History of Ranchhodrari Mandir or Dakor Mandir, Dakor, Gujarat
Ranchhodrai temple also well known as Dakor Mandir, located in Dakor, small town of Gujarat was built in 1772 A.D. by Gopal Jagannath Tamabekar, a banker of Gayakwad and Peshwar Ruler. This temple is very important pilgrimage among the devotee of Lord Shree Krishna. This is the huge temple housing with numerous artistic sculptures. The Ranchhodrai temple story is closely related to Shree Vijaysinh Bodana, a great devotee of Lord Shree Krishna who lived in Dakor long years ago. He used to regularly go to Dwaraka with idol of Krishna on foot for the Darshan of Lord Krishna without fail.
In his previous birth, Lord Shree Krishna promise him if he worship lord faithfully then one day Lord will come to you. He also takes the leaf of Tulsi in earthen pot to offer Shree Krishna in every visit. As he grew old, he gradually started to lose his strength to walk and pleased by his devotion and worship. Lord Krishna told Bodana in dream, to come Dwarka once more with bullock cart to take me to Dakor. Bodana did as per Lord Shree Krishna and carried idol of Lord Shree Krishna to Dakor with him on bullock cart in Vikram Samvat 1212. Lord Shree Krishna took break at Neem tree of Bileshwar Mahadev on the Nadiad Dakor Road in early morning and told Bodana to drive bullock cart to Dakor. As Lord Shree Krishna touches the one of the branch of Neem Tree, it became sweet from that day.
It had been said that while Bodana was tired in night, Lord Shree Krishna took the command of bullock card and bring Bodana to Dakor. When Bodana reached Dakor, priest from Dwarka stopped him and asked to return back the idol of Krishna. But Lord Shree Krishna asked Bodana to hide the idol in Gomati Lake. During the meeting with Bodana and priests of Dwarka, in anger one priest threw a spear at Bodana and Bodana died at Gomti Ghat and entire water of Gomati turn into red color along with soil.
Even though the priest were not satisfied so started hunger strike at Gomati Ghat. Then Lord Shree Krishna guided Gangabai, wife of Bodana, that to give them the statue’s weight in gold. Gangabai had only one nose ring but magically when it was place on scale against the idol, the idol became the lighter than the lose ring. Thus after this hopeless priest went back to Dwarka but Lord Shree Krishna blessed on them and informed that after six month same idol could be found from Sevardhan Vav – step well of Dwarka. Then after Lord Shree Krishna stay permanently in Dakor. Here Lord Shree Krishna is famous as Raja Ranchhod Rai and Dakor Na Thakor.
The idol of Lord Shree Krishna installed at Danknath Mahadev temple and home of devotee Bodana for long years till Virkarm Samvat 1650. Harirayjee Maharaj, the Descendant of Shree Vallabhacharya visited Dakor for Ranchhodrai darshan around 1650 – 1700. He inspired descendant of Bodana and other Brahmin family to worship Lord Shree Krishan as per Pushthi Sampraday and set various Puja vidhi and rituals of Raja Ranchhod rai.
Story of Present Ranchhodrai Mandir or Dakor Mandir, Dakor, Gujarat
For Long years, Idol of Shree Krishan was installed at Danknath Mahadev Temple and then Laxminathji Temple. Current huge Ranchhodrai temple was constructed in around 1769 by Gopal Jagannath Tambvekar, great devotee of Lord Shree Krishna and banker of Gayakwad and Peshwa Ruler. Once he was going to Dwarka from Pune with Sangh to worship Lord Dwarkadhish on feet.
Lord Dwarkadhish came in dream of Gopal and advised to visit Dakor during the stay at Vadodara, but he just ignores the dream and continues walking towards the Dwarka. Again Lord Dwarkadhish in form of Brahman arrived on the way to Gopal and told to believe in dream. Thus Gopal Jagannath had decided to visit Dakor. He blessed with Darshan on Lord Shree Krishan at Dakor who came into his dream. So he had determined to built huge temple of Ranchhodrai in Dakor, as he was rich enough so purchased land and started construction of Ranchhodrai Temple.
Another myth related to Gopal Jagannath was, in the previous birth he was born in Brahman family at Saras Village in south India. During the visit of Balaji Temple, he noticed one devotee to donate thousand of rupees in temple but he was not able to donate as he was very poor. Thus he stayed at Balaji Temple for twenty days and worships Lord Balaji and asked if he had sufficient money then he also can built huge temple. On 21st day Lord Balaji blessed on him and gave boon to fulfill this wish.
Architecture of Ranchhodrai Temple Dakor, Gujarat, India
The design and architecture of Ranchhodrai temple is quite different than the other temples of Gujarat. It had eight domes and 24 turrets covered with gold plates, the height of biggest turret is ninety feet. The temple is built on high plinth and twelve stone steps of each side as there are twelve zodiacs. In front of Ranchhodrai idol, large assembly hall is surmounted by dome. The life of Krishna has been painted on the wall of the hall. The entire structure is built on marble, pillars are gold plated and windows and doors to inner sanctum are silver coated. There are two pillars of fifty feet height at entrance gate of Temple in which around 400 flames can be burn.
Prasad, Bhog, Aarti, Darshan of Dakor Mandir or Ranchhodrai Temple Dakor
Daily ten bhog including Adhik Bhog, Maha Bhog, Laddu, Naivedhya are offered to Shree Ranchhod rai at temple. Mangala Bhog, Baal Bhog, Shringar Bhog, Goval Bhog and Raj Bhog are the main offering to Lord Shree Krishna during the morning time and respective Aarti of Mangla, Shringar and Raj Bhog. Usthapan Bhog, Shayan Bhog and Sakhadi Bhog are the main offering to Lord in after noon and respective Aarti of Usthapan and Shayan Bhog. Devotee and tourist can receive various Prasadi offered to Lord. Dakor Mandir Darshan Timings starts from 6.45 in morning to 7.30 in evening when devotee can worship during various Aarti.
Festival Celebration and Special time to Visit at Ranchhod Rai Temple Dakor
Around 35 small and big festivals are arranged by Temple trust in temple campus. These festivals are Purnima of month Kartik, Falgun, Chaitra and Ashwini. Thousands of devotees flock this place on these day with the chanting of Jay Ranchhod Mankahn Chor and offer flags to the temple. On the full moon day in the month of Falgun, a big fair of the pilgrimage is held in Dakor. Thousands of devotee came on feet across the Gujarat for Darshan of Lord Shree Krishna. Apart from Purnima, Holi, Dhuleti, all Ekadashi, Janmashtami, Nand Mahotsav, Rathyatra, Dashehra are other main festival observed in Temple. Temple trust has arranged the facility of Live Darshan of Ranchhodarai on big screen in temple campus as well as on website.
