Bhalka Tirth Mandir- Gujarat

Address

Bhalka Tirth Mandir- Tirth temple, Bhalka, Veraval, Gujarat 362265

Deity

Krishna

Introduction

• Location: Located in Veraval, Saurashtra on the western coast of Gujarat, India. It is near the Somnath Temple.
• Significance: Bhalka Tirtha is the revered place where Lord Krishna was mistakenly shot by a hunter named Jara. The event, often referred to as Shri Krishna Nijdham Prasthan Leela, marks Krishna’s departure from Earth.
• Temple Details: Known as Mahaprabhuji’s Bethak, the temple at Bhalka Tirtha honors this pivotal moment in Hindu lore. A Tulsi tree has been planted in Krishna’s honor, and the temple is dotted with Banyan trees. The temple, built of sandstone, houses a unique idol of Krishna in a semi-reclining position, symbolizing the moment of his departure. There is also a tribhangi (three-fold bending) idol of Krishna playing the flute.

Puranic Significance

• Krishna’s Curse and the Yadava Demise: According to the Mahabharata, after the Kurukshetra War, Gandhari, devastated by the loss of her sons, cursed Krishna, believing he could have prevented the war. She declared that Krishna and his Yadava clan would perish in 36 years. Krishna, knowing this was destined, accepted the curse as a part of divine will. After 36 years, a quarrel broke out among the Yadavas, leading to their self-destruction.
• Krishna’s Departure: After witnessing the demise of his people, Balarama, Krishna’s elder brother, left his body through yoga. Krishna then went into the forest to meditate under a tree. A hunter named Jara, mistook Krishna’s left foot for a deer and shot an arrow, mortally wounding him. When Jara realized his mistake, Krishna reassured him, explaining that this event was divinely ordained. Krishna also revealed that Jara was Vali in a previous birth and that this was a way of balancing karma from the Treta Yuga.
• Krishna’s Ascension: After comforting Jara, Krishna ascended to his eternal abode, Goloka. This marked the conclusion of Dvapara Yuga and the beginning of Kali Yuga, believed to have started on February 17/18, 3102 BCE.
• Connection to Lord Rama and Vali: In a previous incarnation as Rama, Krishna had stealthily killed Vali, a monkey king, by shooting him from behind while Vali fought his brother Sugriva. The death of Krishna by Jara is seen as karmic balance for that act.
• Footprints of Krishna: It is believed that Krishna’s footprints are present at Bhalka Tirtha, making it a sacred pilgrimage site for devotees who visit Somnath.

Festivals and Pilgrimage

• Pilgrimage: Bhalka Tirtha is a major pilgrimage site for devotees, particularly those visiting the Somnath Temple. Devotees come to pay homage to the site where Lord Krishna completed his divine journey on Earth.

Century/Period/Age

1000-2000 Years old

Managed By

Archaeological Survey of India (ASI)

Nearest Bus Station

Junagadh

Nearest Railway Station

Somnath Station

Nearest Airport

Porbandar

lightuptemple