DWARKA :- Saptapuri and City of Moksha.

Nearby Places 5th January 2012 :- Here we come on the second last day of the city which grants universes most precious thing that is Moksha. This day was great as it was Vaikuntha Ekadashi on that day ( best ekadashi considered by many saints ) and we were in Lords place itself.We all had kept fast on this day and our plan was to visit the place where actually Lord Dwarkadhish stayed. And also visit that place where Mahadevas jyotirlinga is present in the form of Nageshwara.Also I will show some places which I bet not many among all devotees and tourists who visit Dwarka must not have explored. Jay Dwarkadhish. Dear Ghumakkars and viewers who have gone to Dwarka before, please check it for yourself whether you have visited these places, where I have gone in this post apart from famous ones. Jay Dwarkadhish. Let me start with what I did on 5th January. Early morning I woke up at 5.30 am went to bath and by 6.00 am I rushed towards temple , my family members still sleeping and getting up. The reason was to view Mangala Aarti of Lord Dwarkadhish. The Mangala Aarti of Lord has greatest importance and there is lot of rush even on normal days.So to pick my favourite spot from where I can have full view of Lord Dwarkadhish and his aarti I need go atleast half an hour before.Jay Dwarkadhish.

Jay Dwarkadhish :- Dwarkadhish Temple

The Aarti starts at 7.00 am and before that all devotees wait and sing for the Lord in queues. This whole marvelous experience, the loud songs of devotees specially ladies , the wait for Lords Glimpse is all very sweet and mind blowing. At sharp 7.00am the curtains open we get to see Lord. Boliye :- Shree Dwarkadhish Maharaj ki Jai

Jay Dwarkadhish :- Lord Dwarkadhish

Note :- The Above image added has written permission and they dont want credits .Jay Dwarkadhish. And then Starts The Great Mangala Aarti. Please see below The next I will show you some temples in Dwarka which are Unknown to lot of viewers. Jay Dwarkadhish. ISKCON Gate Temple :-

Jay Dwarkadhish :- Iskcon Temple Dwarka Idols Radhe Krishna

Shri

Vishwakarma

Temple :-

The

God

of

Architecture

who

built

Dwarka. Jay

Dwarkadhish.

Jay Dwarkadhish :- Vishwakarma Temple

Jay Dwarkadhish :- Vishwakarma Idol

Meerabai Temple :- Meerabai was great devotee of Lord Krishna who left everything from riches power and mind for Lord Krishna. It is said that she disappeared in Lord Dwarkadhish along with her Body and attained Moksha.A temple is built on her name.Jay Dwarkadhish.

Jay Dwarkadhish :- Meerabai Temple

Jay Dwarkadhish :- Meerabai Painting

DWARKA SIGHT SEEING :- There are many places in and around Dwarka where you can travel.This can be done by a private vehicles, Muncipal buses private buses and autorickshaws. Its better to go by any private vehicles because in buses you get very less time to have darshan and everything is very hasty. Jay Dwarkadhish. Nageshwar Jyotirlinga :Nageshwar Jyotirlinga is around 20 kms from Dwarka.Jay

Nageshwar Legend has it that a devotee of Lord Shiva by name Supriya, was attacked by a demon called Daaruka, while in a boat and that the demon imprisoned him along with several others at his capital forest called Daarukaavana, where he resided with his wife Daaruki. Lord Shiva came in the form of a Jyotirlinga and vanquished the demon with the Paasupata Astra. Jay Nageshwar The Sivalinga is facing south like Mahakaaleshwar Ujjain, with the Gaumukh facing East. There is a legend for this position. A devotee by name Naamdev was singing bhajans in front of the Lord with utmost pure devotion. Other devotees asked him to stand aside and not hide the Lordas they cant see . To this

behaviour of other devotees, Naamdev asked them to suggest one direction in which the Lord does not exist, so that he can stand there. The enraged devotees carried him and pushed him on the south side. To their astonishment, they found that the Jyotirlinga was now facing South with the Gaumukh facing East.Jay Nageshwar Another specialty of this linga is that unlike the other Shivalingas, which are made of black stone and look like a neat circular pillar rounded off at the top, this one is made of a stone known popularly as Dwaraka Shila, which has small chakras on it. The shape of the linga is more or less like a Oval Three mukhi Rudraksha.Jay Nageshwar

Jay Nageshwar :- Nageshwar Jyotirlinga Lord Shiva Statue

Also Late Shree Gulshan Kumar , Owner Of T series, had a very great contribution in developing this new temple. The huge Lord Shiva Statue was his imagination . He wanted to make this place more aware and popular. But unfortunately after his death the process has gone very slow. Jay Nageshwar

Jay Nageshwar :- Nageshwar Jyotirlinga Lord Shiva Statue

Jay Nageshwar :- Nageshwar Jyotirlinga Temple

Have the darshan of this great Linga.Jay Nageshwar

Jay Nageshwar :- Nageshwar Jyotirlinga

Gopi Talaav:Once Gopis requested Lord Krishna to create a pilgrimage site for them so that they too could achieve nirvana by meditating on his appearance, singing devotional songs etc. while staying there. Lord Krishna agreed to this request. Pointing towards a lake situated n ear Maya Sarovar, He said: Look at this reservoir whose water here is as pure as the heart and mind of a gentleman. This lake has been constructed only for you and will become famous by your name. Again the Gopis requested Lord Krishna to make the reservoir as his abode, as all the three worlds (Bhur loka, Bhuva loka, Swarga loka), all the austerities and charities are situated in his very abode. According to the Gopis, Devi Saraswati and Devi Laxmi have their abodes in his mouth and chest respectively.Jay Dwarkadhish. Person attains the supreme destination by devotionally taking bath in the Gopi Talaav and performing tarpan to the ancestors and the deities, and giving donations and performing charities . By performing shraadh here, a mans desire for obtaining a son may be fulfilled. One who takes bath in the holy water of Gopi talaav gets whatever he desires ,salvation or the heavenly planets. Jay Dwarkadhish.

Jay Dwarkadhish :- Gopi Talaav

Bet Dwarka :- is the place where actually Lord Krishna lived. There is a place where his childhood friend Sudama gave him BHET ( gift) . That is why it is called Bet Dwarka.Ohka jetty is around 30 kms from Dwarka and from here you have to take jetty which takes around 15 mins to island.You will find Lord and his family idols and temples. Its a must visit.Jay Dwarkadhish.

Jay Dwarkadhish :- On the way to Bet Dwarka

Jay Dwarkadhish :- Bet Dwarka Entrance

Around 5 kms from Bet Dwarka is a place called Makardwaja Hanuman. This the place where Hanuman met his son Makardwaja, when Ahi Ravan and Mahi Ravan cousins of Ravana abducted Lord Rama And Lakshmana. You will have to travel in these type of Motorcycle rickshaws to go there, the only means. Jay Dwarkadhish.

Jay Dwarkadhish :- Motorcycle Rickshaw used to go to Makardwaja Hanuman

Then next was Rukmini Temple. Jay Dwarkadhish. Rukmini Temple :- This place is around 2 kms from Dwarka. It is said Rukmini stayed here for whole 12 years without water. Legend is that Sage Durvasa guru of Lord Krishna , asked Lord and Queen Rukmini to drag the chariot in which he was sitting. Rukmini felt thirsty and asked Lord for water while dragging the chariot , Lord Krishna took out some water from the ground with the help of his toe. Rukmini dranked the water and this annoyed Sage Durvasa that before asking the guru she started drinking. He in turn cursed her to be without water for 12 years. Jay Dwarkadhish. So a beautiful temple with beautiful idol of Rukmini devi is here. Jay Dwarkadhish. Now Something my driver told me about this temple which shocked me. Jay

Dwarkadhish. This Rukmini Temple is auctioned every three years to Brahmans. Whoever pays more he maintains the temple for three years. The current Pundit has spend around 2.5 crores for three years for this temple. Jay Dwarkadhish. Whoever visits the temple the pundit here tells them to sit . Till this time the idol of Rukmini devi is inside the curtain.So to take darshan people have to wait and if they dont take darshan the trip to Dwarka is incomplete.So when the hall in front of idol fills ( around 30-35 people) the pundit starts the legend which i stated above and then asked for donation of water in form of tanker ( Around Rs 3000) for Devi Rukmini emotionally. People feeling emotions for devi give donations which in turn is an income for Pundit. This is the way that pundit has become business man.How sad. Jay Dwarkadhish.

Jay Dwarkadhish :- Rukmini Temple

Bhadkeshwar Mahadeva:- Then we went to a place called Bhadkeshwar Mahadeva, which is a must visit, but not many visit. This place is inside the sea. One has to walk on the way which is submerged in hightide to take darshan. Just see magnificient pictures below.Jay Dwarkadhish.

Jay Dwarkadhish :- Bhadkeshwar Mahadev

The below path is submerged under water in High tide .When we went it was free with water. Jay Dwarkadhish.

Jay Dwarkadhish :- Bhadkeshwar Mahadev

Jay Dwarkadhish :- Bhadkeshwar Mahadev

Jay Dwarkadhish :- Bhadkeshwar Mahadev

See now the path is covered with seawater below in high tide .Jay Dwarkadhish.

Jay Dwarkadhish :- Bhadkeshwar Mahadeva

The above image is taken from Blog :- http://travellok.blogspot.in/2010/11/dwarka-somnath.html Photo Credits:- Srijith Narayanan Nambiar owner of the above blog. Jay Dwarkadhish.

Then Samudra Narayan Temple :- This temple is situated where river Gomti meets sea.Very beautiful place a must visit and best place to bath spiritually to remove sins. Jay

Dwarkadhish.

Jay Dwarkadhish :- Samudra Narayan Temple

Dwarka Light House :- This place is most beautiful place in Dwarka . The views here are mind blowing . Just see the pictures. Not many visit this . But for me this is the best place in Dwarka as far as views are concerned.Jay Dwarkadhish.

Jay Dwarkadhish :- Light House Dwarka

Jay Dwarkadhish :- View from Top Light House Dwarka

See Dwarkadhish temple in left and Samudra Narayan temple where river Gomti meets sea just left side of my face.Jay Dwarkadhish.

Jay Dwarkadhish :-View from Top Light House Dwarka

See

right

side

of

my

face

you

will

find

wind

mills

also

from

Suzlon

energy. Jay

Dwarkadhish.

Jay Dwarkadhish :- View from Top Light House Dwarka

Another view from right side of light House you will find Bhadkeshwar Mahadeva left side of my shoulder.Beautiful.Jay Dwarkadhish.

Jay Dwarkadhish :- View from Top Light House Dwarka

From Middle :- Dwarka city ( Rukmini Temple is backside to my body not seen) Jay Dwarkadhish.

Light Which rotates at 12 rotations per minute in Dwarka light house.

From Middle :- Dwarka city ( Rukmini Temple is backside to my body not seen) Jay Dwarkadhish.

Jay Dwarkadhish :- Light House Dwarka

On backside of Light House besides sea was again a very beautiful place not to be missed. Jay Dwarkadhish.

Jay Dwarkadhish :- Huge Cave formed due to waves in high tides

See

the

Huge

cave

and

cracks

formed

on

rocks

due

to

sea

waves

Ultimate. Jay

Dwarkadhish.

Jay Dwarkadhish :- sitting on rocks behind Light House

The above place is very beautiful place to hang around but very dangerous also. NEVER GO WITH KIDS. Even I was Frightened while taking pictures.Jay Dwarkadhish.

Jay Dwarkadhish :- Sitting Just above the cave

I will just try to express how my senses felt while I was on the top of Light house . Jay Dwarkadhish.

My Eyes :- got the best view here in Dwarka . Kite view of Dwarka city. In one side I can see Dwarkadhish temple , Samudra Narayan temple and Gomti river meeting sea from Top . In other side I got to have darshan of Bhadkeshwar Mahadeva temple in sea. In between my eyes saw Dwarka city and Rukmini Temple. Lord Shiva in left , Lord Dwarkadhish in right, Shakti Rukmini and people. Wow.Jay Dwarkadhish. My Nose :- was the best beneficiary , as it got the thing which was purest that is fresh oxygen coming from breeze from sea . No pollution and no Carbon di oxide and no Sulphur di oxide.. Jay Dwarkadhish. My Skin :- Cool Sea breeze was touching my skin along with warmth of sunrays at 5.00 pm. The best possible mixture of warm and cold atmosphere. No AC or Heater required. Jay

Dwarkadhish. My Ears :- were hearing only two things silently. One of those pleasant sound was seabreeze gently touching and going inside my ears.And Other pleasant sound was of sea waves hitting the rocks below the Light house. My ears were hearing the mixture of both plesant and contrasting sounds still enjoying the natural music of highest level.Jay Dwarkadhish. My Tongue :- was least beneficiary here . But I forgot that I had something called tongue . But still it was enjoying the taste of pure cool sea breeze.Jay Dwarkadhish. My Mind :- I was there for 45 mins to one hour. My mind felt that it had no more requirements of materials. It became peacefully blank.No thoughts no hypertension, everything vanished. Jay Dwarkadhish. I felt that is this feeling of Nirvana , where all material desires vanish and you get Paramananda. Great.Thus my long post ends here. Even My tour ends here.Next day on 6th January we caught Saurashtra mail from Dwarka and reached Mumbai early morning at 7.00 am. Jay

Dwarkadhish. I hope you all liked the series.Hope so it helps lot of other devotees which is my sole purpose here. CHALO GIRNAR. JAY SOMNATH. JAY HARSHAD MATA. JAY NAGESHWAR. JAY

DWARKADHISH.