Balka Teerth

On the western coast of Gujarat, north of Somnath, on the way to Veraval lies the famous Krishna temple called Balka Teerth.

Balka Teerth.

Known as the place where Bhagvan Sri Krishna was struck by the arrow, which led to his leaving the avatar, it is considered a very holy place.

Balka Teerth Krishna temple

According to Puranas, after the Mahabharata war Krishna goes to pay his respects to Gandhari, the mother of the Kauravas. A heartbroken Gandhari, grieving the death of her 100 sons, feels that Krishna  could have stopped the war had he so desired, but didn’t stop the carnage, thereby depriving her of her children. She curses Krishna that just as her entire family was wiped out, the entire clan of Krishna, the Yadavas would also be destroyed. Sri Krishna humbly accepts her curse knowing that the time to give up this avatar was near.

A few years later fights break out between the Yadavas and they start killing one another. Balarama goes into a cave and gives up his body. Krishna sits under a tree and starts meditating. A hunter by the name of Jara comes to that area and seeing the movement of Krishna’s toe, mistakes it to be a deer and shoots an arrow which strikes Krishna. When he goes nearby and realises that he had shot Krishna, he begs forgiveness to which Krishna replies that in the Treta Yuga Jara was Vali and Rama killed him. It is for this reason that in Dwapara Yuga Jara shot Krishna, thereby completing the circle. Then Krishna leaves his human body and goes back to Vaikunta.

Jara asking Sri Krishna’s forgiveness, the murtis in the garbagriha.

Reading the stories of Sri Krishna from childhood, it is thrilling to realise that we have come to the place where the major events of Srimad Bhagavatam took place. After Sri Krishna gave up his avatar, Dwapara Yuga was completed and Kaliyuga started. There is a very peaceful aura around that area. The whole of Somnath and Veraval area have a divine aura.

The most convenient way to reach Somnath and Veraval is by train.