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Dvārakā

  • Living reference work entry
  • First Online:
Hinduism and Tribal Religions

Part of the book series: Encyclopedia of Indian Religions ((EIR))

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Synonyms

Dvāravatī; Dwarka

Definition

Dvārakā is an ancient city mentioned in the Mahābhārata, Harivaṃśa and many Purāṇas, as the new capital built under the leadership of Śrī Kṛṣṇa after the Yādavas migrated from Mathurā. According to the Mahābhārata, this was a beautiful and strongly fortified city, which was eventually submerged in the sea after the death of Kṛṣṇa. In modern times, there have been many attempts at identifying the location of this now extinct city, without, however, leading to any agreement among scholars.

Introduction

According to the Mahābhārata and its supplement or appendix, the Harivaṃśa, Dvārakā, or Dvāravatī was the new capital built under the leadership of Kṛṣṇa when the Yādavas left Mathurā and migrated westward. The decision to abandon Mathurā was taken because of the repeated attacks of Jarāsandha, the king of Magadha, who was enraged at the death of his son-in-law Kaṁsa at the hands of Kṛṣṇa. Thereafter, the new capital of Dvārakā was built. The Mahābhārata...

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References

  1. Kosambi DD (2002) Combined methods in indology and other writings. Oxford University Press, New Delhi

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  2. Ansari ZD, Mate MS (1966) Excavations at Dwarka. Deccan College, Poona

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  5. Pargiter FE (trans) (1904) The Mārkaṇḍeya Purāṇa. Asiatic Society, Calcutta

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  6. Gaur AS, Sundaresh VKH (2008) Underwater archaeology of Dwarka and Somnath. Aryan Books & National Institute of Oceanography, New Delhi

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  7. Iyengar RN, Radhakrishna BP (2005) Evolution of the western coastline of India and the probable location of Dwārakā of Kṛṣṇa: geological perspectives. J Geol Soc India 66:285–292

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Indian Institute of Advanced Study, Shimla, HP, India

    Arpita Mitra

Authors
  1. Arpita Mitra
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Correspondence to Arpita Mitra .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Dept of Anthropology, The University of North Texas Dept of Anthropology, Denton, Texas, USA

    Pankaj Jain

  2. The Graduate Theological Union , Berkeley, California, USA

    Rita Sherma

  3. Jamia Millia Islamia, Centre for the Study of Comparative Reli Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi, India

    Madhu Khanna

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Mitra, A. (2018). Dvārakā. In: Jain, P., Sherma, R., Khanna, M. (eds) Hinduism and Tribal Religions. Encyclopedia of Indian Religions. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-024-1036-5_616-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-024-1036-5_616-1

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Print ISBN: 978-94-024-1036-5

  • Online ISBN: 978-94-024-1036-5

  • eBook Packages: Springer Reference Religion and PhilosophyReference Module Humanities and Social SciencesReference Module Humanities

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