in the times of Lord Krishna.
As Sri Swamiji came down the steps, Sri Swamiji again visited the Dattatreya Shrine and as he went around the temple, a group of Bhajan singers mobbed around Sri Swamiji. One of the person in the group was carrying the basket which had the new flag - to be presented to the temple to be hoisted in couple of hours. The person carrying the flag appeared to be in trance and he placed the flag basket on Sri Swamiji's head. Sri Swamiji carried the basked for a few steps and placed it back on the person who gave it.
At 9.45 AM - Sri Swamiji left Dwaraka to Nageswar. It was indeed a very special pilgrimage.
The entrance to Dwaraka temple complex
Sri Swamiji views the temple towers
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Sri Swamiji and devotees witness new flag
being hoisted on the temple tower
Sri Swamiji offers Puja to Gomathi river
Sri Swamiji in front of the Lord Krishna's
temple in Dwaraka
click here for a large size picture (1800x1200-1.4mb)
Close up view of the 2000 year old temple tower
The pier to the boat to Bet Dwaraka island
View of Bet Dwaraka island. A Hindu shrine and a Moslem Masjid stand
next to each other
Sri Swamiji enjoys a colourful Rickshaw
ride
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Pre Sunrise Gomathi river
The Sun rise over Gomathi river in Dwaraka town. The river joins the
sea in about 100 metres from here.
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