Junagadh Radha Damodar Temple, Gujarat

Address

Junagadh Radha Damodar Temple, Gujarat

Damodar Kund, Girnar Rd,

 Junagadh district,

 Gujarat 362001

Moolavar

Damodar Hari (Krishna)

Introduction

• Location: Situated in the Junagadh district of Gujarat, India.
• Deity: Dedicated to Damodar Hari, another name for Lord Krishna, and Goddess Radha.
• Special Features: The temple also houses Damodar Kund and Revati Kund, sacred lakes within the temple premises.
• Management: The temple is under the special care of the Government of Gujarat.

Puranic Significance

• The Sri Damodar Pilgrimage, including the temple and its sacred lakes, is located along the road leading to the Girnar mountains.
• The site was renovated in 462 A.D. during the reign of King Skand Gupta of the Gupta Empire.
• The temple is believed to have been originally built by Vajranabh, the grandson of Lord Krishna, adding to its spiritual and historical significance.

Architectural Features

1. Temple Structure:
   • Constructed from pink sandstone, showcasing intricate craftsmanship.
   • The temple is divided into two main parts:
     • Nij Temple: The sanctum sanctorum, with a peak height of 65 feet.
     • Saloha Mandap: A prayer hall with a peak height of 30.5 feet.
   • A flag is prominently displayed at the apex of the Nij temple.
2. Arcs and Pillars:
   • The temple features 32 arcs and 84 finely crafted pillars, exemplifying the architectural brilliance of ancient India.
3. Shrines within the Temple:
   • Central Shrine: Dedicated to Radha and Damodar (Krishna), where Lord Krishna is depicted in his four-armed form of Vishnu, holding a conch, discus, mace, and lotus.
   • Adjacent Shrine: Dedicated to Lord Balarama (Krishna’s elder brother) and his consort Revati.
   • Ganesha Temple: Located on the south-west side of the premises.

Special Features

• Historical Legacy: One of the most ancient temples in Gujarat, holding profound spiritual significance.
• Rituals and Devotion:
  • The temple attracts thousands of devotees, especially on the 15th day of Krishna Paksha in the Bhadra month, for Pitru Tarpan (rituals to honor deceased ancestors).
  • Devotees believe that bathing in the sacred Damodar Kund leads to salvation and liberation from sins.
• Spiritual Significance:
  • According to the Skanda Upanishad, the Damodar Kund is located on the path of the Swarna Rasha river, and a holy dip in its waters absolves sins.
  • The revered devotional poet Narsinh Mehta is said to have bathed in Damodar Kund every day before worshiping Lord Damodar (Krishna).

Century/Period

462 A.D

Managed By

Department of Archaeology (DOA)

Nearest Bus Station

Junagadh

Nearest Railway Station

Junagadh Station

Nearest Airport

Rajkot

Location on Map

lightuptemple