Om! Gam! Ganapathaye! Namaha!

Om! Sri Raghavendraya Namaha!

Om! Namo! Bhagavathe! Vasudevaya!
Om! Ham! Hanumathe! Sri Rama Doothaya Namaha!

DWARKA SHILA
(Chakrankitha)

Dwarka Shila also called as Dwaravati Shila is a wheel (chakra) marked

white porous type stones that are found in Gomati River at Dwarka. Chakra
(Disc) mark is the most distinguishing feature of these stones, and hence
they are also called as Chakrankitha Shila. The place where the river Gomati
meets the ocean at Dwarka is known as Chakra Theertha as it is said that
Lord Maha Vishnu had manifested here along with Sudarshana Chakra in the
form of Dwarka Shila. The famous Nageshwar Jyothirlinga near Dwarka is
made up of a large size Dwarkashila (Chakrankitha).

Many Pouranic scripts like Varaha Purana, Skhanda Purana, Garuda Purana,
Brahma Purana, and Prahlada Samhita are said to have made reference to
the merits and glory of Dwarka Shila. As per these scripts it is said that,
whoever touches a Dwarka Shila having the mark of a Vishnu-Chakra will
become free of all sins. Mere Darshana of a Dwaraka-Shila is said to fulfill
all the desires. It is said that, without a doubt even if a sinful person
worships a Dwaraka-Shila he becomes free from all his sins. According to
Dwaraka Mahatmya, it is said that a Shila marked with Chakras coming from
Dwaraka is also called as Chakra-Tirtha. It is highly sacred and meritorious
to worship a Salagrama Shila along with Chakrankitha (Dwarka Shila) since
both are the manifested forms of Lord Sri Maha Vishnu and Dwarka Shila is
assumed as Lord Sri Krishna.

These Dwarka Shilas are identified with different names based on the
number of Chakra marks on it, ranging from one to twelve and worshipping
each specific one has its own merits. It is said that a Dwarka Shila with one
prominent Wheel (Chakra) is known as Sudarshana, a Shila with two
Chakras is Lakshmi-Narayana, and one with three Chakras is Trivikrama.
The Shila marked with four Chakras is Janardhana, with five Chakras is
Vasudeva, with six Chakras is Pradhyumna, and with seven Chakras is
Balabhadra. The one that has eight Chakras is called Purushottama, one with
nine Chakras is known as Navavyuha, with ten Chakras is Dashamurti
(Dasavathara), and with eleven Chakras is Aniruddha. That Dwaraka-Shila
with twelve Chakras is Dwadasatmaka, and one with more than twelve
Chakras is known as Ananta. Besides giving materialistic benefits,
worshipping these shilas along with a Salagrama shows the path to
salvation.

Generally we come across the Dwarka Shilas that have more than twelve
chakras. It is said that, in such a case the one with even numbered chakras
are to be preferred. The shape of the Dwarka Shila also determines the type
of the Shila. Generally round and square shilas are preferred for worshipping
which are but rare. These stones also occur in different colours, but white
stones are considered most suitable for worship. One can easily find these
stones in the river bed of Gomati River while they are also sold across the
Gomati Ghat. It is believed and said that one should not buy or sell a
Salagrama or Chakrankitha (Dwarka Shila) and worshipping the one which is
acquired by themselves is highly auspicious. One has to take proper care in
selecting these stone which has proper formation of Chakras with proper
shape, without a hole, which is white in colour and unbroken. Worshipping a
Chakrankitha with Thulasi Dala is very sacred and highly meritorious.

Sri Krishnaarpanamasthu
bhargavasarma