City: Dwarka State: Gujarat Location: West India Year of Construction: Re-constructed in 15th / 16th century Constructed By: Lord Krishna's grandson, Vajranabha Type of Construction: Ancient Type of Building: Temple Managed By: Dwarkadheesh Devasthan Samiti Dedicated To: Lord Krishna Religion: Hinduism Festival: Sri Krishna Janmashtami Pooja Schedule: Daily Nearby Cities: Jamnagar Shri Dwarkadhish Temple In Dwarka Gujarat:- The city of Dwarka, meaning gateway to moksha or salvation hosts another significant temple of Shri Krishna.
It is said that lord spent close to hundred years of his life in this holy city. The city is believed to have been immersed in the sea after lord left for heavenly abode. Dwarka is also popularly known as city of gold. About Shri Dwarkadhish Temple In Dwarka Gujarat Dwarka, located in the state of Gujarat, is revered as one of the Chardhams (the four most scared pilgrimage centers) of India and is associated with Lord Krishna's life. Renowned in myth and legend, the city of Dwarka was once the capital of Lord Krishna's empire and it is believed that he had settled there after leaving Mathura, thousands of years ago.
According to the epic Mahabharata, when the Lord finally abandoned his body, the holy city was submerged by the sea. The entire city was revealed by marine excavations and like its ancient counterpart, today Dwarka stands poised on the edge of the Kutchh peninsula, facing the Arabian sea and the gateway to western India. The majestic Dwarkadhish Temple (Jagat Mandir) at Dwarka is one of the most imposing structures of Hindu architecture on the confluence of river Gomti and the Arabian Sea. This is a five-storey high temple, built on seventy-two pillars. It is said that Vajranabha (Lord Krishna's grandson) built the original temple of Dwarkadhish over the Hari-griha (Lord Krishna's residential palace). There are two entrances to the Dwarkadhish temple - the north entrance (main entrance) is called "Moksha Dwara" (Door to Salvation) and the south entrance is called "Swarga Dwara" (Gate to Heaven). LEGEND An interesting legend surrounds the idol installed at this temple. It is said that, taking pity on his old devotee Badana, who used to traverse the long distance from Dakor to Dwarka, God in the form of an idol went with him to Dakor. This enraged the priests at Dwarka, who chased Badana to retrieve the idol. Badana persuaded the priests to leave the deity in return of gold, where upon the priests agreed to withdraw. By a miracle, the idol became as light as the nose-ring, which was all that the poor widow could offer.
But the Lord didnot want to disappoint the priests. He therefore granted them a boon that they will find a replica in Dwarka on a particular day. Unable to resist their curiosity, the priests excavated at the suggested site a little too early, and found yet to grow idol, which is now enshrined at Dwarka. Description The temple of Jagat Mandir, with the presiding deity of Shri Krishna known as Dwarkadhish, is an imposing edifice and a superb architectural monument. Having a plinth area of 1800 square feet, the temple consists of a shrine that is supported by 60 pillars of granite and sandstone.
The seven-storey edifice gradually rises to a height of 170 feet. The spire is unique for the view it presents and the experience it induces. Beautifully sculpted sandstone wall enthralls the visitors and the ambulating devotees. n the west side of the temple is the seat of Adi Shankaracharya, the great master of Hindu faith who visited the temple in the seventh century. For the scholars, a wall poster depicting the family tree tracing the lineage to Lord Krishna offers an interesting insight into the great Indian epic of Mahabharat.