Harsiddhi Mata
Temple Name : Harsiddhi Mata temple
Devi : Harsiddhi Mata
Bhairava : -
Organ: No – ‘Dwaraka peet’
Sanskrit letter: No
How to reach-
This is situated between Dwaraka and Somnath. Make the journey to Dwaraka from ahmedabad and its on the way to Somnath (another shakthi peet) about half a distance from Dwaraka.
About the place -
After wonderful trip from Kabbar hills, I visited Mount Abu – Arputha devi(see details in Rajasthan). I returned to Ahmedabad from where I took a train to Dwaraka. It was a long journey is about 457 kilometer from Ahmedabad. Okha is the last stop, so I got down at Dwaraka station. The humidity and moisture of the sea shore welcomes me to this MayaKannan Empire. I hired an auto to reach the temple. I am so excited to visit this place. Dwaraka is not a big city; it’s just a small town. When I noticed this, suddenly I remember about the kingdom of Krishna, how this was during his times. The entire city was full of rich and joy with huge building blocks and every yadavas house was with fun and wealth. This was usual ending for every empire.
Dwaraka is praised as one of the seven holy cities in India as mentioned in puranas. Dwaraka was constructed by Krishna, he selected this place for his yadavas. They shifted from Mathura to Dwaraka. Even this was considered as western gate to India, and also important port in sea route. It was noticed as swarna puri(Golden city) in ancient times as it hold enormous wealth. It is said to be this place was selected by Garuda and it was spread over 104 kilometer (12 yogans) away from Jarasandh. In his time itself this place was attacked by shishupal and then Krishna killed him and reconstructed it.
According to puranas, as per Gandhari curse, after Mahabaratha war, Yadvas killed themself and the whole dwaraka was ruined, even Krishna’s son, balram, other relatives died soon and due to heart breaking suffering, Krishna went to the jungle and slept there. A hunter mistaked him as deer and shot poisonous arrow to his leg. Due to this attack, Krishna left his body at that place. The Dwaraka drowned by the sea. Now the archeologist found some remains inside the sea.
The dwaraka temple is continuously destructed for various reasons, now the present Jaganath temple is said to be built in 10th centuray, and got repaired recently on 17th century and came under control of shankaracharya mutt. The temple tower is huge in nagari style about 17 meter wide 52 mts tall. There are main entrance(Mokhsa dwar), shabhamandapam (Big hall where devotees gather together), nitmandir( another hall) and in main sanctum there is a black stone idol for Krishna.
The entire place is vibrated by love for Krishna, every mouth spells Krishna Krishna… the priests closes the screen for every 15 minutes as they change the dresses, ornaments and feed variety foods to Krishna for every hour… that much love, they worship him as a child. They call him as Ranchhodraji. This place is said to be Bhaktha meera dissolved herself with Krishna, after her intense love towards him. I flooded with those thoughts when I stand before that black Krishna idol, how she gone mad with him and her journey in hot desert with the songs.
We can visit sharadha mutt nearby and they have collections of ancients and holy books in hindi.
There is another important place that is Naganath, one of the twelve jyothirlinga, which is very near to Dwaraka about 12 kilometers from there. In ancient period it is named as Dharuka vanam(forest).
There are many share jeeps available to reach nageswar, the temple is seems to be reconstructed recently. Then again to dwaraka, I took a bus to Harsiddhi Mata.
The temple is situated in sea shore and it is also looked ancient one. There is a half constructed temple which is at the Koyla hill nearby. But the old temple is under the hill, it’s look like projected out from the rock, I stepped to the temple, it has open hall with some stay rooms like something on entire corner and again I stepped left to that place has main shrine. There are totally three shrines, in center there is idol of Harsiddhi Mata which is well decorated and right to it is Bhairava. It has no reference as shakthi pith in texts and no organ or akshara is specified and it noted as Dwaraka peet. It is mentioned as the inherits of Krishna worshipped this devi as their native godness. Before any war, Krishna came here and got blessings. It is said that he renovated this temple during his period.
