Dvarakadhisha

[Guest guest]

The most recent Back to Godhead magazine (Jan/Feb 2000) has a nice

article about Dvaraka, where Krishna lives as Dvarakadhisha. Dvaraka is

one of Krishna's eternal residences and our Gaudiya acharyas have written

extensively on the Lord's transcendental pastimes there.

On the far west coast of Saurashtra, Dvaraka is a very peaceful

holy place today, probably because it's so hard to get out there. There's

really not much there nowadays, except the immense temple of Dvarakadhish,

said to have been founded by Adi Shankaracharya (others say Lilashuka).

Huge, brightly colored flags fly atop the temple's massive shikara. The

Gomati river trickles into the sea next to the temple (this is where

there are so many Dvaraka shilas along the river bed that one has to watch

one's step to avoid offense). It feels purifying just to take a japa walk

there along the seemingly interminable stretch of beach opposite the

Gomati's confluence, feeling the sea breeze coming off of the waves.

Especially near sunset, when everything turns golden and the view of the

august temple from afar provides an unforgettable scene, one can hardly

but be inspired with noble thoughts; Krishna consciousness is natural

there. Srila Lilashuka Bilvamangala Thakura is credited with the

following devotional verse, evidently composed while he was in Dvaraka:

 

gomatI-taTa-manohara-haMsaM

dvArakezvaram ajaM jita-kaMsam

dagdha-duSTa-kali-kilbiSa-kandaM

citta cintaya sadaiva mukundam

 

"O heart, constantly and exclusively think about Mukunda,

who is the root of destruction of all the ugly sins of Kali-yuga,

the eternal Lord of Dvaraka, the vanquisher of Kamsa,

and the enchanting swan on the banks of the Gomati."

 

Bilvamangala-stava, 2.38

 

MDd