Sangam Sthan(Photo)

Sangam Sthan

Gomathi Ghat(Photo)

Gomathi Ghat

The Main Temple of Dwaraka(Photo)

The Main Temple of Dwaraka

Our Yatra to Dwaraka

Dwaraka
Our journey to Dwaraka started on night 01 Feb 2005 by bus and we reached Dwaraka early morning. After settling down comfortably at the Swaminarayan Dharamsala, we had a dip in the R.Gomathi. Dwaraka is one of the 108 Divya Desams. The Dwaraka Deesh temple is located half a mile from the Dwaraka Rly Station in the Kathiawar Peninsula of Gujarat, near Okha port. The main deity is Sri Dwarakadeesan (Lord Krishna) in a standing pose and facing west. His consort Sri Lakshmi called Kalyana Nachiar has a separate sannadhi. Nammazhwar, Periazhwar, Thirumangai Azhwar, Thirumazhisai Azhwar, Thondaradipodi Azhwar and Andal have sung hymns in praise of the Lord.

Since the temple described and sung by the Azhwars have been submerged in the sea, the present one was built in the 16th century as Jagat Mandir or Dwarakadeesh Mandir. Lord Krishna (Dwarakadeesh) has a separate sannadhi and there are sannadhis for Balarama, Devaki, Satyabhama etc. Everyday, neivedyam called “ Bhog” is offered 17 times to the Lord. The pilgrims enter through the eastern entrance called “ Swarg Dhwar” and come out of the western entrance called the “ Mukthi Dhwar”. It was here that Kuchelar or Sudhama, Krishna’s gurukula friend, came to meet the Lord with a handful of broken rice or “ Aval”. It seems, he asked in Hindi, “ Dwarr Kahan Hai” and the word got corrupted over a period of time to become Dwaraka.
The Lord seems to have married Rukmani here. However, the temple for Rukmani is at a place far from this place. The reasons for this form part of another story.
It was from here that the Lord went to the rescue of Draupadi at the time when the Kaurava prince Duchasana tried to disrobe her in the royal court of Dhiridhrashtra.
It was from here that the Lord went to Hastinapuram as the messenger from the Pandavas to the Kaurava court.
It was here that the “Parijatham tree” was brought from Indralok and planted.
Holi, Diwali & Janmashtami (birthday) are celebrated here with great religious fervour.

We can find pieces of marble believed to be part of Lord Krishna’s palace, even today, at the confluence of the R. Gomathi with the sea. These are known as Gomathi chakrams or Dwaraka stones and are treated as sacred as the Salagramams found in the bed of R.Kandagi in Nepal.
Water is not potable in Dwaraka as it is surrounded by sea on three sides. It is brackish. There is a story connected with this.
Rukmini Devi and Lord Krishna invited Sage Durvasa to Dwaraka to seek his blessings. Sage Durvasa insisted that the chariot be pulled, not by horses but by Lord Krishna and Rukmini. As Rukmini felt thirsty, Lord Krishna stamped his foot on the ground and made water gush out for Rukmini to quench her thirst. This action of Lord Krishna infuriated the Sage who was by nature short tempered. He felt that Lord Krishna should have sought his permission prior to his action. He cursed that the entire area would be without drinking water and Lord Krishna would be separated from Rukmini for six months. It is sad to note that even today the residents of Dwaraka have to bring drinking water from elsewhere. The Lord assured Rukmini that he would visit her every day. The temple for Rukmini is thus located far away from Dwaraka.
After lunch, we visited the following places in Dwaraka:
1.Gayatri Mandir
2.Sunset point
3.Gomathi Ghat
4.Visveswar Mahadev Mandir
5.Gita Mandir
6.Baneshwar Mahadev Mandir
7.Sangam Sthan (site of confluence of R.Gomathi with the sea)

It is believed that doing kriyas for Pithrus (forefathers or ancestors) at Gomathi Ghat is sacred.
At Sangam Sthan, R.Gomathi joins the sea where it is believed that Lord Krishna is present twice during the day. Hence a Yatra to Dwaraka without a visit to Sangam Sthan is considered incomplete.
Baneshwar Mahadev Mandir is quite near to Gita Mandir. One might have to wade through the waters of the sea depending upon whether it is high tide or low tide.

At the Gita Mandir, Lord Krishna is seen giving “ Gitopadesam “ to Arjuna. The temple hall being quite big, one can sit here and meditate peacefully. The Gayatri Devi Mandir is near the shores of Gomati River and is visited by many. The evening Aarthi at the main Dwarakadeesan temple is a sight one should not miss. We were seated in front of the Devaki Temple and from a high pedestal we could have a good view of the Lord who is lovingly known as “ Ranchor Raya “. After the Aarthi, we visited the shrines of Balarama, Rukmini, Satyabama, Devaki etc. It is interesting to note that in Gujarat Lord Krishna is never seen with Radha whereas all over Uttar Pradesh (Mathura, Vrindavan, Gokul etc.) Lord Krishna is invariably seen with Radha only.
Adi Shankaracharya established the Sharada Peetam at Dwaraka. His disciple Sureshwaracharya was the first Peetathipathi. The Peetam has to its credit many social religious and educational activities.

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