Dwaraka Shila (Chakraankitha)

DWARAKA SHILA (CHAKRAANKITHA) - Significance & Merits

Dwaraka Shila also called as Dwaravati Shila is a wheel (chakra) marked white porous type stones that are found in Gomati River at Dwaraka Kshethra. Chakra (Disc) mark is the most distinguishing feature of these stones, and hence they are also called as Chakraankitha Shila / ChakraAnka.

It is said that Brahma Manasa Puthras > Sanaka, Sananda, Sanatana, Sanatkumara did penance at this place for several thousands of years on the banks of the ocean worshipping Lord Vishnu.

As a result of which the Supreme God Vishnu appeared and manifested at this place along with Sudarshana Chakra. Hence, the Lord at this place is called as Chakra Narayana and the entire area of pilgrimage is known as Chakra Theertha.

The place where the river Gomati meets the ocean (Gomati Sangam) at Dwaraka Kshethra is known as Chakra Theertha where one can find Dwaraka Shila in the river bed.

During Dwapara Yuga, sage Durvasa came to this place to have Darshan of Lord Chakra Narayana, but, he was obstructed by the demons there. On praying Lord Trivikrama came to the rescue of Sage Durvasa and hence, this place is also known as Trivikrama Kshetra.

It is also significantly holy place where prominent sages like Athri, Marichi, Durvasa and Angirasa etc… made it as their abode and performed sacred penance and austerities.

Famous Nageshwar Jyothirlinga near Dwaraka is in the form of a large size Dwarakashila (Chakraankitha).

Many Pouranic scripts like Varaha Purana, Skanda Purana, Garuda Purana, Brahma Purana, and Prahlada Samhita have made reference to the merits and glory of Dwaraka Shila.

As per these scripts it is said that, whoever touches a Dwaraka Shila having the mark of a Vishnu-Chakra will become free of all sins.

Mere Darshana of a Dwaraka-Shila is said to fulfill all the desires. It is said that, without having doubt even if a sinful person worships a Dwaraka-Shila he becomes free from all his sins.

According to Dwaraka Mahatmya, it is said that a Shila marked with Chakras coming from Dwaraka is also called as Chakra-Tirtha.

It is highly sacred and meritorious to worship a Salagrama Shila along with Chakraankitha (Dwaraka Shila) since both are the manifested forms of Lord Vishnu and Dwaraka Shila is assumed as Lord Sri Krishna.

These Dwaraka Shilas are identified with different names based on the number of Chakra (disc) marks appearing on it, ranging from one to twelve and worshiping each specific one has its own merits. It is said that a Dwaraka Shila having...

ONE prominent Wheel (Chakra) is known as Sudarshana;

TWO Chakras is Lakshmi-Narayana;

THREE Chakras is Trivikrama;

FOUR Chakras is Janardhana;

FIVE Chakras is Vasudeva;

SIX Chakras is Pradhyumna;

SEVEN Chakras is Balabhadra;

EIGHT Chakras is called Purushottama;

NINE Chakras is known as Navavyuha;

TEN Chakras is Dashamurti (Dasavathara);

ELEVEN Chakras is Aniruddha;

TWELVE Chakras is Dwadasaatmaka; and

MORE than twelve Chakras is known as Ananta.

Besides giving materialistic benefits, worshiping these shilas along with Salagrama shows the path to salvation.

Generally, we come across Dwaraka Shilas that have more than 12 chakras. It is said that, in such a case the one with even numbered chakras are to be preferred.

Shape of the Dwarka Shila also determines the type of the Shila. Generally, round and square shaped shilas are preferred for worshiping which are but rare.

These stones also occur in different colours; but white stones are considered most suitable for worship. One can easily find these stones in the river bed of Gomati River while they are also sold across the Gomati Ghat.

It is believed and said that one should not buy or sell a Salagrama or Chakraankitha (Dwaraka Shila) and worshiping the one which is acquired by themselves is highly auspicious.

One has to take proper care in selecting these stones which has proper formation of Chakras with proper shape, without a hole, which is white in colour and unbroken.

Worshiping Chakraankitha with Thulasi Dala along with Salagrama is highly sacred and meritorious.

ChakraAnkitha (Dwaraka Shila) as reference to 

Sri KrishnaAmrutha-MahaArnava

Sri Madhvacharyaru has made an elaborate mention about Chakrankitha and its merits in Sri KrishnaAmrutha-MahaArnava (one of the Moola Granthas) in the following slokas...

bhaktyA vA yadi vA.abhaktyA chakrAN^kitashilAM prati |

darshanaM sparshanaM vA.api sarvapApapraNAshanam.h ||

Whether it be with devotion or without devotion, even mere sighting or contact of ‘chakrAN^kita’ and the (shAlagrAma) shilA destroys all sins.

shAlagrAmodbhavo devo devo dvArAvatIbhavaH |

ubhayoH saN^gamo yatra tatra muktirnasaMshayaH ||

SaAlagrama & Chakrankitha (from Dvaravati) have nitya/visesha saAnidhya of Lord Sri Hari; where confluence of both are present, there mukti occurs to the saadhaka, there is no doubt about it;

shAlagrAmodbhavaM devaM shailaM chakrAN^kamaNDitam.h |

yatrApi nIyate tatra vAraNasyAH shatAdhikam.h ||

With visesha/nitya saanNidya of Lord SriHari, the place where Salagrama/Chakrankita are present/worshipped that place is hundred times more meritorious than KaAsi kshethra;

Wherever there is a Saligrama, Lord SriHari exists there. SnaAna (bathing) and daAna (donations) made in such a place is a hundred times more meritorious than even Varanasi.

mlechchadeshe.ashuchau vA.api chakrAN^ko yatra tishhThati |

yojanAni tathA trINi mama xetraM vasundhare ||

(varAha purANa)

Even if it be in a mlechcha desha where ‘chakrAN^ka’ resides; there for a distance of three yojana-s is My Kshetra, O' Vasundhara (Bhoo-Devi).

Mere presence of Salagrama/Chakrankita renders sanctity to the surrounding area.

Even when sighting and handling of sAlagrAma/chakrAN^kita without understanding their true significance is beneficial, doing the same in proper fashion with the correct understanding that Bhagavantha (SriHari) is present in them, is a guarantor for mukti.

Salagrama/Chakrankitha which has nitya/visesha SriHari saAnnidya > nitya abhisheka/pooja/theertha praasana with proper anusandhana is highly meritorious that can get rid of even BramHa-hatya dosha.

Therefore, sAlagrAma/ChakraAnkitha are of such potency, there need be no doubt that one’s worship cannot be fruitful.

Sri VadiRaja Theertharu in his magnum opus 'Theertha Prabandha' has made a specific mention about Chakrankitha shila while eulogizing the glory of Dwaraka kshethra and Gomati river.

Sri Krushnaarpanamasthu

Hari Sarvottama - Vaayu Jeevottama

Sri GuruRaajo Vijayate