Dwarka temple history (information) (facts) (greatness)

Dwarka = Door to meet Sri Krishna | Dwarka is one of the seven tirthas of Hindus | Dwarka is situated on the banks of river Gomati | Dwarka is existing since Vedic period |

Dwarka is one of char dhams (4 divine pilgrimage places) in India | Dwarka is also known as Mokshadham or Muktidham | Brahma Manasa putras did penance here | Lord Vishnu’s chakra appeared first in Dwarka |

Later Lord Vishnu himself appeared in Dwarka | Lord of Dwarka is Chakra Narayana | Dwarka is also known as Chakra Tirtha | Goddess Ganga descended in Dwarka | Goddess Ganga in Dwarka also known as Gomati | 

Dwarka is also called as Gomati Dwarka | Lord of Dwarka is also known as Sangam Narayana or Samudra Narayana | Importance of taking bath at Sangam Narayana | And many more…

More details about “What are Dwarka temple history (information) (facts)” is as given below:

Dwaraka or Dwarka or Dvarka or Dvaraka is one of the most auspicious and divine places in India. Dwarka is situated on the far western coast of India and it is on the banks of holy river Gomati. From Gomati, it meets the western sea.

Dwarka, the great and one of the most divine place is located in the Gujarat (Saurashtra region) in Jamnagar District. It is in existence since Vedic and Puranic days with greatest and highest Sanatana Dharma importance.

Dwarka is also called as one of the Char Dhams (4 pilgrimage sites).

The four abodes (Char Dhams) (4 pilgrimage sites) of Lord Vishnu (Krishna) (God) in four directions are:

Badari (Badrinath) in the North, Rameshwaram in the South, Puri Jagannath in the East and Dwarka in the West.

The above char dhams (four abodes or 4 pilgrimage sites) are said to be the most auspicious and revered sites for all the Hindus to be visited at least once in the life time.

As said above, Dwarak (Dwaraka) means the gateway to Brahma (Brahman) (Parabrahma), that is, the Supreme God Lord Sri Krishna.

Dwarka also has another meaning. That is, Dwarka is the gateway (door) for moksha (mukti) divine liberation of atma (soul) from actions that is liberation (moksha) from all types of Karma(s).

Hence, Dwarka is also referred to as the Mokshadham or Muktidham or Mokshapuri or Muktipuri. Dwarka is also called as Dwaravati or Dwarkavati.

Reference to Dwarka can be easily found in many Puranic texts like Mahabharata, Srimad Bhagavatam (Sri Vishnu Purana), Skanda Purana, Harivamsha (Harivamsa) Purana etc…

It is said that Brahma Manasaputras (sons born from mind of Lord Sri Brahma), that is – Sanaka, Sananda, Sanatana, Sanatkumara (Four sons) assuming Dwarka as the site of moksha / liberation, did severe tapas / penance at this very place of Dwarka.

All these four Brahma Manasaputras did tapas (penance) for several 1,000s of years on the banks of the ocean worshipping Lord Sri Vishnu. Thus, as a result, Sudarshana Chakra the disc of Lord Sri Vishnu appeared first and later Lord Sri Vishnu himself manifested here.

Henceforth, the Lord (Bhagavan) of this place is called as ‘Chakra Narayana‘ and the entire area of pilgrimage is known as Chakra Tirtha.

Thereafter the four Brahma Manasputras (four sages) invited Goddess Ganga to stay here in Dwarka and Ganga descended there along with the sage Maharishi Vashishtha.

The Goddess Ganga (river Ganges) flowing here is referred to as Gomati and thus, Dwarka is also referred to as Gomati Dwarka. The divine river Gomati gets merges with the ocean (Western part of India / Arabian Sea) at this place of Dwarka.

And thus the point where the river merges with the ocean is known as Gomati Sangam and for this reason, the Lord of this place has another name called ‘Sangam Narayana‘ or ‘Samudra Narayana‘.

Importance of taking bath at Sangam Narayana is as given below:

There is a great importance of taking holy bath and performing sacred rites to pitrus (ancestors) (Pinda Tarpana) (Tila Tarpana) at this divine place of Sangam Narayana point of sacred river Gomati.

This will definitely gives the freedom from the sins committed in the present and previous births and is regarded as the gate way (Dwarka) to Moksha (Mukti / salvation).

That person’s pitrus (forefathers) belonging to three generations go to the abode of Vishnu Loka (Vaikuntha).

And his / her accumulated sins of thousands of years get destroyed immediately after that person takes bath at the Sangam Narayana.

Just mere darshanam (divine vision) of river Gomati at Dwarka destroys all the sins, which are committed by our thoughts (manasa), words (vak) and deeds (physically). It is said in Hindu texts that, during Dwapara Yuga (Sri Krishna’s period),

Sage / Rishi Durvasa came to this place of Dwarka to have darshanam (divine vision) of the Lord Chakra Narayana (Lord Sri Vishnu) who got manifested there and to take a holy bath in the sacred river Gomati.

But, Rishi Durvasa was hampered by the demons there. (Rishi Durvasa is an avatar of Lord Shiva. Apart from Rishi Durvasa, Lord Shiva has taken other avatars like Ashwatthama, Shukacharya, etc.)

In Hindu texts, it is said that the Rishi Durvasa went straight to Patala Loka and informed the same to Lord Sri Trivikrama (Lord Sri Vishnu) who was fulfilling the boon given to his ardent devotee King Bali.

Immediately, Lord Sri Trivikrama (Lord Sri Vishnu) came to the rescue of Rishi Durvasa at Dwarka and for this reason this place is also known as ‘Trivikrama Kshetra‘, that is, Lord Sri Trivikrama’s place (abode).

(Here Trivikrama means, someone who has measured all the three worlds with highest ease, that is, upper planets, earth and lower planets.)

It is also highly important and auspicious place where prominent Rishis like Marichi, Atri, Angirasa etc. (apart from Rishi Durvasa) made this place as their own abode.

And these Rishis also performed several sacred tapas (penance) and austerities in this very place of Dwarka.

Why Dwarka is also called as Kushasthali:

In Sanskrit, Kushasthali = Kusha + Sthali (Sthala) = Bunch of grass (Darbha) + Sthali (Sthala) (Place).

The great Dwarka is also known as Kushasthali, that is – It’s the place where Kusha (Bunch of grass / Darbha) used by Lord Sri Brahma Deva fell on the earth, while He was taking measurement of the Earth.

Another story of Kushasthali is as given below:

In Hindu texts, there is one more story of Dwarka also known as Kushasthali. It is said in our texts, that there used to live a rakshasa / demon called Kusha at this very place of Dwarka.

And thus, this place Dwarka was known as Kushasthali and later Lord Sri Krishna killed him at this spot and thus Dwarka is also known as Kushasthali. 

The samudratat (coastal area) of western region of which Dwarka was belonged to Lord Sri Krishna’s forefathers, that is, it belonged to Yadu lineage.

Much later, during the end of Dwapara Yuga, Lord Sri Krishna shifted to this place of Dwarka and made Dwarka as his abode and capital of his kingdom.

How and why Lord Krishna migrated to Dwarka from Mathura

Lord Krishna migrated to Dwarka only to protect his subjects (people) of Mathura from the indefinite and frequent attacks by Jarasandha and Kalayavana.

After Lord Sri Krishna killed his maternal uncle Kamsa, Jarasandha as he was the father-in-law of Kamsa was furious to take revenge against Lord Sri Krishna. Thus, Jarasandha indefinitely and frequently attacked Mathura as many as 17 times.

Every time Jarasandha was usually getting defeated at the hands of Lord Sri Krishna and his brother Balarama. On the 18th occasion, Jarasandha took the help of Kalayavana.

Kalayavana also got provoked from the words of Devarshi Narada and joined Jarasandha in attacking Mathura and Lord Krishna.

By this time, Lord Sri Krishna had already had the plans to move out of Mathura and was ready to shift to Dwarka considering it as the safest place for his subjects.

(Note : Kalayavana is from Yavana country as per Srimad Bhagavatam, that is, present day Yemen country).

Thus, when Mathura was attacked by Kalayavana and Jarasandha, Lord Sri Krishna with highest ease had moved to Dwarka overnight and made his subjects to feel comfortable at Dwarka.

Lord Sri Krishna’s move from Mathura to Dwarka was quite dramatic and divine. No ordinary souls can easily understand this situation of shifting from Mathura to Dwarka.

Only great souls and with the blessings of Lord Sri Krishna can only understand this situation. After the shifting, Lord Sri Krishna came back to the war field at Mathura. While Balarama was confronting with Jarasandha, Lord Sri Krishna took on Kalayavana.

Lord Sri Krishna faced Kalayavana without carrying any weapon(s) and came to the war field by barehanded. Lord Sri Krishna, instead of fighting with Kalayavana, pretended as if He is running away from the war field and provoked Kalayavana to catch him.

Kalayavana with all furiousness chased Lord Sri Krishna assuming that Lord Sri Krishna is indeed really running away from the battle field and war.

Lord Sri Krishna in the process was moving towards Dwarka, entered into a dark cave on the way and hided himself behind a man who was looking like a Rishi / Sage and who was in deep sleep.

The Rishi / Sage was none other then great King Muchukunda of Suryavanshi (Solar Dynasty) family. Lord Sri Krishna pulled his own upper cloth (Pitambaram / Golden yellow cloth) and spread it on the King Muchukunda.

Chasing Lord Sri Krishna, Kalayavana entered that dark cave and mistook the person sleeping there as Lord Sri Krishna and hit him with his leg disturbing King Muchukunda from his deep sleep.

When King Muchukunda got disturbed and awakened, he got up from his deep sleep and opened his eyes. Soon Kalayavana standing in front of Muchukunda got burnt into the ashes, because of the fire emanated from Muchukunda’s eyes.

Thus, Lord Sri Krishna easily got rid of his mighty enemy Kalayavana with his divine trick and in the process crossed the border and migrated to Dwarka forever.

Since this mode of his migration looked like that Lord Sri Krishna pretended running away from the war field, Lord Sri Krishna is thus also called as Ranchod, that is, someone who fled away from the war without fighting his enemy.

But, it should always be noted that, this is just a Leela / drama (pastimes) of Lord Sri Krishna apart from Kalayavana also had a boon from Lord Shiva that, he will not get killed by any of the Yadavas.

Lord Sri Krishna who knows anything and everything, had to use King Muchukunda in this process and also utilized his (Muchukunda’s) boon in getting Kalayavana killed.

Background story of King Muchukunda is as given below:

King Muchukunda was belonging to Suryavanshi Dynasty (Solar Dynasty), where Kings like Ikshvaku, Manu, Raghu, Mandhata, Lord Rama, etc. have ruled this earth since unknown age.

King Muchukunda, during his time had helped a lot to the Devatas (Demigods) in their war against Asuras (Demons). Thus, as a result of which Devatas (Demigods) wanted to give him King Muchukunda a boon.

For this, King Muchukunda asked Moksha (Liberation) as a boon, but the Devatas (Demigods) expressed their inability on this matter.

Only Lord Srimann Narayana (Vishnu / Hari / Rama / Krishna) is capable and empowered to give Moksha (Liberation) to anyone.

For this, King Muchukunda asked for a boon of deep and undisturbed sleep for a very very long time which was accorded on him by Devatas (Demigods).

Beside this, King Muchukunda was also blessed that whoever disturbs him in his sleep will get reduced into ashes from his one glance (through eyes).

In Dwapara Yuga, King Muchukunda’s deep sleep was disturbed by Kalayavana and his (Muchukunda’s) one glance reduced Kalayavana into mere ashes.

In the process, King Muchukunda had the darshanam (divine vision) of Lord Sri Krishna, an avatar of Lord Vishnu, the Supreme personality. Lord Sri Krishna blessed King Muchukunda with Moksha (liberation) in his next birth.

And Lord Sri Krishna advised him (Muchukunda) to take up penance and accordingly he went to Badrikashram (Badrikashrama) (Badrinath) (Badrinatha) for performing penance.

We can find this story of King Muchukunda and Kalayavana in Srimad Bhagavatam in the 10th chapter (Dashama Skanda). When Lord Sri Krishna wanted to move to Dwarka and also wanted to construct a city, in that place there was full of water and forest all around.

For this reason, Lord Sri Krishna requested Lord Varuna (Samudra / Lord of the ocean) to move back 12 yojanas (approx. 108 square miles).

Later, the Devatas (Demigods) Architect cum Engineer, that is, Vishwakarma constructed the most beautiful, most magnificent, most glorious and majestic city called Dwarka on this land within no time.

Thus, after the construction of the Dwarka city, Lord Sri Krishna settled along with his subjects in Dwarka forever.

It is said in the Srimad Bhagavatam that, Lord Sri Krishna physically lived in Dwarka until 106.6 years with all his great majesty and prowess till his Niryana (Going back to Vaikuntha).

Lord Krishna’s era in Dwarka is considered as the Golden period of Dwarka and for this reason, Dwarka is called as the ‘Svarna Nagari‘ (Golden city) on earth. Dwarka was the capital of Lord Sri Krishna’s kingdom from where He used to administer his government.

While Beyt Dwarka an island 35 km away from Dwarka was His residence. From Beyt Dwarka, Lord Sri Krishna used to live with all his divine Bharyas (Consorts).

With the Niryana (Going back to Vaikuntha) of Lord Sri Krishna the legendary city of Dwarka got fully submerged along with its glory more than 5000 years back.

Thus from that time, Dwarka has submerged six times and the present city of Dwarka in Gujarat is the 7th such version built in that area. Though the original and divine Dwarka is not present today, it is said to be the same land where the legendary Dwarka existed.

From the archeological survey, it is believed and said that the remains of the original Dwarka are still present deep in the oceans.

Lot of research work has been done in this regard and some of the evidences have been unearthed and very much proved that the divine city of Dwarka as indeed present 5k years back.

Dwarka is surrounded by many other auspicious and celestial places like Somnath, Beyt Dwarka, Nageshwar, Harsiddhi Mata temple etc. Sunset view at Dwarka is highly divine and worth seeing.

Dwarka is also the seat of one of the four spiritual centers “Sharda Peeth” (Sharada Peetham) established by the Hindu Philosopher and Saint Sri Adi Shankaracharya.

Just a mere thought in mind of going on a pilgrimage to Dwarka in a person’s mind is said to liberate his / her pitrus (forefathers) from their sins and hell.

Providing food to a person (people) going on a pilgrimage to Dwarka is said to give virtues similar to that of performing Shraaddha (Shraddh) (श्राद्ध / ಶ್ರಾದ್ಧ / śrād’dha) at Gaya.

Giving danam (charity) at Dwarka or on the way to Dwarka, listening to the divine stories, songs in praise of Lord Sri Krishna:

Is highly meritorious and one will surely receive the blessings of Lord Sri Krishna, who is also known as Dwarkadhish (Dwarkadhisha). Go-danam (Donation of cows) at the banks of river Gomati is said to yield highly meritorious results.

It is said in Hindu texts that, Gomati darshanam (divine vision of Gomati river), Gomati Snanam (divine bath at Gomati river), Go-danam (donation of cow),

Gopichandanam (divine sandalwood) and Gopinatha (Gopinath) (Lord Sri Krishna) darshanam (divine vision) at Dwarka are very auspicious, rare, holy, celestial and highly meritorious.

Only blessed and divine people can live in Dwarka and one who gets an opportunity to see the face of Lord Sri Krishna (Dwarkadhish) at Dwarka at least once in their life time.

With all its great grandeur Dwarka is standing as an epitome of Hindu Dharma, religion and culture attracting unlimited pilgrims from across the globe since ages.

One story about Dwarka is as given below:

Once, few sages asked Sutaji about the means by which Lord Sri Vishnu could be realized in Kaliyuga – the era dominated by sin and decaying moral values.

Sutaji started by describing how Lord Sri Vishnu on seeing the prevalence of sin in Dwapara Yuga had to take incarnation as Lord Sri Krishna to liberate the world from the sinners.

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