Dwarka Beneath the Sea: Literature, Culture, History and the Discovery of an Ancient Submerged city

Abstract

Dwarka is an important place in the literary heritage of India. It is said that Dwarka was the capital city where Lord Krishna had his kingdom, but when he left the city, the entire kingdom submerged under the Sea. Many ancient Indian literary works such as Mahabharata, Bhagavata Purana and Harivamsha mention the name Dwarka. These texts refer to Dwarka as a flourishing coastal city that was eventually submerged into the sea. The stories about Dwarka have been traditionally perceived as mythological tales passed down orally and written within religious literature. However, underwater excavations carried out on the coastal areas of Gujarat in the latter half of the twentieth century led to the resurgence of academic interest in the possibility that these myths might be rooted in reality. The present research focuses on the connection between literature, culture, history and archeology in the study of the submerged city of Dwarka. The research also discusses how these literary myths formed the cultural memory of Dwarka and contributed to religious rituals related to pilgrimages. In addition, it reviews some of the major findings made in underwater excavations around Dwarka, such as stone structures, anchors, walls and Artifacts. Such discoveries have sparked significant discussion among scholars in the field of history and archeology about the age and authenticity of the underwater ruins. This research is based on an interdisciplinary perspective which emphasizes the relationship between mythological stories and physical evidences in the reconstruction of ancient Indian civilization. In particular, the research claims that Dwarka is not only a mythical city but a representation of Indian culture and civilization as well. The discovery of underwater ruins around Dwarka signifies the potential of archaeological excavations to reinterpret Indian literature and understand its coastal and urban civilization.