History of Great Holy Dwaraka - Kingdom of Lord Krishna.

Lord Krishna of Dwaraka is regarded as crown of jewels of Saurashtra. Supreme Lord Krishna ruled Dwaraka in Dwapara yuga. Holy Temple is installed there with idol of Narayana given By Lord Krishna himself. It is also one of the 108 Divya Desams of the Holy SriVaishnavas, since divine alwars has sung divine hymns on Lord Dwarakanath of Dwaraka. Its also one of the seven moksha place (the place where one can get salvation). Here Sri Mirabhai attained salvation by merging with Sri Dwaraknath.  This holy temple is maintained by Sankara Mutt installed by Sri Shankara bhagavad padala. This temple is also a important for Pushti Marg Vaishnavas.

Sthalapuranam

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

Vada Mathura is the sthalam which is the Janma Bhoomi (birth place) of Sri Krishnar; Aayarpadi is the sthalam where he was brought up and lead his childhood days and this sthalam, the Dwaraka is the place where his Punya Avathaar ended. Sri Krishnan showed his seva for Brahma devan, Indiran and all the other Devars and for Vasudevar and Devaki in prison in Vada Mathura divyadesam (Janma Bhoomi). The same Krsihnar showed his seva for Nandagopar who brought up Sri Krishnar in Aayarpadi.

After all of his duties are over and the purpose for which he took the Krishna Avathaar was over, he made a leela to leave to Vaikundam by making a arrow stuck by an archer, ulupadhan, who aimed at Sri Krishnar's feet thinking it as an white pigeon. Thus, the avathaar of Sri Krishnar ended in Thiru Dwaraka. In Dwaraka Sri Krishnar showed his seva to Rukmani, Sathyabama, Jambhavathi and other Ashtamagarishis, his friends, his sons, neighbours and all of Aayars in Dwaraka. These all persons thought that Sri Kannan belongs to them, but he belongs to all the Jeevathmas in this mighty world.

Draupadhi who was also named as "Paanjali", married Panja Pandavas and she treated Sri Krishnar as his own brother. When Draupathi was ill - treated in the midst of Duriyodhan's palace, Sri Krishnar gave her clothes thereby protecting her. Thus, he gave his seva to Draupathi also.

There was a king in Mathura by named "Gargeya" who doesnt have any children. All the Yadhavas teased on him and as a result of it, he did a severe tapas towards Lord Shivan to bless with a son who would ride out the Yadhava families. Finally, on satisfied fully on the tapas of the king, he gave who was named as "Kaalayavannan". Gargeya king and he handed over the Kingdom to him, so that he could ride away the Yadhavas. He collected all of his troops to make an attack on the Yadhavas.

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

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

Kaalayavannan attacked Mathura but at that time, since Sri Krishnar and Balaramar are born as a normal human being, they could not defend him and ran away from him and hide in to a cave. At the same time, Musukundan was resting there in the cave due to the strain against his fight again the devars.

Musukundan had got a peculiar varam and it is if any one 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 felt on the feet of Sri Krishnar and asked for his Vimocchan. For that Sri Krishnar explained him that in his next birth and in the next Janmam he was blessed by Sri Narayanan in Badrikasramam.

Another person who got the blessings and seva of this sthalaperumal in Kuchelar, one of his poor brahmin and he was one of his friends. As soon as Sri Krishnar saw Kuchelar, he invited him and asked him to be seated.

Sri Krishnar asked him whats the reason he had come for to meet as if he doesnt know the reason. But, the Emperumaan can easily understand why he has come for. At that time, Kuchelar gave him some Aval (rice tht is converted to aval after being soaked in water then dried up and struck hard). On getting the Aval, Sri Krsihnar was so happy on Kuchelar and asked him that he will give some of his countries for him. But, poor Kuchelar doesnt want any of them, but he came only to see his one among his old friends. Admired by the great friendship character of Kuchelar, Sri Krishnar converted his old hut into a very big house and made him as a wealthy person. This shows how a relationship must be should be between the Paramathma and Jeevathma.

It is said that the Dwaraka sthalam exists in two parts. One is found near to the Dwaraka railway station and is known as "Gomuki Dwaraka" and the other is known as "Pate Dwaraka" which is found 20 miles away from Gomuki Dwaraka. It is believed that only in pate Dwaraka, Sri Krishnar lived along with all the Yadhavas and his pirattis.

In Pate Dwaraka, the moolavar is Dwarakanathji, who is found along with Sangu and Chakkaram in Nindra thirukkolam. In his heart, Sri Lakshmai is found and separate sannadhis for Kalyanarayar Krishnan, Thiruvikrama moorthy, Sri Lakshmi Narayanar, Devaki, Jambavathi and Rukmani are found.

The temple is opened for worship from 5 Am in the morning and all the Alangarams (different ways of dressings) for the perumal are done infront of the bhaktas itself. In the morning, Dwaraknathji is dressed as a small child, and then as a king and after that as an old aged sage. Ekantha seva and Thirumanjanam (bath gives to the perumal with holy waters) are done.

About 2 Kms from Dwaraka, there is a separate temple for Rukmani is found, where the idol is made of white marble in standing pose and the idol is said to be very beautiful.

Moolavar:
The Moolavar of this Dwaraka divyadesam is Kalyana Narayanan. He is also called with the names as Dwarakadesam and Dwarakanathji. Prathyaksham for Droupadhi, Kuchelar, Sathyabama, Rukmani, Arjunar etc. Moolavar in Nindra Thirukkolam facing his thirumugham towards west direction. 

Thaayar:
The thaayar of this kshetram is Kalyana Naachiyar. She is also called as Lakshmi Shree. Along with her, Rukmani piratti, Ashtamagashis also seen as pirattis in this sthalam.

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 Gomathi river joins the sea).

Vimaanam:
Hema Kooda Vimaanam