Dwarka: Third Dham and Residence of King Krishna

We all know that one of the names of Lord Krishna is also Dwarka Dheesh. The meaning of Dwarak Dhish translated to The king of Dwarka. Dwarka is known to be one of the last places that Krisha stayed. The city of Dwarka is nothing less than a miracle. From its architecture to the mythological stories of Krishna, the city is full of wonders. People say that Dwara city was made on land given by sea. Krishna lived there till he decided to leave for his heavenly abode. And after he left, the city was submerged in the water again.

To date, Dwara remains a centre that holds great religious as well as archaeological significance. If you want to know more about the city of Dwarka, then continue reading the blog for the same. Now, let us learn more about the Holy City of Dwarka and also uncover its secrets. 

About Dwarka: Third Dham of Shree Krishna

Dwarka is the legendary city considered the residence of Vishnu’s eighth avatar, Shri Krishna. The magnanimous temple located on the banks of river Gomti in Gujarat has a history of more than 5,000 years, as depicted by Hindu literature. It is one of the Char Dham, sacred pilgrimage sites of the Hindu religion, which has legendary stories of its origin. 

It is believed that a long time ago, Lord Krishna invited the anger of Magadh-king Jarasandh. This was because Krishna killed Kansa. Kansa, the cruel king of Mathura, was Krishna’s maternal uncle. After his death, Kansa’s father-in-law, Jarasandh, attacked the city of Mathura 17 times. While Krishna was able to save his city, he could foresee that his people would not be able to survive another attack. Hence, he decided to shift his subjects to a safer location. 

Krishna summoned the Divine Architect, Vishwakarma, to make him a royal city. Vishwakarma said that he would only build a city on land reclaimed from the sea. Knowing this, Krishna prayed to the sea god, Samundra Deva, to give him land to set up his city. Samundra Deva was appeased by his humble prayers and gave 12 yojans (roughly 154 kilometres) of land. Vishwakarma then worked his Divine magic and made Dwarka in just 2 days.

The city was spectacular, carved in gold, silver and other precious jewels. Krishna came to be known as Dwarkadhish or the Ruler Of Dwarka. He resided in the holy city for 36 years, after which he left for his heavenly abode after being shot by an arrow in his foot. Once he passed on, the city was swallowed once again by the sea. 

Also Read: 6 Different And Beautiful Architecture Of Temples In India

Dwarka: Krishna and Rukmini’s Temple 

Roughly 5,000 years ago, Krishna’s great-grandson, Vajranabha, built the holy temple of Dwarka, Jagat Mandir, over Krishna’s residential place, Hari-Griha. There are multiple holy shrines built around the temple, and the closest is that of Devi Rukmini. There is an important legend as to why she doesn’t reside with Krishna in the temple. It is believed that one day, Durvasa Rishi came to Krishna and Rukmini, and the couple offered the holy sage dinner at their palace.

Durvasa was known for his quick temper, and they did not want to upset him, so they themselves dragged his chariot towards their home. It was a hot day, and after some time, Rukmini started feeling thirsty. She asked Krishna for water, and he dug his foot into the ground, bringing in the water of Ganga in the hole.

Rukmini quenches her thirst quickly, but in her hurry, she forgot to offer the water to the quick-tempered sage. This angered Durvasa, and he cursed her that Rukmini would be separated from her husband. Hence the temple is located around 2 km away from the main temple of Dwarkadhish. There are multiple other temples located in the vicinity as well. These include the shrine of the main Rani’s of Krishna as well as other deities. 

About Jagat Temple

We all know about the famous shree dwarkadhish temple in Dwarka, Gujarat. It is known as the Jgat Temple. The construction of the Jagat temple is done in Chaulkya Style, which is an ancient architectural design for royal buildings. The temple spire is at a height of 78.3 meters and is 27 meters by 29 meters in length in the north-south to east-west direction. It was made of black limestone, and the idol inside the temple is made of black stone, known as Shaligram. Dwarka temple has two entrances: the north gate, which is known as Moksha Dwar and opens up to the main market, and the Southern Gate, which is called the Swarga Dwar and opens up to the Gomti River.

Krishna had requested that the holy river flow close to his city and Gomti flow all but 56 steps away from the Swarga Dwar. The spire also has a flag hoisted on top of it, which has the symbol of Sun and Moon on it. It denotes that Krishna will reside in the hearts of all as long as the Sun and Moon are present in the sky. This flag is also changed ceremoniously 5 times a day. The spiritual mysticism of the Divine city becomes manifold on the day of Janmashtami, the birthday of Lord Krishna, as per the Hindu calendar.

Another interesting location is that of Bet Dwarka. This is a little island said to be the original residence of Krishna and his parents. The island now has a lighthouse and a few old architectural remains on it. Marine archaeologists found the remains of the submerged city of Dwarka near the lighthouse which presently stands here, acknowledging the presence of a reclaimed ancient settlement. 

Also Read: 5 Alluring Temples Of Gujarat You Must Visit

Conclusion

As you read, these were the amazing facts about Dwarka city. The city is said to have separate temples for Krishna and Rukmini. The reason for this is the age-old curse of a short-tempered sage, Durvaa. To date, people not just from India but from around the world come to the city of Dwarka in order to worship Lord Krishna. Every year, more than 2 lakh people visit this holy city to gain the blessings of their beloved Lord Krishna. The city of Dwarka is said to have one of the purest soil, as Lord Krishna himself lived there. 

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