Gopi Talav is located about 12 kilometres from Dwaraka, Gujarat and it is on the way to Bet Dwaraka.
Naming of Gopi Talab
Gopi Talav is named after the gopis used to take bath along with Lord Krishna. Here "Talav" means `lake` in Gujarati. This place is known as “Gopi Talav" because this is the lake where the gopis met Lord Krishna and had their final bath before attaining moksha to return to the spiritual world.
History of Gopi Talab
When Krishna left the dusty villages and green forests of Brij Bhoomi, he had promised them that He would return from Mathura after accomplishing his duties. Years have rolled by, but he has not returned. They decide, "If our beloved Lord Krishna does not come and meet us, then let us go to Dwarka and meet Him." They head towards Dwarka. They meet their Lord on the outskirts of Dwarka. The gopis request Lord Krishna, "Please build a lake here so that we can take bath in the holy waters of the lake created by Your Blessings." Krishna immediately heeds their request and in a moment, creates a lake right in front of them. The gopis make their second request to come and bathe with them. Krishna, along with the gopis, bathes in this lake. After the bath, Lord Krishna asks the gopis, "Oh gopis, you all have come from so far away to see me. Please tell me what else you need from me." The gopis reply, "Oh Lord, our wish was to just come and meet you. We have been blessed with our visit. We have no more desires. We would like to leave our material bodies here after this holy bath. Please allow us to depart from here."
Lord Krishna is overwhelmed by the devotion and love of the gopis for Him. He blessed them to attain salvation after the death and they will reside in Vaikuntha Forest.
Temples near Gopi Talab
For the gopiyas there is a temple located very near to the talab is the Gopi Krishna Temple. This has white marble idols of Goddess Radha and Lord Krishna. There is also a painting depicting the incident at Gopi Talav involving Lord Krishna and the gopis. Next to this is the Rukmini Temple that houses a white idol of Goddess Rukmini. Next to Rukmini Temple is the Lakshmi Narayana Temple. This has black idols of Goddess Lakshmi and Lord Narayana. This temple also has idols of many other Gods and Goddesses. In front of Gopi Talav is another temple that has idols of Lord Rama, Goddess Sita, and Lord Lakshmana.
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