Dwarka | Sir Kalyana Narayana Perumal Temple | Divya Desams - 104

About the Temple & Location :

This Divyadesam is on the Bombay-Oka port rail line.

To reach this Temple, one has to travel via Ahmedabad, Rajkot, and Jam Nagar.

Dwaraka railway station is 20 miles away from Oka port and from there we can reach the Temple.

The Dwarkadhish Temple located at Dwarka on Gomti creek, Gujarat is one of the 108 Divya Desam Temples of Lord Vishnu. Dwarkadhish is another name for Lord Krishna that means the 'Lord of Dwarka'. The five-story high temple is built on seventy-two pillars. The temple spire is 78.3m (235 feet) high. From the temple, the dome waves an eighty-four-foot-long multicolored flag decorated with the symbols of the sun and moon.

Lord Krishna's grandson, Vajranabha, is said to have built the original temple of Dwarkadhish over the hari-griha (Lord Krishna's residential place). The sanctum of the temple is formed by the Jagat Mandir, or Nija Mandir, which dates back at least 2500 years. The Jagat Mandir has a tall tower and a hall for the audience. There are two entrances to the temple. The main entrance (north entrance) is called 'Moksha Dwara' (Door to Salvation). This entrance leads to the main market. The south entrance is called 'Swarga Dwara' (Gate to Heaven). Outside this doorway are 56 steps that lead to the Gomati River. The audience hall has both ancient and fairly modern sculptures. The main Deity in this temple is Lord Dwarkadhish, who is on the central altar. The Deity represents the four-armed form of Vishnu called Trivikrama. There is a temple to the right of the main Deity that contains the Deity of Lord Baladevaji (Balarama), who is the older brother of Lord Krishna. The temple to the left of the main Deity contains a big Deity of Pradyumna and a small Deity of Aniruddha. They are the son and grandson of Lord Krishna. Opposite this shrine is the shrine of Purusottama (Vishnu). Next to this shrine is a shrine dedicated to Kuseswara Mahadeva (Shiva).

Sthalapuranam

This sthalam deals with all the stories that deal with the way he became the king and ruled the empire and ended the Krishna Avatar for which it is taken.

Vada Mathura is known as the Janma Bhoomi (birthplace) of Sri Krishna; Aayarpadi is where He was brought up and led his childhood days; and Dwaraka is the place where his Punya Avtar ended. Sri Krishna revealed His appearance for Brahma deva, Indra, and all the other Devas and for Vasudeva and Devaki in prison in Vada Mathura divyadesam (Janma Bhoomi). Same way, Sri Krishna gave his appearance to Sri Nandagopar, who brought up Sri Krishna in Aayarpadi.

After all of his duties were over and the purpose for which he took the Krishna Avatar was over, he was killed by an archer, ulupadhan, who aimed at Sri Krishna’s feet thinking it was a white pigeon. Thus, the avathaar of Sri Krishna ended in Thiru Dwaraka. In Dwaraka Sri Krishna revealed His presence to Rukmani, Sathyabama, Jam Bhavathi, and other Ashta -maharishis, his friends, his sons, neighbors, and all of Aayars in Dwaraka. These all persons thought that Sri Krishna belonged to them, but He proved here that He belongs to the entire Universe and to all the Jeevathmas in this mighty world.

Draupadi who was also named “Paanjali”, married Panja Pandavas and she treated Sri Krishna as her own brother. When Draupathi was ill–treated in the midst of Duriyodhan’s palace, Sri Krishna gave her clothes thereby protecting her. Thus, he gave His audience to Draupadi also.

There was a king in Mathura named “Gargeya” who didn't have any children. All the Yadhavas teased him and as a result of it, he did severe tapas towards Lord Shiva to bless him with a son who would ride out the Yadava families. Finally, satisfied fully with the tapas of the king, Shiva gave the boon and Gargaya got a son and named him “Kaalayavannan”. The Gargeya king handed over the Kingdom to him so that he could ride away the Yadavas. He collected all of his troops to make an attack on the Yadavas.

Knowing this beforehand, Sri Krishna asked the ocean king to help him out from this, by giving him a place in the ocean where a small town can be created and ruled by Sri Krishna.

Sri Krishna asked Vishwakarma to build the town on the land and the place was built in a beautiful way with lots of streets, theerthams, etc. It was built so beautifully that on seeing it one can say that place is an entering point (Dwaram) to heaven. Since this place served as the Dwaram (entering point) to heaven, this sthalam is called as “Dwaraka“. So, Dwaraka is the place where all the Yadavas in Mathura are transferred to Dwaraka.

Kaalayavannan attacked Mathura but at that time, since Sri Krishna and Balarama are born as normal human beings, they could not defend him and ran away from him and hid in a cave. At the same time, Musukundan was resting there in the cave due to the strain of his fight against the devas.

Musukundan had got a peculiar boon and it is if anyone kicks him, (or) whoever wakes him up they will be burnt to ash. Likewise, when Kaalayavannan entered into the cave and found Musukundan, and awakened him. As soon as Musukundan opened his eyes, Kaalayavannan was burnt into ash. Finally, Musukundan fell on the feet of Sri Krishna and asked for his relief. For that Sri Krishna explained to him that in his next birth and in the next Janmam he was blessed by Sri Narayanan in Badrikashram.

Another person who got the blessings and appearance of this sthala perumal was Kuchela, who was a very poor Brahmin and a childhood acquaintance of Sri Krishna. As soon as Sri Krishna saw Kuchelar, he invited him and asked him to be seated.

Sri Krishna asked him what was the reason he had come to meet as if he didn't know the reason. But, the Emperumaan can easily understand why he has come for. At that time, Kuchelar gave him some hand pounds. On getting the pounded rice, Sri Krishna was so happy with Kuchela and asked him that he would give some of his countries to him. But, poor Kuchelar doesn’t want any of them, but he came only to see one among his old friends. Admired by the great friendship character of Kuchela, Sri Krishna converted his old hut into a very big house and made himself a wealthy person. This shows how a relationship must be between Paramathma and Jeevathma.

It is said that the Dwaraka sthalam exists in two parts. One is near to the Dwarka railway station and is known as “Gomuki Dwaraka” and the other is known as “Pate Dwaraka” which is 20 miles away from Gomuki Dwaraka. It is believed that only in Pate Dwaraka, Sri Krishna lived along with all the Yadavas and his pirattis.

In Pate Dwaraka, the moolavar is Dwarakanathji, with a Conch & Wheel (Sanku and Chakram) in standing posture (Nindra thirukkolam). In his chest lies Sri Lakshmi. Also separate sannadhis for Kalyanaraya Krishna, Thiruvikrama Moorthy, Sri Lakshmi Narayana, Devaki, Jambavathi, and Rukmani.

The temple is open for worship from 5 Am the morning and all the decorations known as Alangarams (different ways of dressing) for the Lord are done in the presence of the devotees. In the morning, Dwaraknathji is dressed as a small child, then as a king, and after that as an old aged sage. Ekantha seva and Thirumanjanam (bath given to the Perumal with holy waters) are done.

About 2 Km from Dwaraka, there is a separate temple for Rukmani and the beautiful idol is made of white marble in a standing pose.

Moolavar:

The Moolavar of this Dwaraka divya desam is Kalyana Narayana. He is also called with the names as Dwarakadesam and Dwarakanathji. Pratyaksham for Draupadi, Kuchela, Sathyabama, Rukmani, and Arjuna. Moolavar in standing posture (Nindra Thirukkolam) facing west.

Thaayar:

The thaayar of this kshetram is Kalyana Naachiyar. She is also called Lakshmi Shree. Along with her, Rukmani piratti, and Ashta Mahashis.

Mangalasasanam:

Periyalwar – 5 Paasurams

Andal – 4 Paasurams

Thirumangai Alwar – 2 Paasurams

Thirumazhisai alwar – 1 Paasuram

Nammalwar – 1 Paasuram.
Total – 13 Paasurams.

Pushkarani:

Gomathi river.

Prabhas theertham (the junction point where the Gomathi river joins the sea).

Vimaanam:
Hema Kooda Vimaanam.