The Mystical City of Dwarka: Its Origins and the Legend of Its Demise

According to ancient texts, Shri Krishna, the revered son of King Vasudev of Mathura, established a magnificent city on the surface of the sea—Dwarka. Today, nearly 4,000 years later, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) is once again exploring this legendary site. After a gap of about 20 years since the last excavation, the ASI’s Underwater Archaeology Wing has resumed diving near the Gujarat coast, hoping to uncover more secrets about this ancient city.

Why Did Shri Krishna Leave Mathura?

The story begins in Mathura, where Krishna played a pivotal role in overthrowing the tyrannical King Kansa, his maternal uncle. However, the aftermath brought new challenges. King Jarasandh of Magadh, Kansa’s father-in-law, sought revenge and launched repeated attacks—17 in all—against Mathura in an effort to annihilate Krishna’s clan and the Yadav community. Though Krishna emerged unscathed in these confrontations, the constant state of warfare threatened the safety and prosperity of his people.

Realizing that his community needed a secure haven, Krishna decided to relocate the Yadavs far from the dangers of Mathura. He entrusted Lord Vishwakarma with the task of building a new city, Dwarkapuri. Miraculously, this grand city was constructed overnight on the seashore, where the Yadavs could live in peace. It was here that Krishna earned the name “Dwarkadheesh,” the lord of Dwarka.

The Curses That Led to Dwarka’s Sinking

Despite its initial splendor and the harmonious life of its inhabitants, Dwarka eventually met a tragic fate and sank beneath the waves. Two powerful curses, steeped in myth, are said to have sealed its destiny:

Gandhari’s Curse:
Following the devastating events of the Mahabharata war, Yudhishthira was crowned as the king of Hastinapur. During the coronation, Gandhari—the grieving mother of the Kauravas—blamed Krishna for the massive destruction that had befallen her family. In her sorrow and anger, she cursed Krishna, prophesying that his own clan would be similarly destroyed. Legend has it that this curse led to the downfall of Dwarka, which submerged into the sea 36 years after the war.

The Curse of the Sages:
In another episode, esteemed sages such as Maharishi Vishwamitra, Dev Rishi Narada, and Kanva visited Dwarka. During their stay, some mischievous Yadava boys attempted to mock the sages by presenting Krishna’s son Samb in disguise as a woman and teasingly suggesting she was pregnant. The sages found this act of disrespect intolerable and cursed that a pestle would be born from her womb—a harbinger of doom for the Yaduvanshis. Soon after, internal strife broke out among the Yadavas, leading to fierce conflicts and widespread destruction. In the ensuing chaos, Balram passed away, and Krishna, accidentally struck by a hunter’s arrow, also left his mortal form. When the Pandavas learned of these tragic events, Arjun rescued the remaining family members and brought them to Indraprastha. In a final twist of fate, the once-great city of Dwarka disappeared beneath the sea.

This blend of myth and history continues to fascinate both archaeologists and devotees alike, as the secrets of Dwarka remain an enduring mystery—a testament to the rich tapestry of India's ancient legends and the passage of time.

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