Dwarkadhish Temple

TheDwarkadhish temple, also known as theJagat Mandirand occasionally spelledDwarakadheesh, is aHindu templededicated toKrishna, who is worshiped here by the nameDwarkadhish (Dvārakādhīśa), or 'King of Dwarka'. The temple is located atDwarkacity ofGujarat, India, which is one of the destinations ofChar Dham, a Hindu pilgrimage circuit. The main shrine of the five-storied building, supported by 72 pillars, is known as Jagat Mandir or Nija Mandir. Archaeological findings suggest the original temple was built in 200 BCE at the earliest.The temple was rebuilt and  enlarged in the 15th–16th century.
The original structure was destroyed byMahmud Begadain 1473.
The temple became part of theChar Dhampilgrimage considered sacred byHindusin India.Adi Shankara, the 8th century Hindu theologian and philosopher, visited the shrine. The other three being comprisingRameswaram,BadrinathandPuri. Even today a memorial within the temple is dedicated to his visit. Dwarakadheesh is the 98thDivya DesamofVishnuon the subcontinent, glorified in theDivya Prabandhasacred texts.The temple is at an elevation of 12.19 metres (40.0 ft) above mean sea-level. It faces west. The temple layout consists of agarbhagriha(NijamandiraorHarigraha) and anantarala(an antechamber).However, the existing temple is dated to 16th century.
As per Hindu legend, Dwarka was built on a piece of land by Krishna that was reclaimed from the sea. According to theMahabharata, the sageDurvasaonce visited Krishna and his wifeRukmini. The sage wished that the pair took him to their palace, demanding that they pull his chariot like horses. The pair agreed and started to carry the sage, even as the latter struck Rukmini when she fell.After some distance, according to local tradition, Rukmini got tired and she requested some water from Krishna. Krishna dug a hole with his powers that brought in riverGangato the place. Durvasa was furious and cursed Rukmini to remain in the place. The temple where Rukmini's shrine is found, is believed to be the place where she stood.In the epic, finding no fault with the divine couple, Durvasa blessed Krishna with invincibility everywhere except the soles of his feet, and declared that Rukmini would be the foremost of the deity's spouses and would be his eternal companion in the next world as well.
The town ofDwarkainGujarathas a history that dates back centuries, and mentioned in theMahabharataepic as theDwaraka kingdom. Situated on the banks of river Gomti, the town is described in legend as the capital ofKrishna.  Evidence such as a stone block with script, the way the stones were dressed showing that dowels had been used, and an examination of anchors found on the site suggest that the harbour site dates only to historical times, with some of the underwater structure being late Medieval.Coastal erosionwas probably the cause of the destruction of what was an ancient port.
In the fifteenth century the Raja of Dwarka was aVadhelnamed Bhim who also ruled the localVagherpirates. Once amaulananamed Mahmud Samarqandi was undergoing a sea voyage when storm caused his vessel to go towards the coast of Dwarka. There the ship was attacked by Vagher pirates who plundered the ship, kidnapped his women, and left Mahmud and his sons adrift. Mahmud Samarqandi brought this matter toSultan Mahmudat his court inMustafabad. Thus the sultan decide to capture Dwarka and in 1473 began marching towards the city. The Raja of Dwarka Bhim and his Rajputs fled the city to the island fortress ofBet, allowing Mahmud Begada to plunder Dwarka, destroy buildings and the Dwarkadhish temple and destroy its idol.However according to a Rangarajan, citing a Gujarati article by Jayantilal Thaker, the Veghars "did their utmost to defend" the temple.
The current image of Dvārakādhīśa was installed by Aniruddhaśrama Śaṅkarācārya in 1559.
The temple has an east–west length of 29 m and north–south width of 23 m. The temple is constructed of limestone and has intricate carvings.
It is a five storied edifice built over 72 pillars (sandstone temple with 60 pillars is also mentioned).There are two important entrances to the temple, one is the main entry door which is called theMoksha Dvara(meaning "Door to Salvation") and the exit door which is known as theSvarga Dvara(meaning: "Gate to Heaven").Outside this doorway are 56 steps that leads to the Gomati River.
The temple spire rises to a height of 78 metres (256 ft).A flag, hoisted over the spire, shows the sun and moon, which is believed to indicate that Krishna would be there until the sun and moon exist on Earth.The flag, triangular in shape, is 50 feet (15 m) in length. This flag is changed four times a day with a new one and devotees pay a huge sum of money to hoist it by purchasing a new flag. The money received on this account is credited to the trust fund of the temple to meet the operation and maintenance expenses of the temple.
Since this site is associated with the ancient city ofDvārakāand theVedic eraKrishna ofMahabharata, it is an important place ofpilgrimageforHindus. It is one of three main pilgrimage sites related to"Krishna"circuit, namely48 kos parikrama of KurukshetrainHaryanastate,Braj ParikarmainMathuraofUttar Pradeshstate andDwarka Parikrama(Dwarkadish Yatra) at Dwarkadhish Temple inGujaratstate.
Though the origins are not clearly known, theAdvaitaschool of Hinduism established byAdi Shankara, who created Hindu monastic institutions across India, attributes the origin of Char Dham to the seer.The four monasteries are located across the four corners of India and their attendant temples are Badrinath Temple at Badrinath in the North,Jagannath Templeat Puri in the East, Dwarakadhish Temple at Dwarka in the West and Ramanathaswamy Temple at Rameswaram in the South. Though ideologically the temples are divided between the sects of Hinduism, namelyShaivismandVaishnavism, the Char Dham pilgrimage is an all Hindu affair.The journey across the four cardinal points in India is considered sacred by Hindus who aspire to visit these temples once in their lifetime.Traditionally the trip starts are the eastern end from Puri, proceeding in clockwise direction in a manner typically followed for circumambulation in Hindu temples.
The temple is open from 6.00 am to 1.00 pm and 5.00 pm to 9.30 pm. TheKrishna Janmashtamifestival, or Gokulashtami, the birthday of Krishna was commissioned by Vallaba (1473-1531).
According to a legend,Meera Bai, the famed Rajput princess who was also a poetess-saint and a staunch devotee of Krishna, merged with the deity at this temple.It is one of the Sapta Puri, the seven holy cities of India.
The temple is near theDvaraka Pitha, one of the fourpithas(religious centers) established byAdi Shankara(686-717 CE) who pioneered unification ofHindureligious beliefs in the country.
The Dwarkadhish Jagat Mandir was awarded the certificate of "World Amazing Place" on 22 March 2021 by theWorld Talent Organization, New Jersey, USA.