Dwaraka Kshetra (Dwarka) - Kingdom of Sri Krishna, Lord Nageshwar

• Meditation:

► Dwarka: I meditate on Sri Krishna ruling from his kingdom at Dwarka.
► Nageshwara Jyotirlinga: I meditate on Lord Shiva protecting devotee Supriya from the atrocities of demon Daruka.

• Greatness:

Dwaraka Kshetra (Dwarka) (Nageshwara Jyotirlinga):

Dwarka Krishna Temple, Devbhoomi Dwarka district, Gujarat

Nageshwar Temple, Devbhoomi Dwarka district, Gujarat

Dwarka (Dwaravati) (Devbhoomi Dwarka district, Gujarat):
☁ Sea Shore (Dwarka)
▬ River Gomti
◉ Gomti-Sagar Sangam (Confluence)
☸ Daruka Vana (Puranic)

Krishna: Dwarkadheesh Temple, Chakra Narayan Temple, Nriga Kund, Gopi Talav (20 km), Bet (Beyt) Dwarka (35 km)
Devi: Devi Rukmini Temple
Gomati Ghat: Gomati Ghat, Devi Gomti Temple, Gomti-Sagar Sangam, Samudra Narayan Temple
Brahma: Brahma Kund
Others: Panchanada Tirtha, Manoratha Dwar (Cave)
Shiva: Siddheshwar Mahadev Temple, Nageshwar Temple (Jyotirlinga) (15 km)

◍ Greatness:

1. Moksha Puri: Dwarka is one of the seven Moksha Puris, a sacred place bestowing liberation (Ayodhya, Mathura, Maya, Kashi, Kanchi, Avantika, Dwaravati).

2. All India Char Dham: Dwarka is one of the four All India Char Dham (Badrinath, Puri, Rameshwaram, Dwarka).

3. Kingdom of Sri Krishna: Sri Krishna established his kingdom at Dwaraka.

4. Divya Desam: Dwarka is one of the Divya Desam (Thiru Dwarakai).

5. Jyotirlinga: Dwarka Nageshwar is identified with the Nageshwara Jyotirlinga. Where Lord Shiva protected devotee Supriya from the atrocities of demon Daruka.

◍ 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)
• Sapta Mokshapuri Sloka

• Places to See:

Presence of Sri Krishna in Dwarka:
• Kingdom of Sri Krishna: Sri Krishna established his kingdom in Dwarka. (Srimad Bhagavatam - Skanda 10 - 50)
• Deeds Sri Krishna: The deeds of Sri Krishna while in Dwarka are: • Sri Krishna abducted Rukmini, the daughter of Bhishmaka (Srimad Bhagavatam - Skanda 10 - 53). • Sri Krishna defeated and disfigured Rukmi, the brother of Rukmini (Srimad Bhagavatam - Skanda 10 - 54). • Sri Krishna married Rukmini (Srimad Bhagavatam - Skanda 10 - 54). • Sri Krishna retrieved the Symantaka jewel from Jambavan (Srimad Bhagavatam - Skanda 10 - 56). • Sri Krishna married Jambavati, the daughter of Jambavan (Srimad Bhagavatam - Skanda 10 - 56). • Sri Krishna returnd the Symantaka jewel to Satrajit (Srimad Bhagavatam - Skanda 10 - 56). • Sri Krishna married Satyabhama, the daughter of Satrajit (Srimad Bhagavatam - Skanda 10 - 56). • Sri Krishna killed Shatadhanva who stole the Syamantaka jewel (Srimad Bhagavatam - Skanda 10 - 57). • Sri Krishna visited the Pandavas at Indraprastha (Srimad Bhagavatam - Skanda 10 - 58). • Sri Krishna married Kalindi, the daughter of the Sun-god (Srimad Bhagavatam - Skanda 10 - 58). • Sri Krishna built a city for the Pandavas through Vishwakarma (Srimad Bhagavatam - Skanda 10 - 58). • Sri Krishna offered the Khandava forest to Agni (Srimad Bhagavatam - Skanda 10 - 58). • Sri Krishna abducted Mitravinda, the sister of the king of Avanti (Srimad Bhagavatam - Skanda 10 - 58). • Sri Krishna married Satya, the daughter of king Nagnajit of Ayodhya after subduing seven ferocious bulls (Srimad Bhagavatam - Skanda 10 - 58). • Sri Krishna married Lakshmana after abducting her from the Syayamvara ceremony (Srimad Bhagavatam - Skanda 10 - 58). • Sri Krishna married Bhadra, the sister of Santardana (Srimad Bhagavatam - Skanda 10 - 58). • Sri Krishna killed demon Mura and his seven sons (Srimad Bhagavatam - Skanda 10 - 59). • Sri Krishna killed demon Narakasura and destroyed his entire army (Srimad Bhagavatam - Skanda 10 - 59). • Sri Krishna took the Parijata tree to Dwaraka after defeating Indra (Srimad Bhagavatam - Skanda 10 - 59). • Sri Krishna married the sixteen thousand and one hundred women who were held captive by Narakasura (Srimad Bhagavatam - Skanda 10 - 59). • Sri Krishna teased Rukmini and later consoled her (Srimad Bhagavatam - Skanda 10 - 60). • Sri Krishna destroyed the pride of Banasura (Srimad Bhagavatam - Skanda 10 - 63). • Sri Krishna delivered king Nrga from the form of a lizard (Srimad Bhagavatam - Skanda 10 - 64). • Sri Krishna killed Paundraka (the false Vasudeva), Kasiraja and Sudakshina. (Srimad Bhagavatam - Skanda 10 - 66). • Sri Krishna showed Narada his many forms doing simultaneous activities in different palaces of Dwaraka. (Srimad Bhagavatam - Skanda 10 - 69). • Sri Krishna went to Indraprastha to attend the Rajasuya Yagna of king Yudhishthira (Srimad Bhagavatam - Skanda 10 - 71). • Sri Krishna killed Jarasandha through Bhima and released the kings (20,800) held captive by Jarasandha (Srimad Bhagavatam - Skanda 10 - 72). • Sri Krishna killed Sishupala during the Rajasuya yagna of king Yudhishthira and liberated him (Srimad Bhagavatam - Skanda 10 - 74). • Sri Krishna killed Salva who laid seige in Dwaraka (Srimad Bhagavatam - Skanda 10 - 77). • Sri Krishna killed Dantavakra and Viduratha (Srimad Bhagavatam - Skanda 10 - 78). • Sri Krishna visited Vrindavana for two months (Srimad Bhagavatam - Skanda 10 - 78). • Sri Krishna received Sudama with great joy when he visits Dwaraka (Srimad Bhagavatam - Skanda 10 - 80). • Sri Krishna accepted the flattened rice of Sudama and turned his humble house into palace (Srimad Bhagavatam - Skanda 10 - 81). • Sri Krishna met the inhabitants of Vrindavana at Kurukshetra during a solar eclipse (Srimad Bhagavatam - Skanda 10 - 82). • Sri Krishna instructed Vasudeva about divine knowledge (Srimad Bhagavatam - Skanda 10 - 85). • Sri Krishna brought back the dead sons of Devaki (Srimad Bhagavatam - Skanda 10 - 85). • Sri Krishna graced the brahmana devotee Shrutadeva and king devotee Bahulashva at Mithila (Srimad Bhagavatam - Skanda 10 - 86). • Sri Krishna saved Arjuna from his resolve of entering fire by retrieving a Brahmana's son (Srimad Bhagavatam - Skanda 10 - 89).
► Dwarkadheesh Temple 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 (Beyt) Dwarka Temple 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: Sage Durvasa cursed Devi Rukmini due to which she got separated from Sri Krishna in Dwaraka. (Skanda Purana - Dwaraka Mahatmya - 2 to 3)
► Devi Rukmini Temple 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: Sage Durvasa was pleased with the service of Sri Krishna. Sri Krishna asked for the boon that the sage abide there always. Sage Durvasa agreed under the condition that Sri Krishna also abide there permanently. Thereafter, sage Durvasa and Sri Krishna pronounced fruits for the devotees visiting their shrines. (Skanda Purana - Dwaraka Mahatmya - 4)
► Dwarkadheesh Temple (Shrine of sage Durvasa) The shrine of sage Durvasa is within the Dwarkadheesh Temple.
• Sri Krishna delivering king Nriga: Sri Krishna delivered king Nriga from the curse of becoming a lizard. (Skanda Purana - Dwaraka Mahatmya - 10)
► Nriga Kund or Krikalasa Kund Nriga Kund or Krikalasa Kund is identified with the place where Sri Krishna delivered king Nriga.
• Sri Krishna meeting Gopis in Dwaraka: After killing Kamsa and making Ugrasena the king, Sri Krishna sent Uddhava to Gokula. Uddhava met the Gopis who requested him to take them to Sri Krishna. Uddhava brought the Gopis to Dwarka. Sri Krishna met the Gopis and as per their wish created a Lake in their name. (Skanda Purana - Dwaraka Mahatmya - 12 to 13)
► Gopi Talav Gopi Talav is identified with the Lake which Sri Krishna created for the Gopis. Gopi Chandana is available in this place.

Presence of various Gods in Dwarka:
• Panchanada Tirtha: After Sri Krishna came to Dwaraka, other gods also came there and created individual Tirthas. These include: 1. Brahma Tirtha (Brahma Kunda) 2. Surya Tirtha 3. Chandra Tirtha (Lake) 4. Savitri Tirtha 5. Indra Tirtha (Indrapada Lake) with Indreshwara Shiva Linga 6. Shiva Tirtha (Mahadeva Lake) 7. Parvati Tirtha (Gauri Lake) 8. Varuna Tirtha (Varunapada Lake) 9. Kubera Tirtha (Yakshadhipa Lake) Also, gods invoked five rivers in Dwaraka which were sanctified by five sages. The five rivers are: 1. River Gomati 2. River Lakshmana 3. River Chandrabhaga 4. River Kushavati 5. River Jambavati The five sages are Marichi, Atri, Angirasa, Pulaha and Kritra. (Skanda Purana - Dwaraka Mahatmya - 14)
► Brahma Kund The Brahma Kund is present in Dwarka which is quite close to the main temple.
► Panchanada Tirtha (Pandava Wells) 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

Presence of river Gomati in Dwarka:
• Penance of Kumaras and emergence of river Gomati: The Kumaras performed penance in Dwaraka and got the vision of Lord Vishnu. Lord Brahma instructed river Ganga to descend in Dwaraka by following sage Vasishtha. Ganga became known as Gomati. (Skanda Purana - Dwaraka Mahatmya - 5)
► Gomti Ghat 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.
► Gomti Temple (Image of sage Vasishtha) 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: It is highly meritorious to visit the Gomati - Sagara Sangama (Confluence of river Gomati with the Sea) and perform sharaddha for the forefathers accompanied by charity. (Skanda Purana - Dwaraka Mahatmya - 8)
► Gomati - Sagar Sangam Gomati - Sagar Sangam is a very holy place in Dwarka where river Gomti merges with the Sea. The Samudra Narayan Temple is located there.

Presence of Lord Shiva in Dwarka:
• Siddheshwara and Rishi Tirtha: The Kumaras (Sanaka etc) worshipped Lord Shiva in Dwarka accompanied by the performance of Yoga. Lord Brahma named the Shiva Linga as Siddheshwara and the place as Rishi Tirtha. (Skanda Purana - Dwaraka Mahatmya - 15)
► Dwarka Siddheshwar Mahadev 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 protected devotee Supriya from the atrocities of demon Daruka. (Shiva Purana - Koti Rudra Samhita - 29 to 30)
► Dwarka Nageshwar Dwarka Nageshwar Temple is identified with the Nageshwara Jyotirlinga mentioned in the Shiva Purana. The temple is around 20 km from the Dwarka city.

• Location:

Dwarkadheesh Temple, Devbhoomi Dwarka district, Gujarat

Dwarka is located in the Devbhoomi Dwarka district of Gujarat.

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