15/10/19 : Dwarka/Bet Dwarka

15/10/19 : Dwarka:

We got up early as we had to reach Dwarka township before 9am, after which the mandir would be closed.  We had our breakfast and all ready to go.  Both Raksha and Vir did not come, since it was hectic travel in the hot temperature. They planned to stay back and later to go around Lake Lakota, which had gardens and playgrounds for children.  Our car was waiting and we traveled on highway, the road was good and journey of nearly 22 Km went smoothly.  Dwarka itself was narrow roads and devotes were piling up.  Security was tight and both camera and mobiles had to be kept at the entrance. No photographs inside the mandir was allowed. Males and females were sent seperately after security check inside the enclosure.  We were in time for the aarti and we all met inside and proceeded towards the sanctuary. The temple, 5 storeys, nearly 100 feet, itself elaborately carved with ornate carvings but the temple inside is simple but the statue of Krishna is dressed up elaborately with ornaments. The temple had tall carved shikhar which a huge flag flying made from over 50 yards of cloth.  As the aarti was going on, the devotees was clapping and singing away. We were able to reach the sanctuary and could make darshan.  We walked off, looking around with devotees dancing around in a circle. 

We could not take picture of the deity but we got to see a poster of it and took a picture. Outside walking around we saw a cute boy dressed up as Shiva. Went around shopping a bit. Then drove off to Bet Dwarka.

 Dwarka:

The main temple at Dwarka, situated on Gomti creek, is known as jagat mandir (universal shrine) or trilok sundar (the most beautiful in all the three worlds). Originally believed to be built by Vajranabh, the great grandson of Lord Krishna, more than 2500 years ago, it is a glorious structure seeming to rise from the waters of the Arabian Sea. Its exquisitely carved shikhar, reaching 43 m high and the huge flag made from 52 yards of cloth, can be seen from as far away as 10 km. The grandeur of the temple is enhanced by the flight of 56 steps leading to the rear side of the edifice on the side of the river Gomti. The temple is built of soft limestone and consists of a sanctum, vestibule and a rectangular hall with porches on three sides. There are two gateways: swarga dwar (gate to the heavens), where pilgrims enter, and moksha dwar (gate to liberation), where pilgrims exit.

The lower part of the Dwarkadhish temple is from the 16th century and the soaring steeple with its numerous clusters of small towers is from the 19th century. The main part of the temple has five storeys, reaching to a height of over 100 feet. The exquisite carvings on its exterior display daring eroticism, a multi-layered mythic intensity and extraordinary continuity of design. In contrast, the interior of the temple is striking in its simplicity, with the only exception being the elaborate ornamentation around the shrine to the idol of Dwarkadhish.

Inside, the sanctuary is a hive of voices, colors, incense and movement. With faith, for many it can also transform into a space of inner silence and unity with the divine.

Morning 7.00 to Afternoon 12.30 and Evening 5.00 to 9.30

SHREE DWARKADHISH TEMPLE MORNING TIMINGS

Morning 7.00 Mangla Arti

7.00 to 8.00 Mangla Darshan

9.00 to 9.30 Shringar Darshan

9.45 to 10.15 Shringar Darshan

10.30 to 10.45 Shringar Arti

11.20 to 12.00 Darshan

12.20 to 12.30 Darshan

SHREE DWARKADHISH TEMPLE EVENING TIMINGS

5.00 Uthappan First Darshan

5.45 to 7.15 Darshan

7.30 to 7.45 Sandhya Arti

8.10 to 8.30 Darshan

8.30 to 8.35 Shayan Arti

8.35 to 9.00 Darshan

9.20 to 9.30 Darshan

Bet Dwarka:

From Dwarkadish, we drove off to Bet Dwarka quickly, we had to reach before 12.30 as we had to cross with the boat to reach Bhet Dwarka from Okha port.  The journey in the boat was an experience itself.  We had lots of devotees inside and the ladies over there grouped in a circle and started singing and dancing away, both young and old.  We reached the island.  Here is temple of Bet Dwarka had idols of Lord Krishna, Rukmini and his friend, Sudama.  It seems Sudhama met  Lord Krishna and offered his gift (bhet) of Poha, so it called “Bhet Dwarka”. The temple is on a height and there was cart to take you up.  Both Frankie and self took it for the fun of it. Here there were 2-3 temples around and visited before it closes. 

Here also they did not allow us to take pictures but luckily we photographed posters which had their images.  You can see the elaborate dressings and ornaments.  It is only in Dwarka you have Lord Krishna all decked up with jewelry.

Bet Dwarka :

The temple of Bet Dwarka, with a deity of Lord Dwarakanath, can be reached by boat from Okha port. Built by Shri Vallabhacharya, it enshrines an idol believed to be made by Rukmini. Lord Krishna's friend, Sudama meet him and gave "Bhet" (Gift) of "Tandul-POHA" (Rice). So it is call "Bhet-Dwarka". Early historic settlement remains dating back to 3rd century BC have been located on the island. Most of the archaelogical ruins excavated here and religious manuscripts correspond with Bet Dwarka as the original abode of Lord Krishna. Archeological explorations at the Bet Dwarka have shown evidence of active maritime trade with Rome from the IV century BC to IV century AD.

Nageshwar Temple:

From Bhet Dwarka we drove off to Nageshwar Temple. We could see the statue of Shiva from far away. At the entrance itself, you get to see 125 feet statue of Lord Shiva sitting in meditation pose. We had to stand in line to enter the temple. Here also they did not allow us to photograph. Here inside the sabha graha, you went down to the basement where there was a big Jyotilinga and the shalunka is plated with silver, with silver plated Nag (snake) over looking it.

Nageshwar Temple:

Nageshwar near Dwarka in Gujarat is one of the 12 Jyotirlinga shrines of Shiva. This Jyotirlinga is considered to protect everybody from all sorts of poisons. The present Temple was renovated by Late Gulshan Kumar. He initiated the work in 1996 and his family completed the work after his assassination at a cost of Rs.12.5 millions. Nageshwar Temple is visible from a distance of 2 km. An attractive 125' high statue of Lord Shiva, in meditation pose, greets devotees outside the temple. The main entrance of the temple is simple but beautiful. You enter into a hall or sabha mandap, with counters selling Puja materials. The Jyotirlinga is located in a basement type sanctum, below the sabha mandap floor. The Jyotirlinga is moderately big and shalunka is plated with silver. A silver replica of Nag (snake) is also placed. Behind the Jyotirlinga there is an idol of Goddess Parvati.

Here we came out and at side there was a small restaurant serving simple but fresh thali of veg food at Rs. 100/- only, with non-stopping refilling with veg and phulkas. It was lovely meal with buttermilk. We then drove towards Rukmini Temple.


Rukmini Devi Temple :  It was a lovely 2 kms drive towards the temple from Dwarka, which was a beautiful temple dedicated to Rukmini Devi, Krishna's chief queen. It is one of the most beautiful carved temple with lots of statues on its wall, which is slowly deteriorating due to salty sea water. You can see it from the photos taken.

Rukmini Devi Temple :

The temple is about 2 km from the historic temple of Dwarka on the coast of Saurashtra in Gujarat, Western India. The Rukmini Devi Temple is a temple in Dwarka, 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) away from Dwarka, India. It is dedicated to Rukmini, Krishna’s chief queen. The temple is said to be 2,500 years old but in its present form it is inferred to belong to the 12th century. 

An interesting legend is narrated to justify separate dwelling temples, far away from each other, for Rukmini and her husband Krishna. At one time Lord Krishna wished to invite the sage Durvasa for dinner and accordingly he set out with Rukmini to the ashram of Durvasa who agreed on the condition that they pull the chariot in which he would travel. They agreed but, on the way, Rukmini became thirsty and asked Lord Krishna for water. He struck the earth with his foot and Ganga gushed forth. Rukmini quenched her thirst. Durvasa was watching and flew into a rage because he was not offered water first. Durvasa, it must be.known as a sage who easily lost his temper and cursed anyone and everyone left and right without much thought. In his rage, he cursed Rukmini that the couple would always live apart. No one knows why he did not curse Lord Krishna but as a result of the curse, they had to live apart. Was the curse revoked? No one knows. Some say that it was actually Lord Krishna who indirectly incited Durvasa to curse her unwittingly because Krishna did not like her arrogance. Anyway, this is the reason why the Rukmini Devi temple is not adjacent to Dwarkadheesh temple but it is at a distance. It is also noteworthy that the temple stands on barren land amid rocks bereft of water.

Rukmini had fallen in love with Lord Krishna and he too was smitten with her and decided to abduct her. She would always go to Avantika temple and pray to Amba Mata to grant her wish that she become the wife of Lord Krishna.  She was the daughter of Bhishmaka, King of Vidarbha and her brother was against the match and did not approve but wanted to marry her off to the evil Shishupal. She sent a message to Lord Krishna to save her and therefore, both decided to elope. One day she went to worship at the temple (which is currently in Bulandshahr, UP) and that day, Lord Krishna carried her away and married her in Madhavpur Ghed in Gujarat and both lived in bliss until the Durvasa incident. Madhavpur too has a temple of Rukmini and Krishna to commemorate this event. It is believed Amba Mata grants the wishes of maidens who pray to her at this temple.

Some believe that Radha and Rukmini are one and the same, the incarnations of Goddess Lakshmi because there are similarities in age and the devotion they have towards the Lord. When Krishna is with Rukmini, Radha does not appear and when he is with Radha, Rukmini is absent.  Rukmini is Lakshmi incarnate, a symbol of love and devotion to Krishna, a symbol of purity and humility as well.

Swaminarayan Temple:

We returned back to Jamnagar from Dwarka.  On way we got to visit Swaminarayan Temple which was elaborately carved and well maintained.  This is a big rich complex with well maintained garden and residential complex for its disciples/ devotees.  We saw similar Swaminarayan temples in Bhuj, Surat and other parts of Gujarat.  We could buy sweets and snacks from here, which was very delicious and brought back to Mumbai.

The Swaminarayan temple in Jamnagar, is a very beautiful temple with an air of silence and spirituality at its best. The temple is situated at the outskirt of Jamnagar at Dwarka road. It has beautiful architecture and very well built in a very large area. It has temple of Swaminarayan, Shiva and Rama. It also has a small museum at the bottom of the main temple. It was vast beautiful well maintained garden and a cafetiere with veg Delicious snacks. It is located on Jamnagar Dwarka road. Very big area. Beautiful garden. You get positive vibration. Carving is beautiful. Inside decoration is excellent. You get chilled breeze in evening. Lighting is good. All idols are gold plated shines brightly in night. Basement one can do abhishek on God. They are charging Rs. 25 but it is worth. There is a belief, whatever you ask for is fulfilled

From here we returned back to our hotel, tired but well worth the visit.  That night we had our dinner in the hotel itself, which served non-veg food too.  We went off to bed early as we had to leave early in  the morning to Narara Fish Sanctuary, in time when  it is low tide.