Damodar Kund/ Damodar Hari Temple

Damodar Kund is one of the sacred lakes as per Hindu beliefs, which is located at the foothills of Girnar hills near Junagadh in Gujarat.It is considered holy, as per Hindu mythology and many Hindus prefer to bathe and immerse the ashes and the bones left after cremation of dead bodies, here at Damodar Kund due to a belief that the departed souls would get moksha here. It may be mentioned here other such famous places for immersion of ashes and bones (Hindu rite of asthi-visarjana) are in Ganga at Haridwar and Triveni Sangam at Prayag.

It is believed that this is the place where Lord Balaram married Revati.
At the foothills of Ashwatthama Hill in Girnar mountain range base, southerly to Damodara Kund is the Damodar Hari Temple. The idols here are supposed to have been installed by Vajranabha, the grandson of Lord Shri Krishna.Historically, these temples are supposed to have been built or renovated by a Suryavanshi ruler named Chandraketpur, who is also accredited to have built the temples of Shiva at Bhavnath, a testament to his tolerance for all belief systems. The place underwent renovation during the regime of King Skand Gupta of Gupta dynasty in the year 462 AD. Lord Damodar here is considered by vaishnavaites as Adhipati of Girnar Kshetra.

Covering an area of 32 acres, the temple is constructed using pink sand stone and consists of an inner Nij Mandir and an outer Solaha Mandapa, each topped with a Shikar, supported by an array of around 84 exquisitely carved pillars. Nij mandir’s shikhar is 65 feet tall and the sabhha Mandap’s shikhar is 30 feet tall. The statue of Damodarji is found in the form of Chaturbhuj, each arm holding a conch, discus, mace and lotus, along with Sri Radha Rani. Both the idols are sculpted from black stone and are heavily decorated with gold and silk.

It is also believed that, once Lord Brahma decided to perform yagya at Girnar and invited all Rishis and Gods to take part in rituals. Lord Brahma had inspired Maa Ganga to appear at Damodar Kund, thus from that time water of Maa Ganga and other sacred river flows here.

The Damodar Kund is closely attached to the life of Narsinh Mehta, the famous 15th century Gujarati poet and devotee of Krishna, who used to come to bathe at Damodar Kund and is said to have written many of his prabhatiyas (morning prayers), in the natural surrounding here at the Damodar lake, at picturesque foothills of Girnar. At present, there is also a temple of Narsinh Mehta, which is built near temple of Damodar, to commemorate the association of this great saint-poet with Damodar Kund and ancient temple of Damodar here.