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Damodar Kund, Girnar
Vishnu/Krishna (Damodar) · Junagadh, Gujarat
॥ ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय ॥
At the foot of the sacred Girnar hills near Junagadh lies Damodar Kund, a holy reservoir and the temple of Damodar — Krishna bound with a cord by his mother Yashoda. Hallowed by the poet-saint Narsinh Mehta, who is said to have sung and worshipped here, the kund is among the most revered bathing and last-rite places of Gujarat, on the pilgrim road to Girnar.
The lord Damodar
Damodar is Krishna in the tender tale of his childhood, when Yashoda tied the butter-thief to a mortar with a cord around his waist — dama-udara, “bound at the belly.” The temple of Damodar beside the kund enshrines the lord, and the waters before it are held among the holiest in Saurashtra.
Narsinh Mehta’s kund
The kund is bound to the memory of Narsinh Mehta, the 15th-century poet-saint of Gujarat whose bhajans are sung to this day, and who is said to have worshipped Damodar here. Pilgrims bathe in the reservoir, and many come to immerse the ashes of their dead in its sacred water, regarding it as a place of release.
At the foot of Girnar
Damodar Kund lies on the path to the great hill of Girnar, sacred to Hindus and Jains alike, whose peaks are crowned with ancient temples reached by a long climb of stone steps. The kund marks the beginning of that pilgrimage, busy through the Kartik season and on the holy bathing days.
How to reach Damodar Kund
- By road: Damodar Kund is about 4 km from Junagadh, on the road toward the Girnar hills.
- By train: Junagadh is the nearest railway station.
- By air: Rajkot and Keshod are the nearest airports.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Damodar Kund?
Damodar Kund is a holy reservoir and the temple of Damodar (Krishna) at the foot of the Girnar hills near Junagadh, among the most revered bathing and last-rite sites of Gujarat.
Who is Damodar?
Damodar is Krishna in his childhood, when his mother Yashoda tied him with a cord around his waist — dama-udara, “bound at the belly” — for stealing butter.
What is the connection with Narsinh Mehta?
The kund is bound to the poet-saint Narsinh Mehta of Gujarat, whose bhajans are still sung and who is said to have worshipped Damodar here.
Why do pilgrims come to the kund?
Pilgrims bathe in its sacred waters and many immerse the ashes of their dead here, regarding it as a place of release, on the road to Girnar.
How do I reach Damodar Kund?
It is about 4 km from Junagadh toward the Girnar hills; Junagadh is the nearest railway station and Rajkot the nearer airport.
What is Girnar?
Girnar is the great hill above Junagadh, sacred to Hindus and Jains, crowned with ancient temples reached by a long climb of stone steps; Damodar Kund marks the start of the pilgrimage.
॥ जय श्री कृष्ण ॥ • Bhaktiras.net Temple Guide
| Deity | Krishna as Damodar |
| Type | Sacred reservoir (kund) and temple |
| Hallowed by | The poet-saint Narsinh Mehta |
| Significance | Revered bathing and last-rite site of Gujarat |
| Setting | Foot of the Girnar hills, Junagadh |
| Main Festival | Kartik Purnima |