Holy Places of Dwarka (Outside Jagat Mandir)
Om! Sri Raghavendraya Namaha!
Om! Namo! Bhagavathe! Vasudevaya!
Om! Ham! Hanumathe! Sri Rama Doothaya Namaha!
(Gomati Sangam Ghat at Dwarka)Holy Places of Dwarka
(Outside Jagat Mandir)
Going out of the south gate of Jagat Mandir called Swarga Dwar, climbing down 56 steps, one can reach Gomati ghat where sacred river Gomati flows. At the request of great Sages the river Ganges descended from Heaven along with the sage Vasista and manifested at this place as Gomati. Moving further down to the right side, the river Gomati meets the ocean and the point of confluence is known as Gomati Sangam. This is the point where Lord Sri Maha Vishnu manifested along with his Sudarshana Chakra and gave darshan to Brahma Manasa Puthras (mind born sons of Lord Brahma). From Gomati Sangam 32 miles area along the banks of river Gomati on either side is called as Chakratheertha where one can still find wheel marked white porous type stones called as Dwarkashila or Chakrankitha. To the extreme end of the Sangam point across the Gomati Ghat on the right side one can find an imposing temple of Samudra Narayana.
There are as many as 12 Ghats across the sangam point which are renovated and made accessible to the pilgrims for taking bath as well as for performing sacred rites. Climbing down the steps from Swarga Dwar as you walk across these Ghats you will find number of small temples including that of Gomati Devi (the river Goddess). The temple of Jagat Mandir is located almost at the spot where Gomati meets the ocean.
There is a great significance for taking holy bath and performing sacred rites to forefathers at this Sangam point of sacred river Gomati where Lord Sri Krishna known to have taken bath several times. It is said that it will liberate one from the sins committed in the previous births and is regarded as the gate way to salvation. His ancestors belonging to three generations go to the abode of Vishnu and his accumulated sins of thousands of years get destroyed. Mere darshan of Gomati at Dwarka destroys all the sins, which are committed by thoughts, words and deeds.
Panchanad Theertha
On the other side of river Gomati there is a place called Panchanad Theertha. Having heard about the arrival of Lord Vishnu at Dwarka, five prominent sages like Marichi and others came to Dwarka to have a darshan of Dwarkapuri. They established a pilgrimage known as Panchanad Theertha and on their invocation five rivers arrived at their location. River Gomati came at the invocation of Sage Marichi, river Laxmana came at the invocation of Sage Athri, river Chandrabhaga came at the invocation of Sage Angirasa, river Kushawati came at the invocation of Sage Pulah and river Jambavathi arrived at the invocation of Sage Kratu respectively.
Today these five rivers are resembled as five sweet water wells surrounded by sea water. Generally on the sea shore we find water to be salty in taste. Whereas in Panchanad Theertha water from these wells taste sweet. This area is said to be the Tapo Bhoomi of eminent sage Durvasa. There is also a temple of Lord Lakshmi Narayana mounted on his vehicle Garuda. Outside the temple we find a portrait of Sage Durvasa under a tree. It is said that who ever aspires for salvation should take a bath in these wells. Since it is not possible to take bath here, one can at least taste the water. Panchanad Theertha is also referred to the visit of Pandavas to this place during Dwapara Yuga and five wells are called by their names. Water in each well differs in taste from that of the others.
Rukmani Devi Mandir
Rukmani Devi considered as the prime queen (Patrani) of Lord Sri Krishna, doesn’t have an exclusive temple inside the Jagat Mandir. The temple is located 2 km away from Dwarka on the way to Bhet Dwarka. There is a myth associated with it.
Once, Sri Krishna and Rukmani went to sage Durvasa to invite him to Dwarka. He agreed to it on a condition that they (Sri Krishna & Rukmani) have to pull the chariot carrying sage Durvasa. Sri Krishna & Rukmani happily agreed to do so. While driving the chariot, Rukmani became thirsty. She sought the help of Lord Sri Krishna. In order to bail her out, Sri Krishna stopped the chariot and made water of Holy River Ganga by digging with his toe on the ground. Annoyed by her action Sage Durvasa cursed Rukmani to live apart from Shri Krishna. As per local version it is said that, Rukmani Devi did penance for 12 years at this spot to get rid of the curse and finally pleased with her prayers, Lord Sri Maha Vishnu appeared and the curse got absolved.
At the spot where Rukmani Devi did the penance and Vishnu Padodhbhavi (Ganga) manifested as a spring through a Leela of Lord Sri Krishna a temple has come up, located 2 km away from Dwarka's Jagat Mandir. It is widely believed among the devotees that the pilgrimage is incomplete if a devotee doesn't go to offer prayers at Rukmani Temple even if he has worshiped the Lord at Dwarkadheesh temple. The temple is an architectural masterpiece. The temple walls are decorated with beautiful paintings depicting her pastimes with Sri Krishna. This temple is said to date back to the 12th century and is a holy place to be visited.
There is a beautiful marble idol of Rukmani Devi with Chaturbhuja, holding Shanka Chakra, Gada and Padma in four hands indicating that she is the avathara of Goddess Sri Maha Lakshmi the consort of Lord SriManNarayana.
Gopi Thalav (Gopi Thallava)
During His Childhood, Sri Krishna had played Rasa Leela many times with Gopikas (young female inhabitants of Brindavana). There is a myth that, after leaving Gokul Lord Sri Krishna never gone back to Brindavana, in spite of fervent appeals made by them. One day in order to provide them an opportunity to have his darshan, Lord Sri Krishna sent a message to Gokul through his close friend Uddhava. All the Gopis then followed Uddhava to Dwarka to have darshan of Lord Sri Krishna. After reaching Dwarka, the Gopis had darshan of Lord Sri Krishna on the banks of a Sarovar (lake) known as Maya Sarovar. After taking a bath in the Sarovar and playing Rasa Leela with Lord Sri Krishna once again, all the shackles of Gopis were shattered and the Maya got removed from their hearts.
Gopis were very dear to Lord Sri Krishna and He got another lake constructed at this place named after them and all the Gopis lived there and achieved salvation at the end. Hence, this lake became a sacred and holy place known as 'Gopi Talav'.
Taking bath in this lake and offering sacred rites to forefathers is considered to be sacred and highly meritorious. The sacred clay from Gopi-Tallava is yellow in colour and is extremely smooth. It is known as Gopi Chandana and is used regularly by followers of Lord Vishnu (Sri Krishna) especially the followers of Madhwa philosophy to make thilak marks on their bodies with its paste. Gopi Thalav also called Gopi Tallava is located 20km to the north of Dwarka on the way to Bhet Dwarka.
Bhet Dwarka
While Gomati Dwarka was the seat of Lord Sri Krishna’s administration, Bhet Dwarka was His residence where He used to reside along with his Queens. It is believed to be the same place where Sudhama (Kuchela), Lord Sri Krishna’s boyhood friend had met Him and gave "Bhet" (Gift) of "Tandulam (Poha)". Hence, it is called as Bhet-Dwarka. Also known as Bhet Shankhodhara Theertha, it is said to be the place where Lord Sri Maha Vishnu slew the demon called Shankasura.
There is a temple of Dwarkadheesh similar to the one at Dwarka (Jagat Mandir). Only difference we find is that, in Bhet Dwarka the Lord is holding his Conch in an oblique position whereas in Jagat Mandir it is held in a vertical position. Regular pooja/rituals are held in the temple on similar lines of Jagat Mandir. There is also a temple of Balarama next to Dwarkadheesh temple within the complex. There is a huge hall outside the temple said to have been the place where Lord Sri Krishna along with his consorts received and honoured Sudhama (Kuchela). There is big portrait depicting the picture of Lord Sri Krishna as said above. Before entering into the temple one has to go through the security check outside. Cameras and mobile phones are not allowed inside the temple complex.
It is said that, there are 20 Vishnu temples, 23 Shiva temples, 14 Devi temples, and 9 Hanuman temples in and around Bhet Dwarka. Famous among them are, Neelakanta Mahadev, Dhingeshwar Mahadev, Shankh Narayan and Abhay Mata temples, which are built on the old places in later part of eighteenth century. Bhet Dwarka also has an old temple of ‘Matsyavtar’ of Lord Vishnu. All these temples are outside the main temple of Dwarkadheesh. Among Hanuman temples the one at Hanuman Dandi, five km away from Dwarkadheesh temple is said to be worth mentioning.
Bhet Dwarka is said to be the remains of the land borrowed from the God of Ocean to build the original city of Dwarka that is believed to have submerged into the ocean after Sri Krishna’s Niryana. The sea around Dwarka is full of remains of sculptural and archeological significance and hence attracts scholars of history, archeology equally. Lot of research and excavation has taken place around Bhet Dwarka and some of the remains found have been assumed to be of historical period. From the excavations made at this place it is assumed that Bhet Dwarka was a port once upon a time and was destructed due to sea storms. It is said that a team of archeologists lead by Prof. S.R. Rao have conducted series of search campaigns at this place. They are said to have unearthed some of the remains of a well organized town assumed to have been Dwarka of Sri Krishna’s era that got submerged.
Bhet Dwarka is located 35 km to the north of Dwarka on an island in the middle of the Arabian Sea, next to the port town of Okha. From Okha port Bhet Dwarka is about 5 km distance by sea and it takes about twenty minutes by boat to reach this place. One has to necessarily cross the sea to reach Bhet Dwarka. Boats usually depart only when they are full, and they can seat a hundred passengers. Entire trip to the island from the town of Dwarka will take at least four hours. Okha is well connected by both rail and road.
Sri Krishnaarpanamasthu
NB
For more information on Dwarka Kshetra, please look forward for the coming posts.
Comments
Post a Comment