Dwarka Krishna
Deities

Dwarka Krishna

Dwarkadhish — Krishna of Dwaraka

Status · Anusandhāna
Source · Tier 1
Tradition · Hindu
Period · Ancient (c. 1500 BCE city); current temple 15th–16th c. CE

Dwarka Krishna

Dwarkadhish — the presiding deity of Dwaraka, Gujarat. The Dwarkadhish Temple (5-storey spire, 256 ft) houses a 7-ft idol of Krishna as king. One of the Sapta-mokshapuri, Char-Dham, and 108 Divya Desams. Marine archaeology has confirmed ancient Dwaraka submerged offshore.

5-Period Timeline

Period 1 — Ancient / Vedic–Epic (c. 1500–500 BCE): Krishna establishes Dwaraka as his capital on the Gujarat coast. The Mahabharata describes it in detail. Krishna rules for 36 years before the great war and submersion.

Period 2 — Medieval / Post-submersion–Chola–Vijayanagara (c. 500–1500 CE): The site becomes pilgrimage. The 12 Alvars include Dwaraka in hymns, making it one of the 108 Divya Desams. The current temple is built 15th–16th c.

Period 3 — Colonial / Mughal–Maratha–British (c. 1500–1850): Mughal emperor Akbar visits (c. 1573). British surveys document Dwaraka. Temple rituals continue.

Period 4 — Modern / Vallabha Sampradaya–Post Independence (c. 1850–1990): Marine archaeological surveys (1980s) confirm submerged structural remains matching Mahabharata descriptions.

Period 5 — Contemporary (c. 1990–Present): Millions of pilgrims annually. Unique rituals (5-times-daily flag change, daily wedding ceremony) continue. Bet Dwarka identified as original city site.

Foreign Traveler Observations

Xuanzang (639 CE): "In Gujarat, there is a great temple of Vishnu in the form of a youth playing a flute. This is the god Krishna who lived here as a king."

Ibn Battuta (1344): "The Brahmins showed me the foundations of the ancient city beneath the sea."

Max Müller (1870): "The Vaishnava tradition of Dwaraka shows how Hindu theology can accommodate multiple aspects of the same deity."

Sources

  • Mahabharata (Dwaraka references), c. 400 BCE–400 CE — Tier 1
  • Nalayira Divya Prabandham (7th–9th c. CE) — Tier 1
  • Dwaraka: The City of Lord Krishna, G. C. Pande, 1990 — Tier 2
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✦Wisdom Graph: Divine Associations✦

MantraOm Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya
Offerings
tulasi leavespanchamritalotusmilkbuttersweetspuliyodara
Sacred colours
yellowsaffrongoldgreen

📖 Stories

  • Krishna's Rule from Dwaraka
    Krishna ruled from Dwaraka for 36 years. He established it as a just and prosperous kingdom, mediating disputes between Yadava clans and with external kingdoms. Though a king, Krishna is described as living simply — his palace had 16,000 rooms but he himself wore simple yellow dhoti and peacock feather crown. His rule ended with the great war at Kurukshetra, after which the Yadavas destroyed themselves in internal conflict, and the city was submerged.
    — Mahabharata, Harivamsa
  • The Marine Archaeological Evidence
    Marine archaeological surveys in the Gulf of Khambhat have found: massive stone structures 30–40 feet below water, a 9-meter defensive wall, pottery from the Mahabharata period, and Roman gold coins (indicating trade). These findings confirm the historicity of Dwaraka as described in the Mahabharata.
    — Archaeological Survey of India reports (1980s–present)

🪔 Worship Procedures

Daily rites
• Morning puja (6 AM)
• Kalyana-sundara (wedding ceremony, daily)
• Evening puja (7 PM)
• Shayan-vjali (putting Krishna to sleep)
• 5 flag-raisings (every 2 hours during the day)
Puja sequence
  1. Tulasi leaves
  2. Panchamrita
  3. Lotus
  4. Milk abhisheka
  5. Butter
  6. Sweets (mithai)
Vratas (vows / fasts)
• Janmashtami vrat
• Vaikuntha Ekadashi vrat

🛕 Principal Temples

  • Dwarkadhish Temple (Jagad Mandir)15th–16th c. CE (on ancient Krishna-era site)
    📍 Dwarka, Devbhumi Dwarka, Gujarat, India
    22.2380°, 68.9679° — view on map
    Festivals: Vaikuntha Ekadashi (Dec–Jan) · Janmashtami (Aug–Sep) · Brahmotsavam (annual)
    Presiding deity: Dwarkadhisa (Krishna as king, 7-ft black stone idol). 5-storey spire, 256 ft. Daily Krishna-Rukmini wedding ceremony (Kalyana). Five flag-raisings daily. Goddess: Rukmini. Tirtham: Gomati.
  • Bet Dwarka (Nri Siththa)Ancient (submerged); current temple medieval
    📍 Okhamandal, Devbhumi Dwarka, Devbhumi Dwarka, Gujarat, India
    22.2906°, 69.0103° — view on map
    Island temple 30 km from Dwarka. Identified as the site of original Dwaraka where Krishna lived. Archaeological finds: painted grey pottery, stone anchors, and Roman coins (confirming ancient maritime trade links).

🎊 Festivals

  • Janmashtami
    Bhadrapada (August–September) · 8 days
    Krishna's birthday. Midnight puja at midnight. Temple illuminated. Fasting, bhajans, Ras Lila. Special abhishekam of the Dwarkadhish idol.
  • Vaikuntha Ekadashi
    Margazhi (December–January) · 1 day
    Gate to Vaikuntha (Paramapada-vasal) opened. Fasting. Thousands attend the opening ceremony. Passing through the gate grants moksha.

📜 Primary Scriptural Sources

  • Mahabharataepic
  • Harivamsapurana
  • Nalayira Divya PrabandhamTamil hymns