Whereas in the Treta Yuga SATTVA, the pure aspect
of nature (PRAKRITI) tended to prevail, in Dvapara
Yuga, rajas (impure) and tamas (contaminated)
aspects of nature emerged. Ritual sacrifice became
a predominant feature of Dvapara; it had not been
important before. VISHNU is said to preside over
Dvapara, because of the need for order.
Further reading: Cornelia Dimmitt and J. A. B. van
Buitenen, Classical Hindu Mythology: A Reader in the
Sanskrit Puranas (Philadelphia: Temple University
Press, 1978); W. J. Wilkins, Hindu Mythology, Vedic and
Puranic, 2nd ed. (Calcutta: Rupa, 1973).
Dvaraka
Dvaraka is one of the seven sacred cities of India;
for Vaishnavites (see VAISHNAVISM) it is also one of
the four places renowned for the special presence
of god (the other three are BADRINATH, RAMESH-
VA R A M, and Puri). KRISHNA is said to have fled here
to escape from the evil Mathura king Kamsa, who
had tried so often to kill him, and the city is con-
sidered the capital of Krishna’s kingdom.
Dvaraka is on the sea in Saurashtra, a region of
Gujarat. Krishna’s birthday, the HOLI festival, and
DIVALI are three special festival days at Dvaraka.
There is a huge temple complex devoted to
Krishna. The city is also the site of one of the four
monastic centers established by the great sage
SHANKARA in the eighth century.Further reading: E. Washburn Hopkins, Epic Mythol-
ogy (Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass, 1986): S. R. Rao, The
Lost City of Dvaraka (New Delhi: Aditya Prakashan,
1999).K 142 Dvaraka