Dwarakadhish Temple, Hindu temple in Dwarka, India
Dwarakadhish Temple, also called Jagat Mandir, is a five-storey Hindu temple in Dwarka, Gujarat, built of limestone and sandstone and supported by 72 pillars. Its spire rises 78 metres, and the layout consists of a garbhagriha and an antarala. The northern Moksha Dwara opens to the market, while the southern Swarga Dwara leads to 56 steps down to the Gomti River.
Archaeological finds suggest the first temple was built around 200 BCE; tradition credits Krishna's grandson Vajranabha with building it over Krishna's hari-griha. Sultan Mahmud Begada plundered Dwarka and destroyed the temple and its idol in 1473. The present five-storey temple dates to the 16th century, and its current idol was installed in 1559 by Aniruddhashrama Shankaracharya.
The name derives from Krishna, who is worshipped here as Dwarakadhish or Lord of Dwarka. Priests perform daily rituals that draw pilgrims from all parts of India, underlining the spiritual importance of the site for devotees.
Visiting hours run from 6 AM to 1 PM and from 5 PM to 9:30 PM. During Krishna Janmashtami, the entire complex experiences much heavier attendance.
The flag above the spire, 50 feet long and triangular, carries sun and moon symbols and is replaced four times a day; devotees pay to hoist a new one, and the money goes to the temple trust for upkeep.
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