Dwaraka is one of the most important and holy places of India situated on the western coast of the country on the banks of sacred river Gomati where it meets the Western Sea. It is located in the Sourashtra region of Gujarat state in Jamnagar District.
It is in existence since Vedic and Pouranic days held in high esteem as one of the seven most sacred places called Sapta Puri in the Indian Sub-continent.
The seven sacred places are Ayodhya, Mathura, Kasi, Kanchi, Avantika (Ujjain), Puri (Jagannathapuri), and Dwaraka. These seven places are said to be the most holy and religious places attached with great spiritual importance.
It is also called as one of the Char Dhams, the four abodes of God in four directions viz.
Badari in the North,
Rameswaram in the South,
Puri Jagannath in the East and
Dwaraka in the West.
These are said to be the most revered sites for Hindus to be visited at least once in their life time.
The word Dwaraka is a combination of two words Dwara + Ka = Dwaraka. Dwara means a gate/door/entrance and Ka represents Brahma the Supreme Being. Dwaraka means the gateway to Brahma – the Supreme God, Hari SArvottama.
Hence, Dwaraka is referred to as MuktiDhaam or Mokshapuri, the gateway to liberation of soul.
Dwaraka is also called as Dwaravati or Dwarakavati.
Reference to Dwaraka can be found in many Pouranic scripts like MahaBharata, SriMadBhagavata, Vishnu Purana, HariVamsa Purana, Skanda Purana etc…
It is said that Brahma Manasa Puthras, Sanaka, Sananda, Sanatana, Sanatkumara did penance at this place for several thousands of years on the banks of the ocean worshipping Lord Vishnu.
As a result of which the Supreme God Vishnu appeared and manifested at this place along with Sudarshana Chakra. Hence, the Lord at this place is called as Chakra Narayana and the entire area of pilgrimage is known as Chakra Theertha.
River Ganges flowing here is referred to as Gomati and hence, Dwaraka is also referred to as Gomati Dwaraka.
The river Gomati merges with the ocean (Arabian Sea) at this place and the point where the river merges with the ocean is known as Gomati Sangam and hence, the Lord at this place is also referred to as Sangam Narayana or Samudra Narayana.
There is a great significance for taking holy bath and performing sacred rites to forefathers at this Sangam point of sacred river Gomati as it will liberate one from the sins committed in the previous births and is regarded as the gate way to salvation.
Ancestors belonging to three generations go to the abode of Vishnu and his accumulated sins of thousands of years get destroyed.
Mere darshan of Gomati at Dwaraka destroys all the sins, which are committed by thoughts, words and deeds.
It is said that during Dwapara Yuga, sage Durvasa came to this place to have Darshan of Lord Chakra Narayana, but, he was obstructed by the demons there. On praying,
Lord Trivikrama came to the rescue of Sage Durvasa and hence, this place is also known as Trivikrama Kshetra.
It is also significantly holy place where prominent sages like Athri, Marichi, Durvasa and Angirasa etc… made it as their abode and performed sacred penance and austerities.
Dwaraka is also called as Kushasthali the place where Kusa (Dharbha) fell on the earth; There is also another version of Kushasthali.
It is said and believed that there used to live a demon called Kusha at this place which is known as Kushasthali and later Lord Sri Krishna killed him at this spot.
Later on, during the end of Dwapara Yuga Lord Sri Krishna migrated to this place and made Dwaraka as his abode and capital of his kingdom.
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Sanatana Samacharam 