DHWAJAAROHAN AT DWARKA TEMPLE

Generally we observe our country’s national flag hoisted on the top of Parliament House, Rashtrapathi Bhavan, Assembly Hall, residences of VVIPs, Prime Govt. Offices, National monuments etc… Even the vehicles of VVIPS carry the national flag. We also find important temples and religious places across the country adorned with their own flags. A flag thus hoisted is denoted as a symbol of pride, honour, recognition and prestige of that particular office, or person. In religious parlance, such flag is known as Dhwaja. We find generally, all the temples in Hindu religion have a pillar in front of its Deity known as Dhwaja Sthambam. In olden days, Emperors and Kings used to have their flag on the top of their chariots. In Mahabharata war we find Arjuna’s chariot adorned with a flag having a symbol of Lord Hanuman.

Similar such Dhwaja (flag) we find on the peak of Dwarkadheesh temple, adorned by a unique multi coloured flag, having symbols of Sun and Moon depicted on the flag that keeps waving continuously. Hoisting of flag on the temple top of Dwarkadheesh at Dwarka has a unique significance. Devotees of Dwarkadheesh attach special importance to offering Dhwaja to Dwarkadheesh's Jagat Mandir. Devotees volunteer to offer Dhwaja to the Lord out of faith. This flag or Dhwaja is changed four times in a day and on Thursdays it is changed five times. Booking has to be made three months in advance for performing this ritual.

Several devotees vow to hoist Dhwaja of their own on the Dwarkadheesh temple on fulfillment of their desires. It is a kind of faith, worship and form to offer prayers to the Lord Sri Krishna. It is a form of expressing their gratitude to the Lord by unfurling a new flag on the summit of the temple. It becomes a festival, a religious ritual in the family. A devotee celebrates and performs Dhwajaarohan as per his wish and capacity. He invites his friends and relatives. They ceremonially carry the Dhwaja (flag) on their heads, moves towards Dwarkadheesh temple in a procession, chanting songs and slogans in praise of the Lord. A prayer is offered to Dhwaja traditionally with the help of learned priests. Dhwaja is placed at Lotus feet of Dwarkadheesh 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 Dhwajaarohan but now with time passby, coconut breaking has been abandoned by temple management & same is done nearby temple area. The pieces of the broken coconut are distributed as the Lord's prasadam. Dwarka Gugali Brahmin Samaj(Shilpa maternal sides are Gugali, whereas my Maternal sides are 84 mevadas)  manages this rituals of temple activities whereas Dhwajaarohan Aboti Brahmin Samaj by the devotees.

Overwhelming response to booking of such Dhwaja speak volumes of faith devotees have in Dwarkadheesh (Lord Sri Krishna). Incidentally, till 1965 only one Dhwaja used to be offered to the Lord in a day. After Dwarka got unscathed despite bombing on Dwarka by the Pakistani Air force during 1965 war, people’s faith in Dwarkadheesh got multiplied. As a result it was decided to have four Dhwaja during the day.