Krishna a Historical Character; Sea Underwater Proofs on Dwarka!

Dwarka

Is Krishna a historical character? There have been ample debates and discussions on this topic. Evidences, both archaeological and written, prove him as a historical figure. Archaeological evidences affirm Dwarka as the ancient kingdom ruled by Krishna. Excavations done mainly at two sites led to the discovery of submerged settlements in the form of exterior and interior walls, fort bastions, and remnants of an entire city. Besides, finding of triangular stone anchors with three holes prove it was a well-planned city with an advanced harbor..

It is an irony that Wikipedia enlists Vedic period between 1500 to 600 BCE. The Ramayana and Mahabharata events took place after the Vedic era. Mahabharata war, steered by Krishna, did take place. Certainly the Mahabharata war did not take place after 600 BCE! But many western historians, including few of our own, consider the Ramayana and Mahabharata as mythology and Rama and Krishna as mythical characters, that they did not exist. Literary evidences prove the Mahabharata timeline to be between 5000 to 7500 years back, as per different researches by different scholars. According to the book When Did the Mahabharata War Happen by Nilesh Nilkanth Oak, the Mahabharata war took place in 5561 BCE, i.e. around 7,500 years ago. His arriving of this timeline is based on 200+ astronomy and associated observations from the Mahabharata text.

Dwarka, which means ‘gateway to heaven’, is deemed a holy place for the Hindus; it is one of the Chardhams (the other three being Badrinath, Puri, and Rameshwaram) and also one of the Sapta Puris (the other six being Ayodhya, Mathura, Haridwar, Varanasi, Kanchipuram, and Ujjain).

Many reckon this ancient city of Lord Krishna as merely a myth. But ruins discovered under waters of the submerged city of Dwarka tell a different story. Yes Lord Krishna existed! The magnificent city of Dwarka existed. Mahabharata is a historical tale. The Mahabharata war did take place. It is believed the entire city of Dwarka that dates back to 5000 to 7500 years submerged under water owing to a catastrophe.

Krishna; Image courtesy: Pinterest

Krishna speaks about Dwarka, an excerpt from Blue Vanquisher: “Our kingdom will spread across Saurashtra, Kathiavad, and Sindh. Our capital shall be at Dwarka, located in an island in the sea. Jarasandh can never attack Dwarka. Our people will be completely safe there. They will stay in peace and contentment.”

Gulf of Cambay, also called Gulf of Khambat; Image source: Wikipedia

A discovery of an ancient city in ruins dating back between 4000 to 12000 years under waters in the Arabian Sea in the Gulf of Cambay further proves the existence of the city of Dwarka mentioned in the Mahabharata. Krishna’s Dwarka spread across Saurashtra, Kathiavad, and Sindh. And the discovery of the city under the waters was between the mainland Gujarat and Saurashtra Penninsula.

Krishna’s Dwarka had neighboring kingdoms that existed hundreds of years before the establishment of this city. It is probable that remnants of the ancient city of Dwarka including other neighboring cities mentioned in the Mahabharata and other texts are found at Gulf of Cambay including sites near the Dwarkadheesh temple and another site under water in that area. Given the different timelines dating even beyond the Mahabharata period, we can only surmise the finds underwater were not only of Krishna’s Dwarka but also of structures and artefacts that existed before Krishna’s period too.

Ancient City of Dwarka under waters; Image courtesy: Pinterest

In between 1999 to 2001, the National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT) conducted a survey in the Gulf of Cambay. Scientists and marine archaeologists came across excellent geometric objects below the sea-bed, similar to Harappan and pre-Harappan ruins.

The Hindu carried a report on this in 2001, which read thus, ‘Acoustic images showed the area lined with well-laid house basements like features partially covered by sand waves and sand ripples at 30-40 metre water depth. At many places, channel-like features were also seen indicating the possible existence of possible drainage in the area….Possible age of the finds can be anywhere between 4000-6000 years’ and that ‘the site might have got submerged due to a powerful earthquake’.

Ancient city of Dwarka under waters; Image courtesy: ntd.tv

The results of the follow-up reports related to the research of the artefacts from the Gulf of Cambay at the Physical Research Laboratory – Ahmedabad, National Geophysical Research Institute (NGRI) – Hyderabad and the Birbal Sahni Institute of Paleobotany (BSIP) – Lucknow were stunning. These artefacts date back between 9000 to 12000 years. The piece of wood was carbon dated to be 9,500 years old!

Here is a short description about the ancient city of Dwarka – an excerpt from Blue Vanquisher: ‘Vishwakarma builds the golden city of Dwarka like heaven. No other palace and city is as grand, as incredible, and as magnificent as Dwarka. With the parijat flower trees on either sides of every lane, bylane, and roads, all the palaces are ornamented with precious jewels. Vishwakarma also brought to Dwarka the SuDharma, the administrative parliament building of heaven.’

According to a February 2007 report by The Hindu, the Underwater Archaeology Wing (UAW) of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) discovered ancient structural remains under water in the Arabian Sea. These ruins are situated 131 feet beneath the ocean surface in the bay of present Dwarka. They also found 30 copper coins from an excavated site on land close to the Dwarakadhish temple. This temple was originally built around 2,500 years ago. It was destroyed by Mahmud Shah in the 16^th century and rebuilt soon after.

This survey in 2007 was conducted under the direction of Alok Tripathi, Superintending Archaeologist from UAW along with divers from the Navy and a team of Archaeology students from across the country.

Ancient city of Dwarka under waters; Image courtesy: YouTube

A June 2007 report by DNA India reads thus, ‘archaeologists have excavated from the ruins of Dwarka a wooden block that promises to solve the mystery about the exact age of the submerged city believed by many to belong to Lord Krishna’. This report was based on the findings by the same team led by Alok Tripathi, who started their survey in the beginning of the same year, i.e. 2007 to end in June.

According to the UAW Superintending Archaeologist, the wooden block was discovered from a submerged circular structure. This wooden block is believed to be few thousands year old. What is surprising is the perfect joining of the blocks with wooden dowels and nails that has helped it survive the heavy surfs and strong currents under water for hundreds of years! Such was the advanced technology employed by ancient Indians!

A similar survey was conducted in 2005. It was in 1963 that the first archaeological excavations at Dwarka were done by the Gujarat Archaeology department in association with Deccan College Post-Graduate and Research Institute, Pune under the leadership of H.D. Sankalia. They discovered artefacts that were more than 2000 years old.

A second round of excavations in Dwarka was done by the ASI in 1979 under the direction of S.R. Rao. They found distinct pottery of lustrous red ware. Datings of the pottery proved it to be more than 3000 years old. Further research under waters in the Arabian Sea began in 1981 which continued for 20 years. Archaeologists discovered fragments of granite structures, stones, beads, glass, and terracotta pieces besides the submerged city believed to be of Dwarka.

Ancient city of Dwarka under waters; Image courtesy: YouTube

The Mahabharata finds mention about an air battle that took place in the skies of Dwarka between Krishna and Salva, the king of the Salwa kingdom with his capital at Saubha, not very far from Hastinapur. The fact that airplanes were discovered by ancient Indians holds true. There are several references and descriptions in the Mahabharata and other books that corroborate this statement. Here is an excerpt from Blue Vanquisher on this airplane battle in the Dwarka sky:

‘Salva attacks Dwarka with a huge army of soldiers, who are accommodated in his huge airplane, which looks like a tiny city on air above the ground. As the airplane flies over Dwarka in the sun, the area under it turns dark under the impact of its shadow.’

‘….. Releasing his arrows, Pradyumn severely injures Dyuman, Salva’s commander-in-chief followed by death of soldiers in the airplane in tens and hundreds one after another through sets of arrows.’

‘Seeing Krishn coming towards him, Salva releases a powerful weapon, which looked like a meteor, towards the blue warrior. The sky brightens up with its illumination. Krishn releases an arrow that hits Salva’s weapon on air, breaking it into multiple pieces.’

‘Krishn soon releases a shower of arrows towards Salva, but they fail to hit him. He then overpowers Salva’s airplane. From his Garuda, he jumps into the airplane. Salva immediately strikes Krishn on his left shoulder which resulted in the falling of the bow from the latter’s hand.’

‘Now Krishn is weaponless. Salva, surmising he is victorious, looks at Krishn sternly and shouts at the top of his voice. “I have been waiting for this very day, to strike you! You kidnapped Rukmini in our presence, baffling my bosom friend Sishupal. And then at Yudhisthir’s Rajsuya yajna, you treacherously beheaded him. Everyone considers you to be a warrior and a conqueror, but actually you are not! You will die in my hands today!”’

In this air battle, Krishna kills Salva.

Blue Vanquisher by Manoshi Sinha

Click here to buy Blue Vanquisher.

The Krishna portrayed in many a book and the Krishna we know about and worship is not the real Krishna. His noble character has been stigmatized for long, portraying him as a lover, indulging in love-affairs with Radha and gopis. This is all false! Radha was his ‘Maami’; she was 10 years older to him. Radha was married to Ayaan, Yashoda’s brother.

Krishna was a multi-faceted, accomplished, and ideal personality, endowed with all virtues and free from all blemishes. He was a Yogpurush, the savior, the protector, the Supreme Being, and an efficient ruler. He was a doting son. My two books on Krishna from the ‘Krishna Trilogy’ series depict the story of Krishna from birth to death, delving on every aspect of his life besides refuting the many myths associated with him. The first book in the series The Eighth Avatar describes Krishna’s journey from birth till the fourteenth year of his life and the second book Blue Vanquisher from his 14th to 85th year.

Excavations at Dwarka are happening at a snail’s pace at counted few locations. The ASI should increase its speed so that more truth on the lost ancient city of India is unearthed.

Click here to buy The Eighth Avatar.

Images courtesy (not official images from archaeological dept): Pinterest and YouTube.

Ref:

1. Harappan-like ruins in Gulf of Cambay, The Hindu

2. New find to guage exact age of ancient Dwarka, DNA India

3. Significant finds at Dwaraka, The Hindu

4. The Eighth Avatar, Manoshi Sinha

5. Blue Vanquisher, Manoshi Sinha.

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manoshi sinha

Manoshi Sinha is a writer, history researcher, avid heritage traveler; Author of 8 books including 'The Eighth Avatar', 'Blue Vanquisher', 'Saffron Swords'.