Dwarka - The Lost City of Lord Krishna

Krishna is almighty. Krishna is forever. Krishna is friend for everyone. Krishna is encouragement for everyone. Krishna is everything. Krishna is Life. Krishna is Death. Krishna is time. Krishna is everywhere. Krishna is truth. If you can merge with Krishna, you will get everything. There is nothing in the world that is not Krishna. There is no place in the world, where Krishna is not there.

History:

How it was built?

According to Hindu mythology, Lord Krishna killed Kans – The King of Mathura. Due to the death of Kans of Mathura, it invited war from the allies of Kans. From among the many allies, the closest was Jarasandh (The King of Magadh). He was very angry towards Krishna due to the killing of Kans. He decided to wage a war against Krishna and destroy the whole Mathura. So, Jarasandh attacked Mathura several times and every attack left Mathura in ruins.

So, Krishna asked Ugrasen (The King of Mathura – Father of Kans), if Mathura could be shifted to another place. Jarasandh’s army       was larger and more powerful than Krishna’s army. Jarasandh would not stop until he defeats Krishna. Also Krishna did not want the people of Mathura to suffer the consequences of the war. After convincing Urgasen, and when Ugrasen agreed, Krishna requested Vishwakarma (Divine Architect) to build the city of Dwarka. So, he built the city of Dwarka. Now before Jarasandh could attack again, Krishna shifted whole Mathura to Dwarka. Now when Jarasandh and his army reached Mathura to attack again, they founded it an empty, so they burn empty Mathura. Jarasandh attacked Mathura around 18 times.

Meanwhile in the Dwarka, Krishna became King.

Through it all, it was well known to everyone that Krishna could easily have killed Jarasandh, but reason is that he knew that the time for his death has not yet come. It would be years before Jarasandh would meet his end at the hands of Bhim – the Pandava.

There is no real evidence of when this temple built.

But in the 8^th century, Mahaguru Shankracharya rebuilt this temple.

Then in 14^th century, Rajputas took care of this temple.

In 15^th century, Mehmood Begda destroyed this temple.

In 19^th century, during British Raj, they did so much impairment to this temple. Also after that British repaired this temple with the help of Gayakvads.

According to mythology, this temple was originally built by Vajranam – Descendent of Shri Krishna.

How it was destroyed?

According to Hindu mythology, after Mahabharata war ended, Gandhari (Mother of 100 Kauravas) cursed to Krishna that, his children will die. His whole dynasty will be destroyed. Also his city will be destroyed and also it will be sink in the sea.

Due to this curse, after 36 years, massive waves of sea destroyed Dwarka.

Archaeological Remains of Dwarka City:

Was there any historical proof exists Dwarka really exists? In 1989, some of the archaeologists tried to find the proof of the city Dwarka city in the sea. They started finding proofs inside Arabian Sea. They found remains of old buildings, gold, pieces of utensils and some of the oldest things. They also founded that unique badged. According to mythology, Shri Krishna has given badge to his citizens of Dwarka. They also founded one wall 33 km away from Dwarka. Remains of Dwarka is around 3500 to 4000 years old. It is said that Mahabharata happened also around these years ago. Years of this many searches of this city, there are different conclusive evidences of this city. But the original mystery of this city is inside the water.

Trust and Faith towards Krishna:

For the citizens of Dwarka, today also Shri Krishna protecting them. They also believed that Shri Krishna is living there in the form of Dwarkadhish. Jay Dwarkadhish. You can find persons who love Krishna with every age – kids, youngsters, elders.

Grand Dwarkadhish Temple:

This temple is also known as Jagat Mandir and Trilok Sundar. This is the largest buildings amongst all buildings in Dwarka. It is made of Granite and Sand Stones – Nagara Style of Architecture. It has 5 stories, 60 pillars in Mandapam. Height of the Shikhara is around 38m. It also has pictures of gods, animals, birds on the walls of temple.

Daily Routine of Temple:

- Dwarkadhish receives Bhog (Holy offerings) 11 times a day.

- Aarti of Dwarkadhish is done 4 times a day.

1. Mangala Aarti (6:30 AM)

2. Shringar Aarti (10:30 AM)

3. Sandhya Aarti (07:30 PM)

4. Shayan Aarti (08:30 PM)

There is so much importance of Dwarkadhish Shringar. Dwarkadhish will be decorated like a king. It is decorated with different colours of silk clothes and with different flowers. On an average there are 10,000 people come everyday to this temple, but on Janmashtami, there are around 1.5 lakh people on that day.

Story of Dwarkadhish Statue:

Why there is incomplete eyes of this statue?

According to one of the story, this statue had been found from inside the well(Savitri Vav). In 15^th century, because of battles, Monks had hid this statue inside the well. It is said that, after so many years Krishna came into the dream of one of the brahmin, told him to eject the statue from the well on a particular time. After this dream, brahmin became desperate and before time he had eject that statue from the well, that’s why there are incomplete eyes of this statue. Today, some of the part of the eyes of this statue is closed.

This form of Krishna is known as Chaturbhooj. This form is believed to be very grand form of Krishna. The name Chaturbhooj is a combination of “Chatur” meaning “Four” and “Bhuj” means “Arms” which means “One who has four Arms”. Krishna holds Lotus, Gada (mace), shell and Chakra in his four hands.

There are two main doors to enter into this temple. Moksh Dwar (Means to get freedom from Birth and Death) and Swarg Dwar – There are 56 staircases to reach to Swarg Dwar.

Some families visit Dwarka every year on Janmashtami, since so many years. There is so much importance of this temple.

Rajbhog (Prasad):

Everyday, at 12:00 PM, there is holy offering of different types of foods to Dwarkadhish. Food contains chapati, puri, rice, vegetables, sweets etc. On the day of Janmashtami, they make more than 50 types of foods – that is called Maha Bhog. After this Bhog, at 01:00 PM, this is time for sleeping for Dwarkadhish.

Flag of Temple:

For any temple, the flag is known for it’s supreme power and for it’s fame. But it is believed that the flag of Dwarkadhish fulfils the wishes of people. To hoist the flag, people come from different places of India. To get your turn to hoist the flag of Dwarka, they need to wait for more than a year. The flag of Dwarkadhish is made by one family that is staying in Dwarka, since 1962. People are so much awaited for the moment of hoisting the flag on the temple. The flag is believed to be the form of Radha.

If you will visit Dwarka, you will leave in the love of Lord Krishna.

Rukmini Temple:

2 kms away from Dwarkadhish temple, there is temple of Rukmini Devi. She was the wife of Lord Krishna. It is believed that this temple is built 2500 years ago. It is also reconstructed so many times like Dwarkadhish temple.

Bet Dwarka:

Bet Dwarka is an island that is 33 km away from Dwarkadhish Temple. It is said that wives of Lord Krishna was stayed in Bet Dwarka.

Around 500 years ago, there was one princess, whose name is Mira Bai, she said that her husband is Lord Krishna. She had also wrote so many poems of Lord Krishna. She left her home and went to Vrindavan, Mathura and in the last she came to Dwarka, where she merged with statue of Lord Krishna.

Dwarkadhish Abhishek:

Abhishek of Dwarkadhish has been done only twice in a year. One on Janmashtami and other on Jyesth Purnima. Abhishek of Dwarkadhish has been done by five nectars. That is curd, ghee, milk, honey and sugar. Apart from these 5 nectars, they also uses saffron and water from different shrines of India to do Abhishek of Lord Krishna.

How to Reach to Dwarka:

The nearest big city from Dwarka is Jamnagar and also Porbandar. Jamnagar is 132 km away and Porbandar is 95 km away.

By Road – Dwarka is well connected to the major cities of Gujarat via regular buses to Dwarka.  Dwarka visit by bus is connected by many state highways.

By Train – Dwarka also has a railway station. It is connected to major cities of Gujarat and also with major parts of country. It is easier to book a train to Dwarka. These trains are well maintained trains.

By Air: The nearest airport is at Jamnagar as well as Porbandar airport. So, it can be broken down to two parts. Once you reach to Jamnagar or Porbandar, you can book private cab, taxi or you can reach to Dwarka from there with private travels also.

Also if you want to buy Bhagvad Gita, that is said by Lord Krishna here is the link for that. In any of you language choice.

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