- By Kishan Prajapati
- Mon, 26 Aug 2024 10:53 AM (IST)
- Source:JND
Krishna Janmashtami 2024: Hindu devotees worldwide are celebrating Lord Krishna's janmotsav today on August 26. In Dwarka which is the 'ancient kingdom of Krishna,' devotees have gathered to offer their prayers and seek blessings from the God at Jagat Mandir. On this auspicious occasion, let's dive deep into the history of the mythological Panchanand Tirtha Dham located on the seashore of Dwarka and the banks of the Gomti River. Thousands of years ago Rishi Marichi, Rishi Angira, Rishi Pulaha, Rishi Atri and Rishi Kratu established five kunds (wells) in memory of their visit to Dwarka which bear sweet water even today. Deepakbhai Thakur, the priest of Dwarkadhish temple, shares interesting details about this sacred place which is an important place in Dwarka.
Dwarkadhishji temple temple's priest Deepakbhai Thakur reveals that since Saptpuri is one of the Mokshapuri and four Dhams, five sages came to Dwarka in ancient times. Marichi Rishi, Angira Rishi, Atri Rishi, Pulaha Rishi and Kratu Rishi arrived on the pilgrimage, took a bath in the Gomti river and performed Sandhya Vandana. The five sages performed penance on the bank of Gomti where there is a temple of Lord Laxminarayan with the auspicious intention that if they come to Dwarka, they should leave some souvenirs here.
The five sages meditated one by one and invoked the rivers with their power, rivers which flow in different provinces of India. Marichi Rishi invoked River Gomti, Angira Rishi invoked River Jambuvati, Atri Rishi invoked River Kushavati, Pulaha Rishi invoked River Chandrabhaga and Kratu Rishi invoked River Lakshmana and manifested its water here in the sandy coastal area.
Gomti Tirth Well At Dwarka (Image: Kishan Prajapati)
Jambuvati Tirth Well At Dwarka (Image: Kishan Prajapati)
Due to the water of these five rivers being salty, the five sages asked for a boon from Dwarkadhishji that as long as this universe exists, the water of these five invoked rivers will always remain honey-sweet in the memory of Dwarka city. In this way, with the blessings of God and the power of the sages, even today there are five types of wells at a distance of 100 meters on all sides in the sandy area of the sea, which even today have five types of water of different tastes. This is why, this place is called Panchananda Tirtha.
Kushavati Tirth Well At Dwarka (Image: Kishan Prajapati)
Chandrabhaga Tirth Well At Dwarka (Image: Kishan Prajapati)
The sacred pilgrimage site is also mentioned in the scriptures. It is written in the 14th chapter of Prahlad Mahatmya of Skanda Purana. There is a temple of Lord Shri Laxminarayanji at this place where the idol of Lord Krishna is seated on Garuda and Goddess Laxmi is seated in his lap. When the devotees seek blessings from God, Lord Krishna arrives on his (sawari) vehicle to remove the troubles of the devotees.
Lakshmana Tirth Well At Dwarka (Image: Kishan Prajapati)
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