Pandhapur

 

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Pandharpur is known as Bhu-Vaikuntha, the spiritual world on earth. It is also called Dakshina Dwarka, the Dwarka of the south. It is located on the western bank of the Bhima River, locally called the Chandrabhaga (crescent moon).

Vitthala Temple
Sri Vitthala is a form of Lord Krishna. The Deity is also called Vithobha or Panduranga. The Deity is a 5,000-year-old self-manifest Deity. Parts of the temple date to the 12th and 13th century, but most of the temple was built in the 17th century and later.

According to Maharashtrian tradition, when Lord Krishna was performing his Dwarka pastimes, he came to Maharashtra upon the request of his devotee Pundalika. When the Lord arrived, Pundalika was so busily engaged serving his parents that he asked the Lord to wait on the top of a brick platform. Thus the Lord is named Vitthala, “one who stands on a brick” (in a waiting posture).

Deity Story
The Padma Purana and Skanda Purana explain why Lord Krishna went to Pandharpur and why he stays there in this form. Once, Srimati Radharani, Lord Krishna’s consort in Vrindavan, visited Dwarka. At that time, Rukmini Devi, Lord Krishna’s queen, noticed that Krishna was dealing more intimately with Radharani than he had ever been with her. Upset, she departed for the forest of Dindirvana, near Pandharpur.

Lord Krishna followed Rukmini to apologize, but his apology left her unmoved. Then the Lord moved on to Pandharpur to visit one of his devotees, Bhakta Pundarika (also known as Pundalika). When the Lord reached Pundarika’s ashram, Pundarika was serving his elderly parents. Pundarika presented the Lord with a brick upon which to stand and asked the Lord to please wait. The Lord did as he was requested. He stood, hands on his hips, waiting for Pundarika to return.

While he was waiting, Rukmini, having forgotten her distress, came from Dindirvana and rejoined him. Both of them stayed in Pandharpur in Deity forms. To this day the Lord stands on that brick.
Pundalika Temple

The Pundalika Temple is about half a km from the Vitthala Temple. This temple marks the spot where Pundalika, the Lord’s devotee, spent the last years of his life. It is on the riverbank.

Vishnupada Temple
The Vishnupada Temple is about 1km south of the Pundalika temple. In the middle of the temple is a square 1.5m by 1.5m. There are three rocks in this square that have been imprinted with Krishna’s and a cow’s footprints. On the first day of the month of Margashirsha, Lord Vitthala’s sandals are taken to this temple. On the last day of the same month, Lord Vitthala’s chariot is brought to the temple in a grand procession.
Dindi

Every year for the past 700 years, anywhere from 200,000 to 300,000 devotees of Lord Vitthala (Lord Krishna) go on a walking pilgrimage from Alandi (Pune area) to Pandharpur (230km away). Although the main procession comes from Alandi, other processions come from all over Maharashtra. They begin their journey eighteen days before Sayani Ekadasi.

The devotees reach Pandharpur in time for the Sayana Ekadasi Festival, which draws a total crowd of 700,000 people. It falls during the month of Asadha (July-Aug) and marks the beginning of Caturmasya. According to the Padma Purana, the Lord goes to sleep for four months on that day.

About 700 years ago, a devotee of Lord Vitthala named Jnaneswara appeared in Maharashtra. At sixteen, he became famous for writing Bhagavad-gita purports so simple that common people (farmers, merchants, etc.) could understand them. Out of his love for the Lord, he began this walking pilgrimage, which has been performed every year since without fail.

Tukurama, another great devotee of the Lord, became popular in Maharashtra and attended Dindi every year. He lived during 16th century and was initiated by Lord Chaitanya when the Lord visited Pandharpur.

When Dindi arrives in Pandharpur, the lines to see Lord Vitthala are 5km long. During this time, pilgrims can view the Deity for only a few seconds before the next person steps forward.

Practicalities
The MTDC Guest House has rooms for Rs 150 and dorm beds for Rs 50.

Pandharpur is located 386km southeast of Mumbai. The nearest airport is 204km away at Pune. It is on the Kurduwadi-Miraj line of the South Central Railway. A convenient train junction for trains on a broad-gauge line is Solapur, 74km away.

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