Dwarkadhish Temple, Dwaraka – History

Dwarkadhish Temple, Dwaraka – History

The town of Dwarka in Gujarat has a history that dates back centuries, and mentioned in the Mahabharata epic as the Dwaraka Kingdom. Situated on the banks of river Gomti, the town is described in legend as the capital of Lord Krishna. Evidence such as a stone block with script, the way the stones were dressed showing that dowels had been used, and an examination of anchors found on the site suggest that the Harbour site dates only to historical times, with some of the underwater structure being late Medieval. Coastal erosion was probably the cause of the destruction of what was an ancient port.

Hindus believe that the original temple was constructed by Vajranabh, the great grandson of Krishna, over the residential palace of Krishna. The current temple in Chalukya style is constructed in 15^th - 16^th century. It has been told by the archaeological that this temple is 2,200-2000 years old. After the 8^th century Hindu theologian and philosopher Adi Shankaracharya, the temple became part of the 'Char Dham' pilgrim considered to be sacred place to Hindus in India. The other three include Rameswaram, Badrinath and Puri.

The history of Dwarkadhish temple is that according to Brahmi script, the temple’s first renovation was done around 100 BC. Later, Shri Adi Shankaracharya visited the temple in 800 A.D and renovated it. He established the shrine of Adyashakti on the fourth floor of the temple. Muhammad Shah attacked and destroyed the temple in 1241 AD.  Five Brahmins fought with them and died. So, the shrines near the Dwarkadhish Temple are for them. And in 1965, the Pakistan Navy tried to attack the temple but failed to do so.

Archaeologists have unearthed copper coins, boulders, pillars and pottery samples from the underwater excavations in Dwarka. Hence, they have concluded that a well-established city existed there in the 2nd Millennium. Also, explorations between 1983 and 1990 show that the city consisted of six sectors. They were extended about a mile from the shore. Offshore investigations have found evidence of stone slabs, ports and other construction materials dating back to 15^th Century. Hence, it supports the existence of an ancient city at the time of Lord Krishna. Further, the layout of the city mentioned in ancient manuscripts matches that of the city unearthed by The Marine Archaeology Unit of India.