Several devotees vow to hoist Dhwaja of their own on the Dwarkadheesh temple.
It is a kind of faith, worship and form to offer prayers to the Lord Krishna.It
becomes a festival, a religious ritual in the family. A devotee celebrates and
performs Dhwaja Aarohan as per his wish and capacity. He invites his friends and
relatives. They ceremonially carry dhwaja on their heads, moves towards Dwarkadheesh
temple in a procession, chanting songs and slogans in praise of the Lord- Jay
Ranchhod - Raja Ranchhod, Gopal Krishna - Radhe Krishna etc. A prayer is offered
to dhwajaji traditionally with the help of learned priests. Dhwaja is placed at
pious feet of Dwarikadheesh with offerings and then it is handed over for hoisting.
As an accomplishment of the whole process, the priest throws a coconut from top
of the peak to mark the Dhwaja aarohan. The pieces of the broken coconut are distributed
as the Lord's prasadam.
Dhwaja: Dhwajaji is changed thrice a day.
.... About seven hundred dhwajas are offered every year.... A devotee few years
back had flied a golden dhwaja too. Devotees
can book dhwaja -offerings at Gugali Brahmins' office (Ph.
+91 2892 234105) and/or Dwarka Devasthan Samiti's office (Ph.
+91 2892 234080)
Dwarkadheesh's
flag (dhwaja) always fly high. It has a special meaning to the devotees. The worshippers
of Dwarkadheesh have lot to say in praise of hoisting the flag on the peak. In
fact, for the devotees it is more than any other family event or a festival.
Aadhi
Bhoutik : Aadhi means place and Bhautik means Panch tatva woven cloth of dhwaja.
52 yards of cloth is being used for dhwaja and fifty-two nos. of small flags are
being joined around border of fifty-two yards of dhwaja in which each yard ties
in own independent existence & identity. Each yard indicates entrance of Dwarka
of Krishna era and it also symbolises flags on the residence of fifty-two officers
of Dwarka. All these fifty-two yards combine to make a single dhwaja. These yards
also symbolise fifty entrances as well as Swarg Dwar & Moksha Dwar of Dwarkadheesh
palace. Thus dhwaja of Dwarkadheesh is combining Aadhi Bhoutik swaroop of entrances
& residence of Yadav officers. Adhyatmik
: Word dhwaja is quite auspicious & honorable word, which creates sense
of respect. People respect its Adhyatmik swarup, and bow to dhwaja as mark of
devotion & respect. Aadhidaivik
Swarup : Dhwajaji of Dwarkadheesh indicates it's divine nature. When each
yard of cloth is separate and isolated, it is merely apiece of cloth. But when
it is tailored to make dhwaja, it incarnates divine nature and becomes abode of
Dwarkadheesh's aadhi daivik swaroop. Till this divine incarnated dhwaja is hoisted,
Dwarkadheesh resides at the residence of its devotee and makes his home and his
family members very auspicious. |