Nriga Kunda, Dwarka

Nriga Kunda is a very small place in Dwarka. 99% of devotees do not know about its very presence including the Dwarkavasis. It is very unforunate that this place in Dwarka lies unnoticed by the devotees. Although a very small well, it is the best of the holy places in Dwarka as per the words of Sage Narada. Simply by seing it one becomes free of the sin of killing a brahmana. The Garga Samhita states:

nrga-kupam dvaarakaayaam tirthaanaam tirtham uttamam
yasya darshana-maatrena vipra-vadhyaat pramuchyate

King Nriga, the son of King Ikshvaku had become a lizard after his death owing to the displeasure of two brahmanas. He had to reside in a well for a very long time. Lord Krishna liberated King Nriga from this lizard body by merely touching him here, who then transformed into a beautiful demigod. Hence, this well came to be known as Nriga Kunda. From the very day of this transcendental pastime of Lord Krishna, this well has been one of the most prominent holy places on earth.

It is also known as Krikalas Kunda as King Nriga had gotten the body of a lizard. Krikalas means ‘lizard’.

How did King Nriga achieve the topmost spiritual status?

Nriga Kunda has a very special spiritual status in Dwarka and also amongst all holy places in general. Its appearance has a beautiful pastime involving Lord Krishna. This history of King Nriga is described in detail in the Dashama Khanda of Bhagavata Purana, Dwarka Khanda of Garga Samhita, Prabhasa Khanda of Skanda Purana and Uttara Kanda of Valmiki Ramayana. Although the details vary very little, we have referred the pastime from the Bhagavata Purana.

One day the princes of the Yadu dynasty such as Samba, Pradyumna, Charu, Bhanu, Gada, etc., went for a picnic in the forest near Dwarka. When they became thirsty, they searched out for a place to drink water.

They came across a well but found no water in it. Rather, they found a big lizard in the well. They understood that the lizard was trapped in the well and so, out of compassion tried to pull it out. But none was able to do so.

When the princes returned home, they narrated the incident to Lord Krishna. After hearing about the same, Lord Krishna personally went there and got the lizard out by extending His left hand. On touching the lotus hand of Lord Krishna, the lizard transformed into a beautiful demigod.

Lord Krishna knew the identity of the demigod and how he got the body of a lizard. Still, for the knowledge of everyone else, He asked the demigod as to who he was and how he had attained a lizard’s body. Understanding that Lord Krishna had liberated him from the lizard body and was standing before him, he bowed his head touching the ground with his helmet. He then proceeded to tell Lord Krishna as follows:

“My dear Lord, I am King Nriga, the son of King Ikshvaku. If You have ever taken account of all charitably disposed men, I am sure You must have heard my name. My Lord, You are the supreme witness. You are aware of every bit of work done by the living entities-past, present and future. Nothing can be hidden from Your eternal cognizance. Still, You have ordered me to explain my history, and I shall therefore narrate the full story.”

King Nriga started narrating the course of events that led to this situation. King Nriga was extremely charitably disposed that he had donated fine cows equalling the dust particles on earth, the stars in the sky or drops of water in a rainfall. Each cow was very young and had given birth to one calf only. They were full of milk, healthy and serene.

Their horns were gold-plated, hooves silver-plated and body covered with necklaces and silver wrappers embroidered with pearls. The cows were purchased with righteously-earned money and given in charity to qualified brahmanas. The brahmanas were also given houses, land, horses and elephants.

He had performed other kinds of charity such as marrying off the unmarried brahmanas, etc. King Nriga also dug wells, planted trees on the roadside and installed ponds on the highways.

The King then said, “In spite of all this, one of the brahmanas’ cows that I had given in charity chanced to enter amongst my other cows. Not knowing this, I again gave it in charity to another brahmana. As the cow was being taken away by this brahmana, its former master claimed it as his own, stating, ‘This cow was formerly given to me, so how is it that you are taking it away?”

The two brahmanas were arguing and quarrelling with one another. They went to King Nriga and charged that he had taken back a cow previously given in charity. Taking back the charity given to a brahmana or usurping a brahmana’s property is very sinful. In great humility, King Nriga offered 100,000 cows to each brahmana in exchange for this one cow.

But the two brahmanas didn’t agree saying that the cow was theirs and couldn’t be taken back under any condition. In anger, the brahmanas left while King Nriga was perplexed.

After death, King Nriga was brought before Yamaraja who asked him if he wanted to enjoy the results of his pious deeds or suffer the reactions to his impious deeds. There was no count of the king’s enjoyment owing to his pious deeds. King Nriga chose to suffer the reactions of his impious deeds and hence was turned into a lizard immediately. But the king never forgot Lord Krishna which led to his liberation.

After King Nriga’s conversation with Lord Krishna, he took permission from the Lord and boarded the airplane waiting for him to travel to the heavenly planets. Lord Krishna appreciated the devotion of the king towards brahmanas and his performance of vedic rituals. Thus, the well was called as Nriga Kunda or Nriga Kupa from that day onwards.

Sage Narada states:

koti-janma-kritaat paapaan muchyate naatra samshayah
ekam yatraapi go-daanam karoti vidhivaan narah
koti-go-daana-jam punyam labhate vai na samshayah

Anyone who takes bath in the Nriga Kunda on the full moon day of the Karthika month, becomes free of the sins performed in ten million births. Of this there is no doubt. A person who gives in charity a single cow at Nriga Kunda, acheives the benefit of giving ten million cows in charity. (Garga Samhita)

The Dwarka Mahatmya of Skanda Purana states that a devotee should take bath in the Nriga Kunda. Just by taking bath here one acrrues the result of donating a cow. One who performs shraddha here, is never born in the low species of life.

snana-maatrena viprendra labhet go daana ajam phalam
pitrnaam shraaddha daanena viyonin na ca gacchati

How to visit Nriga Kunda

Nriga Kunda lies very close to the entrance of Dwarka city, which is known as ISKCON Gate on the Shivraj Sinh road. You can travel there with Tirtha Yatra on their Pancha Dwarka Yatra if you wish to get the best experience be it the darshan, sthala-purana narration, etc.

The usual methods of transportation are –

By Land: Dwarka is well-connected to major towns and cities. You can travel using a private vehicle. Or else, enough taxis and buses are available from Jamnagar, Porbandar and nearby cities.

By Rail: Dwarka has its own railway station (DWK) which is well connected to major cities in India. You can catch a train that goes directly to Dwarka or makes a stopover. So, no worries about changing buses or cars.

By Air: The nearest airports to Dwarka are in Jamnagar and Porbandar at a distance of 131 kms and 109 kms respectively. You can fly into Jamnagar/Porbandar and catch a taxi or bus to Dwarka.