Shri Ranchhodraiji Maharaj Temple located at Dakor in
Gujarat is a popular temple dedicated to Hindu God Vishnu. Dakor Temple is
offering live darshan of the main murti worshipped in the temple. Live Darshan
is available from 6:45 AM To 11:45 AM and Evening from 04:15 PM To 07.30 PM
(IST).
Link - Live Darshan from Dakor Temple
Information About Dakor Temple
The present Dakor Temple was constructed by Shri Gopalrao
Jagannath Tambwekar in 1772 AD at the cost of rupees 100,000.
It was built with brick walls and stones pillars.
It is raised on a high plinth of 168 feet by 151 feet with
twelve stone steps on each side and surrounded by a spacious courtyard.
It has eight domes and twenty four turrets, the highest of
them being 90 feet.
The main gate of the temple overlooks the banks of the lake
Gomati. Silver gates are protected by the Vedic Gods - Lord Ganesha, Sun, Moon,
etc beautifully carved in high relief. The gate leads into the main courtyard.
As tradition would have it, drummers sit atop the main gate
in a balcony of their own. The ‘Nagarkhana’ resonates with music during the
main darshans and at Aarti times.
On entering the courtyard, one sees two tall structures,
used to house the thousands of lamps that are lit during the festive season, on
either side. Multi-storied and multi-tiered, this type of structure is very
typical of medieval Gujarati temple architecture.
Back at the front
gate, marble stairs lead to the main audience chamber of the temple - the
Jagmohan - literally the place where the world is charmed (by the beauty of the
Lord).
Three large entrances allow devotes to enter the main
audience chamber.
The large open square structure of the audience chamber is
surmounted by an imposing, glittering dome.
Earlier, the dome was painted with Shri Krishna's rasa-lila
in the classical Bundi style. But it has been replaced by an intricate inlay of
mirror work, depicting flowers and trellis in a classical Rajput garden.
Painted murals from Lord Krishna's life adorn the walls of
the audience chamber.
A small section at the front of the chamber is railed off
and reserved for women.
As with all classical temples, the inner sanctum of
Ranchodrai is set in a straight line from the main gate of the temple. The Lord
sits under a canopied pavilion in the inner sanctum.
The whole structure is raised on a marble platform and the
pillars of the pavilion are covered in gold. The intricately carved doors and
windows to the inner sanctum are covered in silver. There are three doors
leading into the inner sanctum.
Door to the right of the Lord comes in from the antechamber,
leading to a special bathroom where the priests must bathe before entering the
inner sanctum.
Corridors from here, also lead to the treasure house of the
Lord - housing His in-numerable jewels and clothes.
The door in front of
the Lord faces the main audience chamber.
At Dakor, the Lord spends as much time as possible with His
devotees. The main doors to the inner sanctum are open most of the day. The
doors only close when the Lord sleeps - during the afternoon and at night.
The door to the left of the Lord leads to the bedchamber of
the Lord - a mirrored chamber of thousand delights. Various beds, mattresses
and blankets are neatly arranged in here for the Lord's comfort. Silver and
gold bedsteads are covered in soft cottons and silks.
Perfumes and garlands are
kept in readiness for the Lord.
A small corridor leads from here to the open hall behind the
bedchamber, where pilgrims perform various religious rituals to please the
Lord.
As at Badrinathji in the Himalayas and Tirupati Balaji in South
India, at Dakor, the temple of Goddess Lakshmi, wife of the Lord, is situated
outside the main temple.
Lakshmiji's temple is situated in a residential part of town
at a little distance from the main temple. It is believed that the Lord visits
His wife on every Friday - on Fridays courtly procession winds its way from the
main temple down the lanes and by lanes of Dakor to unite the couple.