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Dwaraka Kshetra - Moksha Puri, Char Dham, Kingdom of Sri Krishna and Nageshwara Jyotirlinga

• Meditation:

अयोध्या मथुरा माया काशी काञ्ची अवन्तिका ।
पुरी द्वारावती चैव सप्तैते मोक्षदायकाः ॥
- Sapta Mokshapuri Sloka (Dwaraka is a Moksha Puri)

कृष्ण गोविन्द हे राम नारायण श्रीपते वासुदेवाजित श्रीनिधे ।
अच्युतानन्त हे माधवाधोक्षज द्वारकानायक द्रौपदीरक्षक ॥
- Achyutashtakam - verse 4 (Sri Krishna had his kingdom in Dwaraka)

परल्यां वैद्यनाथं च डाकिन्यां भीमाशंकरम् ।
सेतुबंधे तु रामेशं नागेशं दारुकावने ॥
- Dwadasa Jyotirlinga Stotra - verse 2 (Dwarka has the Nageshwara Jyotirlinga)

• Dwarka (Devbhoomi Dwarka district, Gujarat) → (Moksha Puri) (Divya Desam) [Thiru Dwarakai Divya Desam] (Jyotirlinga) [Nageshwara Jyotirlinga] (All India Char Dham)

• Greatness:

• Dwarka is a Moksha Puri (Bestower of Liberation) [Ayodhya, Mathura, Maya, Kashi, Kanchi, Avantika, Dwaravati]

• Dwarka is a Divya Desam (Glorified by Alvars) [Thiru Dwarakai Divya Desam]

• Dwarka has a Jyotirlinga (Linga of Jyoti) [Somanatha, Mallikarjuna, Mahakaleshwara, Omkareshwara, Kedarnatha, Bhimashankara, Vishwanatha, Tryambakeshwara, Vaidyanatha, Nageshwara, Rameshwara, Grishneshwara] [Nageshwara Jyotirlinga]

• Dwarka is a All India Char Dham (4 sacred pilgrimages on the North, East, South and West of India) [Badrinath, Puri, Rameshwaram, Dwarka]

• Dwarka is primarily a Krishna Sthalam (Pilgrimage of Krishna):
- Sri Krishna had his kingdom in Dwarka where he stayed for a long time (till his final departure), and performed various Leelas.

• Dwarka is also a Shiva Sthalam (Pilgrimage of Shiva):
- Lord Shiva abides in Dwarka as a Jyotirlinga (Linga of Jyoti) [Somanatha, Mallikarjuna, Mahakaleshwara, Omkareshwara, Kedarnatha, Bhimashankara, Vishwanatha, Tryambakeshwara, Vaidyanatha, Nageshwara, Rameshwara, Grishneshwara] [Nageshwara Jyotirlinga]
- Lord Shiva protected merchant devotee Supriya from the atrocities of demon Daruka (Nageshwara Jyotirlinga).

• Dwarka is also a Rishi Sthalam (Place of Rishis):
- Sage Durvasa cursed Devi Rukmini and later gave boons to the devotees of Sri Krishna and abided in Dwarka.

• Dwarka is also a Sant Sthalam (Place of Saints):
- Sri Adi Shankaracharya (788 - 820 CE?) had set up one of his four monasteries in Dwarka. The monastery is known as Dwarka Sharada Peetha.
- Sri Meerabai (1497 - 1557 CE) is said to have spent the last part of her life in Dwarka and finally merged with Lord Dwarkadheesh.

• Sacred Geography:

Gomti - Sagar Sangam — Dwarka - Sea Shore

☁ Sea Shore (Dwaraka Kshetra)
▬ River Gomati flows
◉ Gomati - Sagara Sangam (Confluence)
☸ Daruka Vana (Puranic)

• Gomti Ghat and Temples:
- Gomti Ghat
- Devi Gomti Temple
- Gomti-Sagar Sangam
- Samudra Narayan Temple

• Temples and Places:

• Temples and Places of Sri Krishna in Dwarka:

• Sri Krishna establishing Dwaraka and transporting the Yadavas there.
(Srimad Bhagavatam - Skanda 10 - 50)
• Sri Krishna and Balarama pretending to flee from Jarasandha and leaving for Dwaraka.
(Srimad Bhagavatam - Skanda 10 - 52)
• Sri Krishna marrying Devi Rukmini.
(Srimad Bhagavatam - Skanda 10 - 54)
• Sri Krishna marrying Jambavati, the daughter of Jambavan.
(Srimad Bhagavatam - Skanda 10 - 56)
• Sri Krishna marrying Satyabhama, the daughter of Satrajit.
(Srimad Bhagavatam - Skanda 10 - 56)
• Sri Krishna marrying Kalindi, the daughter of the Sun-god.
(Srimad Bhagavatam - Skanda 10 - 58)
• Sri Krishna killing demon Mura and his seven sons.
(Srimad Bhagavatam - Skanda 10 - 59)
• Sri Krishna killing demon Narakasura and destroying his entire army.
(Srimad Bhagavatam - Skanda 10 - 59)
• Sri Krishna taking the Parijata tree to Dwaraka after defeating Indra.
(Srimad Bhagavatam - Skanda 10 - 59)
• Sri Krishna destroying the pride of Banasura.
(Srimad Bhagavatam - Skanda 10 - 63)
• Sri Krishna killing Paundraka (the false Vasudeva), Kasiraja and Sudakshina.
(Srimad Bhagavatam - Skanda 10 - 66)
• Sri Krishna showing Narada his many forms doing simultaneous activities in different palaces of Dwaraka.
(Srimad Bhagavatam - Skanda 10 - 69)
• Sri Krishna killing Salva who laid seige in Dwaraka.
(Srimad Bhagavatam - Skanda 10 - 77)
• Sri Krishna killing Dantavakra and Viduratha.
(Srimad Bhagavatam - Skanda 10 - 78)
• Sri Krishna receiving Sudama, accepting his flattened rice and turning his humble house into palace.
(Srimad Bhagavatam - Skanda 10 - 80 to 81)

► Dwarka - Dwarkadheesh Temple
(Devbhoomi Dwarka district, Gujarat)

Dwarkadheesh Temple is the main temple of Sri Krishna in Dwarka. This is also known as Jagat Mandir. This is identified with the place of the palace of Sri Krishna in Dwarka.

Bet Dwarka Temple, Devbhoomi Dwarka district, Gujarat

► Dwarka - Bet (Beyt) Dwarka Temple
(Devbhoomi Dwarka district, Gujarat)

Bet (Beyt) Dwarka Temple near Okha which is around 30 km from Dwarka is also identified with the place of the palace of Sri Krishna in Dwarka.

• Curse of sage Durvasa
(Skanda Purana - Dwaraka Mahatmya - 2 to 3)

► Dwarka - Devi Rukmini Temple
(Devbhoomi Dwarka district, Gujarat)

Devi Rukmini Temple is around 2 km away from the Dwarkadheesh Temple. Due to the curse of sage Durvasa the temples of Sri Krishna and Devi Rukmini are separate in Dwarka.

• Boon of sage Durvasa
(Skanda Purana - Dwaraka Mahatmya - 4)

► Dwarka - Dwarkadheesh Temple (Shrine of sage Durvasa)
(Devbhoomi Dwarka district, Gujarat)

The shrine of sage Durvasa is within the Dwarkadheesh Temple.

• Sri Krishna delivering king Nrga from the form of a lizard.
(Srimad Bhagavatam - Skanda 10 - 64)
• Sri Krishna delivering king Nriga
(Skanda Purana - Dwaraka Mahatmya - 10)

Sri Krishna delivering king Nriga from his curse

Nriga Kund, Devbhoomi Dwarka district, Gujarat

► Dwarka - Nriga Kund or Krikalasa Kund
(Devbhoomi Dwarka district, Gujarat)

Nriga Kund or Krikalasa Kund is identified with the place where Sri Krishna delivered king Nriga.

• Sri Krishna meeting Gopis in Dwaraka
(Skanda Purana - Dwaraka Mahatmya - 12 to 13)

► Dwarka - Gopi Talav
(Devbhoomi Dwarka district, Gujarat)

Gopi Talav is identified with the Lake which Sri Krishna created for the Gopis. Gopi Chandana is available in this place. Gopi Talav is around 20 km from Dwarka on the way to Bet Dwarka.

• Temples and Places of various Gods in Dwarka:

• Panchanada Tirtha
(Skanda Purana - Dwaraka Mahatmya - 14)

► Dwarka - Brahma Kund
(Devbhoomi Dwarka district, Gujarat)

The Brahma Kund is present in Dwarka which is quite close to the main temple.

Gomati Tirtha, Devbhoomi Dwarka district, Gujarat

Kushavati Tirtha, Devbhoomi Dwarka district, Gujarat

► Dwarka - Panchanada Tirtha (Pandava Wells)
(Devbhoomi Dwarka district, Gujarat)

Dwarka does not visibly have five rivers. But there are five wells associated with five Pandava brothers, whose waters were invoked from five different rivers by five sages. The waters of these wells were sanctified by these sages. The taste of water of the five wells are different from each other and despite being situated near the sea, the water is relatively sweet.

The five wells are:
1. Gomati Tirtha (Marichi Rishi) - Bhima Kunda
2. Jambavati Tirtha (Angira Rishi) - Yudhishthira Kunda
3. Kushavati Tirtha (Atri Rishi) - Arjuna Kunda
4. Chandrabhaga Tirtha (Pulaha Rishi) - Nakula Kunda
5. Lakshmana Tirtha (Kratu Rishi) - Sahadeva Kunda

• Temples and Places of river Gomati in Dwarka:

• Penance of Kumaras and emergence of river Gomati
(Skanda Purana - Dwaraka Mahatmya - 5)

Gomti Ghat, Dwarka, Devbhoomi Dwarka district, Gujarat

► Dwarka - Gomti Ghat
(Devbhoomi Dwarka district, Gujarat)

River Gomti flows through Dwarka and merges with the Arabian Sea. There is a series of ghats built on the bank of river Gomti for the pilgrims.

Devi Gomti Temple, Dwarka, Devbhoomi Dwarka district, Gujarat

► Dwarka - Gomti Temple (with image of sage Vasishtha)
(Devbhoomi Dwarka district, Gujarat)

Gomti Temple is situated on one end of Gomti Ghat. There is an image of sage Vasishtha in that temple who led river Gomti to Dwarka.

• Gomati - Sagara Sangama
(Skanda Purana - Dwaraka Mahatmya - 8)

Gomti Sagar Sangam, Dwarka, Devbhoomi Dwarka district, Gujarat

Samudra Narayan Temple, Dwarka, Devbhoomi Dwarka district, Gujarat

► Dwarka - Gomti - Sagar Sangam
(Devbhoomi Dwarka district, Gujarat)

Gomati - Sagar Sangam is a very holy place in Dwarka where river Gomti merges with the Sea. The Samudra Narayan Temple is located there.

• Temples and Places of Lord Shiva in Dwarka:

• Siddheshwara and Rishi Tirtha
(Skanda Purana - Dwaraka Mahatmya - 15)

Siddheshwara Mahadev Temple, Devbhoomi Dwarka district, Gujarat

► Dwarka - Siddheshwar Mahadev Temple
(Devbhoomi Dwarka district, Gujarat)

The Siddheshwar Mahadev Temple is located in Dwarka quite close to the Dwarkadheesh Temple. This is a very ancient temple. There is a huge old banyan tree within the temple premises.

• Nageshwara Jyotirlinga - Lord Shiva protecting devotee Supriya from the atrocities of demon Daruka
(Shiva Purana - Koti Rudra Samhita - 29 to 30)

► Dwarka - Nageshwar Temple
(Devbhoomi Dwarka district, Gujarat)

Dwarka Nageshwar Temple is identified with the Nageshwara Jyotirlinga mentioned in the Shiva Purana. The temple is around 20 km from the Dwarka city.

• Temples (Summary):

• Krishna:
- Dwarkadheesh Temple
- Chakra Narayan Temple
- Nriga Kund
- Gopi Talav (20 km)
- Bet (Beyt) Dwarka (35 km)

• Devi Rukmini:
- Devi Rukmini Temple

• Brahma:
- Brahma Kund

• Shiva:
- Siddheshwar Mahadev Temple
- Nageshwar Temple (Jyotirlinga) (15 km)

• Others:
- Panchanada Tirtha,
- Manoratha Dwar (Cave)

• Saints:
- Dwarka Sharada Peetham (Adi Shankaracharya) (788 - 820 CE?)

• Puranic Events:

1. Presence of Sri Krishna in Dwarka: (Srimad Bhagavatam)
• Sri Krishna established his kingdom in Dwarka.
• Sri Krishna abducted Rukmini and married her in Dwarka.

2. Presence of Sri Krishna in Dwarka: (Skanda Purana - Dwaraka Mahatmya)
• Sage Durvasa cursed Devi Rukmini due to which she got separated from Sri Krishna in Dwarka. She has a separate temple in Dwarka.
• Sage Durvasa abided in Dwarka at the request of Sri Krishna and gave boons to the devotees of Sri Krishna.
• Sri Krishna delivered king Nrga from the form of a lizard in Dwarka.
• Sri Krishna met the Gopis in Dwarka who were brought by Uddhava.

3. Presence of river Gomti in Dwarka: (Skanda Purana - Dwaraka Mahatmya)
• Lord Brahma instructed river Ganga to descend in Dwarka by following sage Vasishtha. Ganga became known as Gomti.

4. Presence of Lord Shiva in Dwarka: (Shiva Purana)
• Nageshwara Jyotirlinga: Dwarka Kshetra has the Nageshwara Jyotirlinga where Lord Shiva protected merchant devotee Supriya from the atrocities of demon Daruka.

5. Presence of Sages in Dwarka: (Skanda Purana - Dwaraka Mahatmya)
• Sage Durvasa cursed Devi Rukmini and later gave boons to the devotees of Sri Krishna and abided in Dwarka.

• Puranic References:

• Srimad Bhagavatam - Skanda 10 - 50 (About Sri Krishna in Dwarka)
• Skanda Purana - Dwaraka Mahatmya (About Dwarka)
• Shiva Purana - Koti Rudra Samhita - 29 to 30 (About Nageshwara Jyotirlinga)

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