The seven-storey edifice gradually rises to a height of
170 feet. The spire is unique for the view it presents and
the experience it induces. Beautifully sculpted sandstone
wall enthralls the visitors and the ambulating devotees.
On the west side of the temple is the seat of Adi Shankaracharya,
the great master of Hindu faith who visited the temple in
the seventh century. For the scholars, a wall poster depicting
the family tree tracing the lineage to Lord Krishna offers
an interesting insight into the great Indian epic of Mahabharat.
An interesting legend surrounds the idol installed at this
temple. It is said that, taking pity on his old devotee
Badana, who used to traverse the long distance from Dakor
to Dwarka, God in the form of an idol went with him to Dakor.
This enraged the priests at Dwarka, who chased Badana to
retrieve the idol. Badana persuaded the priests to leave
the deity in return of gold, where upon the priests agreed
to withdraw. By a miracle, the idol became as light as the
nose-ring, which was all that the poor widow could offer.
But the Lord did not want to disappoint the priests. He
therefore granted them a boon that they will find a replica
in Dwarka on a particular day. Unable to resist their curiosity,
the priests excavated at the suggested site a little too
early, and found yet to grow idol, which is now enshrined
at Dwarka.
Historical Evidence
The present shrine is not likely to be older than the
Mughal period. The inscriptions on the pillars and other
places do not appear to be older than the 15th century AD.
There must have been an older shrine, which was probably
destroyed by Mohmud Begada in 1473 AD. The present temple
was probably constructed during the period of the great
Mughal Emperor, Akbar.
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