Sudama Temple, Porbandar

The Sudama Temple sits in Porbandar town on the Saurashtra coast, about 105 km south of Dwarka. Porbandar — the birthplace of Mahatma Gandhi — is also held by tradition to be the birthplace of Sudama, Shri Krishna's childhood friend from Gurukul-days. The Krishna-Sudama story is among the most beloved katha in Vaishnava tradition: the poor Brahmin Sudama, after years of poverty, visits his royal friend Krishna at Dwarka with a small offering of poha (puffed rice); Krishna receives him with overflowing affection and silently gifts him incalculable wealth. Sudama's home is held to be at Porbandar, and a small Sudama-Mandir marks the spot.

The temple is unique in India — Sudama is more often a side-figure in Krishna temples but rarely the principal deity. Here, the murti is of Sudama in his own form, with Krishna beside him. The temple's atmosphere is the bhav of friendship: pilgrims come here to pray for true friendships, for protection in relationships, and for the grace to recognise spiritual wealth above material.

The katha

The Bhagavata Purana's Krishna-Sudama upakhyana tells: Sudama and Krishna were classmates at the gurukul of Maharishi Sandipani. After their schooling, Krishna became the king of Dwarka and Sudama lived as a poor Brahmin. After years of suffering, Sudama's wife begged him to visit Krishna for help. Sudama walked from Porbandar to Dwarka carrying only a small tied-cloth of poha. At Dwarka, Krishna recognized him, embraced him, ate the poha himself, and (silently) made Sudama incalculably wealthy. When Sudama returned home, he found a palace where his hut had been — Krishna's silent gift.