India is celebrating Krishna Janmashtami on Wednesday. The festival is celebrates the birth of Lord Krishna, believed to be the eight avatar of Lord Vishnu. This year, the ceremonies started on Tuesday and will continue till Wednesday midnight.
According to Hindu tradition, Krishna is believed to have been born in Mathura at midnight on the eighth day of the Bhadrapada month.
According to mythology, Lord Krishna was known for his friendship with Sudama and on the occasion of Janmashtami, Opoyi takes you through a journey of their eternal bond.
Sudama Temple, a historic site, is the only temple devoted to Sudama, Lord Krishna’s childhood friend. It is located in Gujarat’s Porbandar, where he was born. The temple was renovated in 1903 by Porbandar’s king Bhavsinhji. According to the 19th-century texts, the city came to be known as Sudamapuri.
Sudama led an impoverished and austere life. Being a kin of Lord Krishna, he put Saurashtra on the world map. Porbandar is the only holy site devoted to Sudama.
He was born in the month of Pausha as per the Hindu calendar. Mahant Ramavatji, the main priest of Sudama temple, told Opoyi that Sudama was born to Somasharma at the location where river Asmavati meets the sea. As a child, he was sent to study at saint Sandipani’s ashram (hermitage) in Madhya Pradesh’s Ujjain.
Sudama meets Krishna
Lord Krishna and his elder brother Balram came from Gokul to study at saint Sandipani’s ashram, where Sudama was also a student. They instantly became close friends, but once they completed their education, they went on their separate paths.
Sudama meets Krishna in Dwarka
Few years after his education, Sudama got married and started leading a happy life. But after the birth of his two children, the family found it difficult to make its ends meet.
Meanwhile, Krishna became the ruler of Dwarka, situated 100 km away from Porbandar. On his wife insistence, Sudama agreed to ask Krishna for help. But he was reluctant to meet his friend empty handed. So his wife prepared rice for Krishna, which he absolutely loved.
As soon as he reached Dwarka, Krishna ran towards him and hug him.
When Sudama saw his friend’s expensive clothes and jewels, he felt ashamed and tried to hide the rice he had brought. As Krishna sensed that, he took the rice from him and immediately ate it.
As soon as he consumed the rice, Sudama’s hut turned into a mansion.
Construction of the Sudama temple begins
It is believed that a small temple dedicated to Sudama was built at Porbandar in the 13th century. Between 1902 and 1907, king Bhavsinhji oversaw its renovation, which included enlarging it in size. The Saurashtra drama company played a prominent role in the renovation process.
The temple and a prayer hall were constructed in 1904. Every pilgrim who visits the Sudama temple, gets a symbol imprinted in his/her clothes.
It’s said a pilgrimage is concluded only after visiting the Sudama temple.
Importance of the Sudama temple
The temple premise consists of gardens, with bhajans and kirtans (religious songs) played around. People from Rajasthan still follow the tradition of bringing the would-be-bride to the Sudama temple. The unmarried bride and groom first bow before Sudama, take his blessings and then get married.
As per local tales, after the pilgrimage to the four holy sites by the Hindus, pilgrims should visit the Sudama temple.
Porbandar, also known as Sudamapuri
This small city situated on the banks of river Asmavati kept being known as Sudamapuri. The first written account of this place comes from Ghumli, near Porbandar and is a thousand years old. It can also be found texts inscribed at Porbandar’s Mansarovar Kund.
Inside the temple premise, in the middle of the original Sudama temple, is an idol of Sudama with his cohort Sushilaji on the right. On its left are the idols of lord Krishna and Radha.
Shri Sudamaji Annakut festival is celebrated on the occasion of New Year. Also, Akhateej is celebrated with a great fervour where thousands of devotees visit the Sudama temple.
