Pandharpur Temple

Situated in the devout destination of Pandharpur is a temple that is believed to be very old and has the most surprising aspects that only the pilgrim would love to feel and understand. This is the place where the devotees throng to have a glimpse of their favourite Lord. Situated on the banks of the River Chandrabagha or Bhima, this is a place that has been existing since ancient times. Earlier also known as Pandhari, Pandarange, Pandurangapur, PundarikKshetra and Pandara Dgapalli. It is not really possible to find out the original forms from where these names have come. The Lord here is seen along with his consort Rukmini. The impressive deities in their black colour look very resplendent and wonderful. During the festivals of Dussehra and Navarathri, the temple looks very pious as it is prepared to be worshipped with the highest kind of religious fervour.

Pandharpur is accessed with Pune as the nearest airport and Kurduwadi as the nearest station. With the innumerable guest houses and dharamshalas here the religious ambience in Pandharpur certainly renders a devotee totally weak with pleasure, devotion and ecstasy.

The city of Pandharpur has narrow but fine streets and some are also paved with stone. With houses on either side of the streets, the mansions constructed in true Maratha style ensure a lot of pilgrim interest. With the brick constructions and the magnificent balconies these buildings add to the beautiful sights of Pandharpur. The darshan of the deity at Pandharpur temple is preceded by the pilgrim visiting the Pundalik and by taking a dip in the holy river Chandrabagha.

When we went to Pandharpur it was interesting to see the river flowing here and seeing the sandy bank on both sides. There are many stretches filled with gravel and the sights of the varkaris here add to the total scene. There were many steps that had been built to make the approach to the river easier. These steps that have been built in the later part of the 18th century.

Lord Vithal the presiding deity in Pandharpur is actually Lord Vishnu or Lord Narayana. It is said that Lord Krishna took an incarnation in the Hindu month of Shravan. His worship has started from the PUranas. His poems, teachings, kirtans are very special and important and have the best of works of the saints like Sant Namdeo, Sant Eknath and also Sant Tukaram Pundalik. It was Tukaram Pundalik who was a saint that was closely related to this temple thus the temple is also known as Pundarika Pura.

Legend has it that Pundalik was a very devoted son. Pundalik was a very devoted son and his parents Satyavati and Janudev were very happy. But when PUndalik got married he started behaving very badly with the parents. The parents got tired of him and went to Kashi. It is believed that when people feel their end is coming near they go to Kashi. When Pundalik came to know about this, he set out for Kashi. On the way Pundalik crossed the hermitage of Kukkutuswami. That night Pundalik dreamt that there were some beautiful women dressed in dirty clothes in the hermitage. After working in the hermitage they went in the prayer room and came out clean. But it wasn’t a dream and was in fact the rivers Ganga, Yamuna and other holy Indian rivers. He asked them why their clothes looked dirty. The Rivers said that it is the impurity of mind, body and soul that made them look dirty but they said that Pundalik was dirtier with his bad treatment towards his parents. Pundalik realized his folly and gave all his love to his parents. Lord Vishnu came to his house as he was pleased with him. Pundalik attended to the Lord only after he finished with his parents. Lord Vishnu was pleased with his dedication and gave Pundalik a boon. Pundalik asked the boon that the Lord remained on earth always. Lord Vishnu granted the wish and this is the Lord in the brick form. This is the form of the great Lord and is Swaymabhu which means the idol came on his own. He is shown standing with his consort Rukmini.

When we went to the temple of Pandharpur, we saw the Samadhi of Pundalik. This square room has an open arched portico in front of the temple. This portico is bigger than the garbagriha. This measures around 17 by 25 and has a mortar spire that is shaped like a pyramid. With a beautiful brass top the ling looks beautiful and has a hollow bust of the Lord. The bust is seen wearing ornaments in the ear, and a mukut that is surrounded by the coils of the cobra.

The daily worship here includes giving the Lord a bath with milk, ghee, honey, curds, sugar and then the deity is rubbed with oil and other fragrant things. Bel leaves are offered and then the image is worshipped. Aarti is sung in the evenings and Mahashivratri is a big festival here.

We got a good darshan of the Lord and made our way back to our city. Pandharpur Yatra is very important on the Aashadi Ekadashi day in the months of June and July. Vi means knowledge and Thoba means shape.