Tiruthvarahai - Dwarakadish Mandir

The glory of that Punya dham of Sri Krishna, the eighth incarnation of Sri Mahavishnu is elaborately described in many scriptures, like the Mahabharata, Harivamsa, Vayu Purana, Vishnu Purana, Varaha Purana and Skanda I'urana, besides the Mahabhagavatha that recreates almost all the awe-inspiring episodes of Sri Krishna, the protagonist of the divine drama, who is personally responsible for building and expanding this holy city in the Dwapara age, driven by dire necessity of shielding of Yadava community from the onslaughts of Jarasanda and Kavalayana, the arch born enemies of the divine personages.

The Present Temple

The Dwardkanath mandir lies on the bank of Gomati, precisely at the point of its confluence with the sea. It is 50 meter high, from the ground level and the highest of its kind in India. Tradition records of its being built in a single night. It is built on an elevated spacious ground with flights of stairs on all sides and surrounded by two high walls with adequate space between them for circumambulation. Its grandeur is heightened by its tall majestic, seven-storied tower, measuring about 140 feet in height. It is a landmark imbued with spirituality by its saffron flag atop fluttering always and is visible to people far off, say some 20 miles even. This magnificent tower rises over the large mandap of five stories and a huge dome supported by sixty pillars inside. On the outer side, it is beautified with sculptural adornments of rare craftsmanship that attract both theists and tourists. Hemakota Vimana adorns the garbha griha. Around the sanctum sanctorum there are many mini-shrines dedicated to Trivikram, Pradyumna and Kusmeswara Mahadeo. Pilgrims normally visit everyone of them before entering the main Mandir. The Sarada Peetha established by His Holiness Jagadguru Sankaracharya lies next to Trivikram and it is receiving equal and undivided attention, though Saivate tradition are followed here. As a matter of fact, it has become an integral part of the Dwarakadish shrine, thereby emphasizing the essential harmony prevailing in the divya thirtha. There is a small Durga shine near the entrance lying far below the ground level, and appearing, as if it is Patala Durga. The broad stairs provided enable the devotees to reach the feet of the Jaganmalha for offering prayers and receiving her blessings, and frankly speaking its oddity of location draws everyone to her feet without exception.

The Archamurti

The beautiful black granite statue of Sri Krishna, popularly known as Ranchhodardi is installed on a silver plated simhasan and the Goddess is called Rukmini. The image of Dwarakadish measures about three feet in height. The lord revealing Himself with four arms in standing posture casts an irresistible charm on the devotees and detains them longer. The enchantment of the Lord enhanced by the floral decoration and dazzling jewellery sends thrills in the spines of the devotees and makes them oblivious of this world. His hypnotizing splendour in the characteristic North Indian embellishments haunts the bhaktas for years, and prepares their minds for further visits. Indeed the infinite charms of that dark hued God defy description; they are to be seen and imbibed than enumerated and explained. No wonder, for sheer eyeful darsan of this sublime beauty, even the highly evolved souls, like saints, seers, sages and sadhus paid several visits to this shrine; yet their spiritual thirst was not quenched, as it were. Over 2000 generation worshipped this Lord, ever since ,its construction and it became a cradle of countless legends.

It lies nearly 2 km off Dwaraka railway station in Gujart on broad guage line  Okha from Bombay.

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