JOLEE-Power-Edition-2020

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India
Dwarka
By Susan Berger
New York / San Francisco / Hong Kong / London / Tokyo /
Rome / Toronto
Revered as one of the most prominent sacred pilgrimage sites of Hinduism
and one of the seven most ancient religious sites in India, Dwarka is located
in a remote part of the state of Gujarat. According to Hindu mythology, it
is the site of the sacred city of Dvaraka, which is mentioned in the
“Mahabharata”, one of the two great epics of ancient India, and is where
Krishna once lived until he passed on from this world. After his death,
legends say the city was engulfed by a massive flood.
Dvaraka was believed to be a meticulously planned city, divided into six
sectors containing residential and commercial sectors, roads, plazas and
palaces made of gold, silver and precious stones, public facilities, gardens
and lakes. Surrounded by water, it was connected to the mainland by
bridges.
The existence of Dvaraka was long dismissed as a myth. Archeological
excavations, however, suggest that there is evidence of a destroyed
settlement dating back to the 15th century BC. This discovery led to
offshore investigations, and stone structures and anchors were found just off
the shore of the current modern city of Dwarka. These imply that Dvaraka
was one of the busiest ports on the west coast of India. Since the ruins date
back at least 9,000 years when the area was submerged under water, it
means that the city must have existed before then. Further exploration has
revealed sandstone walls, a grid of streets and evidence of a sea port 70 feet
under water. The ruins are considered to be Dvaraka, and give credence to
the belief that the “Mahabharata” is not a book of myths and legends, but
an actual account of past events.
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