Dwarka Dwarkadhish Temple
Panch Dwarka Temples | Five Ancient Sri Krishna Temples in Gujarat, Rajasthan…. Panch Dwarka refers to a set of five sacred temples of Lord Krishna, located in western India i.e., Gujarat and Rajasthan. The Panch Dwarka temples are Dwarkadish Temple (Dwarka), Bet Dwarka, Ranchhodraiji Temple (Dakor), Shrinathji Temple (Nathdwara) and Dwarikadhish Temple (Kankroli)
The Pancha Dwaraka temples are five holy places in Gujarat and Rajasthan that are dedicated to Lord Krishna:
- Dwarkadhish Temple (Dwarka)
- Bet Dwarka (Dwaraka)
- Shrinathji Temple (Nathdwara)
- Ranchhodraiji Temple (Dakor)
- Dwarkadhish Temple (Kankroli)
The Dwarkadhish Temple, also known as the Jagat Mandir and occasionally spelled Dwarakadheesh, is a Hindu temple dedicated to Krishna, who is worshiped here by the name Dwarkadhish (Dvārakādhīśa), or ‘King of Dwarka’. The temple is located at Dwarka city of Gujarat, India, which is one of the destinations of Char 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.
This Vaishnava temple is located in the center of Dwarka and is believed to be over 2,200 years old. It was built by Vajranabha, Krishna’s great-grandson, in the Chalukya style of architecture. The original structure was destroyed by Mahmud Begada in 1473.
The temple became part of the Char Dham pilgrimage considered sacred by Hindus in India. Adi Shankara, the 8th century Hindu theologian and philosopher, visited the shrine. The other three being comprising Rameswaram, Badrinath and Puri.
Bet Dwarka – Dwarka – One of The Panch Dwarka Temple in Gujarat or a pilgrimage to the 5 abodes of Lord Krishna Situated around 30 km from the main town of Dwarka, Beyt Island Bet Dwarka is also known as Shankhodar which is a moderately populated island lying in the mouth of Gulf of Kutch that is 3 km away from the Okha coast of Gujarat. . It is believed to be the home of Lord Krishna when he was the king of Dwarka. It was here where Lord Krishna exchanged the bags of rice with his friend Sudama – as the story goes.
Bet Dwarka is mentioned prominently in Skanda Purana and Mahabharata. Historians and scholars have identified Bet Dwarka as the place where members of the Yadav clan travel to by boats. There are many beautiful temples like Dwarkadhish temple and Keshav Ji temple in Bet Dwarka. Many devotees throng to Hanuman Dandi and Mahaprabhu Bethak which are also major places of worship.
The Shrinathji Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to Shrinathji (a form of Krishna) located in Nathdwara. It is considered an important pilgrimage centre by Vaishnavas.
The svarupa or divine form of Shrinathji is said to be self-manifested. According to the legend, the deity Krishna self-manifested from a stone and emerged from the Govardhan Hills. First of all, Shravan Shukla Panchami (Nag Panchami) no. On the day of 1466, when a Braj resident went to Govardhan Mountain to search for his lost cow, he saw the raised left arm of Shri Govardhanathji. He called other Braj residents and made them see the raised left arm. Then an old Braj resident said that Lord Shri Krishna had protected the Braj residents, the cows of Braj and Braj from the wrath of Indra by carrying Giriraj Govardhan on the finger of his left hand. Then the people of Braj worshiped his left arm. This is the same left arm of Lord Krishna. He is standing in the Lord Kandara and now only his left arm is being shown. No one should try to extract the form of God by digging a mountain. His form will be visible only when he wishes. After this, for about 69 years, the people of Braj used to bathe this upper arm with milk, worship it, offer it and worship it. A fair started being held here every year on the day of Nag Panchami.
Dakor is famous for Ranchorji temple of Lord Krishna. Ranchor is the name given to Lord Krishna when he fled from the battlefield in Mathura while fighting against Jarasandha. Sri Nathji Located in Shri Nathadwara in Rajasthan (India) is an absolutely beautiful black marble Deity of Lord Krishna, standing with His hand upraised lifting Govardhana Hill. Shamlaji Temple stands on the banks of the river Meshwo, in veneration of Lord Vishnu. It is believed that Shamalji shrine has existed for at least 500 years.
It is believed that Ranchhodji, a name for Lord Krishna meaning “he who left the battlefield”, inspired Gopal Jagannath Ambekar, a shroff of a Peshwa’s court in Poona, with a dream to build a vast and magnificent temple. The temple was built in 1772 AD.
Dwarkadhish Ji is a Hindu Temple, situated on the southern bank of the Rajsamand lake in Kankroli. The temple commands a very fine view of the lake. This temple is temple is dedicated to Dwarkadhish Ji, one of the seven swaroops of Pushtimarg of Vallabhacharya.
Temple is built in haveli form and beauty of the temple tends to be enhanced because of the lush greenery of the surroundings. More and more additions were done to the temple complex over the time. The temple sits on the high bank of Rajsamand Lake. The shikhar is generally a noticeable characteristic decorated with various sculptures.
The priest and attendants of the temples are Gosains, whose ancestors were Brijwasis. (inhabitants of Brij).
Festivals are held in the tradition of Pushtimarg.
- Janamashtami
- Nanda Mahotsava
- Deepawali
- Annkuta
- Patotsava
- Phag in Phalgun month
- Holi
- Dolotsava
- Ramnavmi
- Akshaya Tritiya
- Various Ratha Yatras
“PANCH KRISHNA MAHARAJ KI JAI”
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