Location : Dwarka,
Gujarat.
Also Known As: Jagat Mandir.
Dedicated To: Lord Krishna.
Major Festivity: During Janmashtami In
August
LORD
KRISHNA'S ABODE
 The
temple of Jagat Mandir, with the presiding deity of Shri Krishna known
as Dwarkadhish, is an imposing edifice and a superb architectural
monument. Having a plinth area of 1800 square feet, the temple consists
of a shrine that is supported by 60 pillars of granite and sandstone.
The seven-storey edifice gradually rises to a height of 170 feet. The
spire is unique for the view it presents and the experience it induces.
Beautifully sculpted sandstone wall enthralls the visitors and the
ambulating devotees.
On the west side of the temple is the seat of Adi Shankaracharya, the
great master of Hindu faith who visited the temple in the seventh
century. For the scholars, a wall poster depicting the family tree
tracing the lineage to Lord Krishna offers an interesting insight into
the great Indian epic of Mahabharat.
LEGEND
An interesting legend surrounds the idol installed at this temple. It is
said that, taking pity on his old devotee Badana, who used to traverse
the long distance from Dakor to Dwarka, God in the form of an idol went
with him to Dakor. This enraged the priests at Dwarka, who chased Badana
to retrieve the idol. Badana persuaded the priests to leave the deity in
return of gold, where upon the priests agreed to withdraw. By a miracle,
the idol became as light as the nose-ring, which was all that the poor
widow could offer.
But the Lord didnot want to disappoint the priests. He therefore granted
them a boon that they will find a replica in Dwarka on a particular day.
Unable to resist their curiosity, the priests excavated at the suggested
site a little too early, and found yet to grow idol, which is now
enshrined at Dwarka.
HISTORICAL EVIDENCE
The present shrine is not likely to be older than the Mughal period. The
inscriptions on the pillars and other places do not appear to be older
than the 15th century AD. There must have been an older shrine, which
was probably destroyed by Mohmud Begada in 1473 AD. The present temple
was probably constructed during the period of the great Mughal Emperor,
Akbar.
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