Dwarka, also known as Lord Krishna’s sunken city, carries great importance in ancient history, back in Hindu mythology. Adorned by the golden gates, precious stones, and vibrant streets, the city was nothing less than an architectural marvel. But it’s said it drowned at sea after Lord Krishna left his mortal body.
Let’s go a bit deeper into the story behind it and the mysteries it has:
Dwarka: The Sunken City - Is It a Legend or a Myth?
Dwarka is the most famous legendary underwater city, and one can read its history and prevalence in the scripture of Mahabharata. Like Atlantis, it is said that Dwarka also sank beneath the sea at some point in the past. However, you can find remains of the city underwater, unlike Atlantis, whose remains were never discovered.
As per the sacred scripture of Srimad Bhagavatam, Dwarka city was built to prevent attacks on Mathura. A ruler of Magadha named Jarasandha was constantly attacking Mathura, so to prevent such attacks, Lord Krishna built another city on the western coast of India, which is called Dwarka.
The city was built near a place called Kushasthali, as per the ancient texts and it quickly rose to prominence. Housing thousands in approximately 900 places, the city was heavily fortified and could only be reached by ship.
Dwarka City: Some Amazing Facts
- As per the Mahabharata, the city was submerged by the Arabian Sea on the same day when Lord Krishna departed the Earth to join the spiritual world after 125 years.
- When Lord Krishna departed Earth, it was the day when Kali Yuga began.
- The ocean’s deity reclaimed the whole land, sparing the Lord Krishna’s city only. It’s said that Dwarka city was attacked by Vimana, a flying machine.
- In the city of Dwarka, there is a famous temple called Dwarkadhish, which bears the symbol of the sun and moon, and the temple’s iconic flag is changed five times daily—a tradition that has been ongoing for over the last 2500 years.
- Dwarka city is also considered one of the Sapta Puri, the seven holiest cities in Hinduism, and is believed to be the gateway to Moksha.
- The city also has a well-organized port structure, featuring docks, because it was a key maritime center in the Arabian Sea trade network.
- Dwarka is also known for its best and unique Shankhs, the conch shells, believed to carry sacred energy.
- Apart from just the Dwarka’s description or mention in the Mahabharata and Bhagavad Gita, one can also read its mention in the Skanda Purana, Vishnu Purana, and even in Buddhist texts.
Many Other Mysteries of The Lost City Dwarka
It’s Said That It’s All About A Curse
In the tale of Mahabharata, following the war between the Pandavas and the Kauravas, Queen Gandhari cursed Lord Krishna and his Yaduvansha clan. That curse led to the eventual destruction when the Yadavas began fighting amongst themselves.
Lord Krishna, stricken with grief, went to the forest, where he met his fateful end with an arrow mistakenly shot by a hunter. With Lord Krishna’s passing, Arjuna evacuated the remaining inhabitants of Dwarka, after which Dwarka was consumed by the sea.
The Curse of Samba
It’s believed that Samba, the son of Lord Krishna, once disguised as a pregnant woman, mocked some saints named Narad, Vishwamitra, and Kanva. So, he was cursed by them, saying that a pestle would be born from the disguised figure that would lead to the destruction of the Yaduvansha clan.
The Continuous Search For The Lost City Of Dwarka
In the year 1980, the Marine Archeology Unit (MAU) of the National Institute of Oceanography (NIO), led by Dr. S.R. Rao, started underwater explorations to uncover structures there.
Sonar equipment was found under submerged structures that included pillars, stone walls, anchors, and also grids that resembled urban planning. Those were dated to around 3500 to 9000 years ago, potentially within the time frame of the Mahabharata.
Dr. Rajic Nigam, who is the former chief scientist of CSIR-NIO, led the underwater exploration, excavating near the current Dwarkadhish temple. Dr. SR Rao, who is a well-known Indian archaeologist, also conducted a survey to look for the signs of Dwarka city in 2007. He figured out that the location of Dwarka was on the westernmost tip of India, which is modern-day Gujarat, corresponding to the one given in the written literature.
However, the research is still ongoing by the Marine archeologists in India, which is attracting more global attention day by day.
Final Thoughts - What The Discoveries Say?
Well, the remains point towards the highly organized port city, which is none other than Dwarka, strongly relatable to what ancient texts mention about it. The stone anchors that were found were all used in ships in 3000 BCE. So, these signs point towards the lost city of Dwarka, which was built by Lord Krishna.
Therefore, the lost city of Dwarka, though it blurs the line between history and archeological discovery, still, we all know, deep in our hearts, that those remains are of the city of Dwarka.
So, we're waiting for history to be rediscovered!
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