Dwarkadhish Temple (Jagat Mandir)

The story

After leaving Mathura, Shri Krishna built the city of Dwarka by the sea and made it his capital. By tradition, his great-grandson Vajranabh built the first temple over Krishna's palace, the Hari-griha. Adi Shankaracharya came here; a spot in the temple honours his visit, and the Dwarka Sharada Peeth, one of his four mathas, is close by. Over the centuries the temple was damaged and rebuilt many times; most of the present building is from the 15th and 16th centuries. In 1559 Shankaracharya Aniruddhashram installed the present murti of Dwarkadhish. A popular devotional story tells of the devotee Bodana, who walked to Dwarka every six months for seventy-two years; it is said that the Lord, moved by his love, went with him to Dakor. Another Dwarka story is about Mata Rukmini. While she and Krishna were drawing the chariot of the sage Durvasa, she became thirsty, and Krishna brought out Ganga water from the earth. The sage was angered and cursed her to live apart, which is why her temple stands about two kilometres from the town. Devotees also believe that Meerabai merged into Shri Krishna in this very temple.