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Friday, December 14, 2012

The End Of Dwaraka



In the Mahabharata, Dwaraka meaning "the many-gated (city)".Sometimes transcribed as Dwaravati is the capital of the Yadus who ruled the Anarta Kingdom. The city was situated on the western point of Gujarat, and is submerged in the sea as per the volume 16 of the epic Mahabharata.
It was founded by a clan of Yadu chiefs who fled from the Surasena Kingdom to lead a peaceful life which they can't have if they remain in Surasena kingdom because of king Jarasandha of Magadha.
 
The territory of Dwaraka included the Dwaraka Island, many neighbouring islands like the Antar Dwipa and the mainland area neighbouring the Anarta Kingdom.Dwaraka was a federation of many republics rather than a kingdom under a single king, the title of king of the Dwaraka-confederation being only titular.Within the Federation of Dwaraka were included the states of Andhakas, Vrishnis and Bhojas. The Yadavas ruling Dwaraka were also known as Dasarhas and Madhus.Prominent Yadava chiefs residing in Dwaraka included Vasudeva Krishna, Bala Rama, Satyaki, Kritavarma, Uddhava, Akrura and Ugrasena.


                                                 Dwaraka Sri Krishna City

The account of Dvaraka's sinking into the ocean is found in book 16 of the Mahabharata (Mausala Parva).
Day by day strong winds blew. Earthen pots showed cracks or broke from no apparent cause. Society became corrupt.Such a day had happened at the time of the great battle of Bharatas (Kurukshetra War). It has once more appeared. After that war 36 years had passed. The messengers proclaimed at the command of Vasudeva Krishna that the Vrishnis should make a journey to the seacoast for bathing in the sacred waters of the ocean.
The Yadavas, then, with their wives, proceeded to Prabhasa and took up their residence there, each in the (temporary) habitation that was assigned to him, and all having an abundance of provisions consisting of edibles and drink. The Vrishnis, mixing with wine the food that had been cooked for high-souled Brahmanas, gave it away unto monkeys and apes. Those heroes of fierce energy then began their high revels, of which drinking formed the chief feature, at Prabhasa. Then a dispute arose between Satyaki and Kritavarman on the wrongs they did in the Kurukshetra War. This dispute turned into a great massacre, in which all the Yadava heroes were slain.
Arjuna arrived at Dwaraka and addressed the chief officers, to prepare to leave Dwaraka within 7 days, as Dwaraka is going to sink in the ocean. Krishna's grandson Vajra was chosen as their king to be ruled at Indraprastha. Arjuna then proceeded to the place where the Vrishnis were slaughtered. Searching out the bodies then of Bala Rama, Arjuna caused them to be burnt by persons skilled in that act. On the seventh day, Arjuna evacuated Dwaraka Island. After all the people had set out, the ocean flooded Dvaraka, which still teemed with wealth of every kind, with its waters. Whatever portion of the ground was passed over, ocean immediately flooded over with his waters. Beholding this wonderful sight, the inhabitants of Dvaraka walked faster and faster. (16.7)
Pandavas on their last journey before death, saw Dwaraka covered by ocean.
Excavations done by Dr. S. R. Rao at Dwaraka lend support to its historicity, as well as the narratives in Pauranic scripture that describes the construction Dwaraka.

"Fearing attack from Jarasangh and Kaalayvan on Mathura, Shri Krishna and Yadavas left Mathura and arrived at the coast of Saurashtra. They decided to build their capital in the coastal region and invoke the Vishwakarma the deity of construction. However, Vishwakarma says that the task can be completed only if Samudradev, the Lord of the sea provided some land. Shri Krishna worshipped Samudradev, who was pleased and gave them land measuring 12 yojans and the Lord vishwakarma build Dwaraka, a "city in gold".

The information and material secured through underwater excavation off Dwaraka corroborates with the references to the City of Dwaraka, made in the Mahabharata and various other Sanskrit literary works. In the Mahabharata, there is a specific account about the submerging of Dwaraka by the sea
The importance of the discovery of Dwaraka lies not merely in providing archaeological evidence needed for corroborating the traditional account of the submergence of Dwaraka but also indirectly fixing the date of the Mahabharata.








Pottery found at the archaeological site bears resemblance to pottery found at another site (Bet Dwaraka) which dates to around 3500 years B.P.. Furthermore, the discovery may shed light on other cities in ancient India which may have vanished by flooding, such as Indraprastha and Pataliputra. The bulk of these contemporary findings are attributed to S.R. Rao, formerly of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) and now with the National Institute of Oceanography in Goa. These findings are disputed by the far-left in India, who regard all such claims in Indian records as mythology, hoax or fiction.


    Dwarakadheesh temple in present Dwarka city, believed to have been originally built by Lord   krishna's grandson, Vajranabha, over the hari-griha (Lord Krishna's residential place)

Critics claim these findings to be inconclusive, or indicate the presence of natural objects.Supporters maintain the findings and their correspondence with Indian traditional narratives despite intermediate embellishments that constitute a mythology.Nearly two decades after this discovery, the state government is considering proposals to establish the world's first underwater museum to view the remains of the city.A few years ago a team of NIOT(National Institute of Oceanography) scientists while working for British Gas in the Gulf of Cambay region were stunned to see images of objects and things, completely alien to the marine domain. Samples collected include artifacts, wood pieces, pottery materials, hearth pieces and animal bones which were sent to Manipur University, Oxford University, London, Institute of Earth Sciences, Hanover, Germany for analysis and dating. On analysis and dating of the samples collected it was found that the samples were about 9000 years old, about the same time when the Ice Age ended. Some of the artifacts discovered dated as far back as 32,000 years and much more.This is the discovery of the oldest civilization known to mankind ever.

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Amazing that we can find the place where once leave by Lord Krsna.

Swastika said...

Want of the great finding in India.Jai sri krishna.

Anonymous said...

Very interesting and informative.

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