The Panch Dwarka Temples, Part 3

BY: SUN STAFF - 7.6 2021

Bet Dwarka

From Dwarka one proceeds to Bet Dwarka. 'Bet' refers to an island located 5 kilometres off the coast of Gujarat, near the Okha peninsula. Bet is regarded as the original place of residence of Lord Krishna.

The Shri Krishna Temple resides on the island, along with the Dandiwala Hanuman temple. Unlike Dwarkadheesh temple, the current temple here has only been standing for about 500 years old. Shri Vallabhacharya is said to have built the temple. Inside the Shri Krishna Temple resides a Deity said to have been created by Rukmini, the Lord's consort. Sri Krsna is also said to have destroyed Shankhasura at this place.

One can reach Bet Dwarka from Okha, 30 kms from Dwarka. From Okha, the ferry boats bring tourists to Bet. It takes around 20 minutes to reach the place, which is known for its variety of Shanks (conches). For Vaishnavs, shankhs bought from here have special significance. For this reason, the place also called Shankhoddhar, the place of Dhwani (sound) shakti.

The Bet is spread around a 12 km area from West South to East. The site also has archeological importance. A team of archeologists have carried out onshore and inter-tidal zone explorations and a few trial trenches were laid to trace a proper cultural sequence. The findings of Bet Dwarka may be divided into two broad periods: Proto-historic period, which includes a small seal of conch shell engraved with a three-headed animal motif, two inscriptions, a copper fishhook and late Harappan pottery (circa 1700-1400 BC); and the Historical period, consisting of coins and pottery. Onshore and inter-tidal zone explorations have indicated some kind of shoreline shifting around the Bet Dwarka Island as a few sites get submerged during high tide.

Bet Dwarka Main Temple:

Lord Dwarkadheesh is the presiding Deity in the main Bet Shankhoddhar Temple in Bet Dwarka. Vaisanavas call the presiding Deity Lord Shankho-narayan. Evidence shows that the idol of Dwarkadheesh was carried out from Dwarka and the new temple was established in Bet Dwarka in vikram samvat 1616-17. After some years, new temples of Shri Laxmiji, Satyabhama and Jambavati were also built here. During monsoon season, Lord Dwarkadheesh yatra is taken out in Bet Dwarka on every ekadashi.

The daily puja of Laxmiji and Satyabhamaji, the two main queens (pattaranis) of Lord Krishna is taken care of by a brahmachari priest who also wears woman like jewellery on his body.

Like many other temples, this temple was also looted, in this case by the British. In the first attempt in 1851, people of the Vagher community defeated the attempt, but the second time the British succeeded. They damaged the structures of the temple and looted the jewelry worth Rs.14 crore. The devotees, however, managed to shift the idols of Dwarkadheesh and the goddesses to a nearby place. The present temple was constructed in 1860, and artisans of the area offered their labour free to build the temple.

Temple Timings: The main temple at Bet Dwarka normally opens at 6 in the morning and closes at 9 in the night. Total of 13 bhogs are offered and 9 artis are performed during the day. There are 16 temples in all. Even today, the bhog is prepared using wood as fuel, maintaining all traditional style. The 21.5 meter cloth is used for Dhwajarohan in the main temple and it costs around Rs. 3500.

Hanuman Dandi Temple

Nearby is the Hanuman Dandi Temple, where Hanuman and his son Makardhwaj had met. The temple priest gives a sopari (beetle nut) to the devotee, and when his wish is fulfilled, the devotee comes here with the same sopari given by the priest, now with golden platting on it, and offers it to Hanumanji. Hanuman Dandi temple is 5 km away from the main temple, and local vehicles are available.