Lord Panduranga and Devi Rukmini Pandharpur Panduranga Temple Pandharpur Vishnupad Temple Pandharpur Chandrabhaga river Pandharpur Narada Temple Pandharpur Wari Sage Narada Sri Pundalik Sri Janabai Sri Namdev Sri Jnaneshwar or Dyaneshwar Sri Tukaram
• Krishna: Sri Krishna abides in Pandharpur as Sri Panduranga or Vitthal.
- Panduranga (Vitthal - Rukmini) Temple
- Vishnupad Temple
○ Pundalik (Devotional tradition): Sri Pundalik was the founding saint of Pandharpur. Sri Krishna appeared before him when he was serving his parents (and later stood on a brick and became known as Sri Vitthal).
- Pandharpur Pundalik Temple
○ Janabai (12xx - 1350 CE): Sri Janabai was a Marathi saint, who lived in Pandharpur living a life of devotion towards Sri Panduranga.
- Pandharpur Janabai Temple
○ Namdev (1270 - 1350 CE): Sri Namdev was a Varkari saint who spent much of his life in ardent devotion of Sri Panduranga.
○ Jnaneshwar (1275 - 1296 CE): Sri Dyaneshwar was a Yogi and a Varkari saint whose palanquin is carried from Alandi to Pandharpur during the Wari pilgrimage.
○ Purandara Dasa (1484 - 1564 CE): Sri Purandara Dasa was a Haridasa saint who was a devotee of Sri Panduranga and said to have visited Pandharpur.
○ Chaitanya Mahaprabhu (1486 - 1534 CE): Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu was the founder of Gaudiya Vaishnavism who visited Pandharpur during his pilgrimage.
○ Eknath (1533 - 1599 CE): Sri Eknath was a Varkari saint who was a devotee of Sri Panduranga.
○ Tukaram (1598 - 1650 CE): Sri Tukaram was a Varkari saint whose palanquin is carried from Dehu to Pandharpur during the Wari pilgrimage.
- Pandharpur Tukaram Temple
महायोगपीठे तटे भीमरथ्यां वरं पुण्डरीकाय दातुं मुनीन्द्रैः । समागत्य तिष्ठन्तमानन्दकन्दं परब्रह्मलिङ्गं भजे पाण्डुरङ्गम् ॥
- Pandurangashtakam - verse 1 (I worship that Panduranga, Who is the veritable Image of Parabrahman)
(Panduranga Mahatmya)
• Temples and Places:
• Temples and Places of Sri Krishna in Pandharpur:
• Sri Panduranga giving darshan to Pundalik: According to legend Pundalik was a pleasure-seeking person in his early years. He neglected his old and ailing parents and bestowed his attention on his attractive wife. Once Pundalik sent off his aged parents to Kashi on foot and sometime later he himself set off to Kashi with his wife on horses. On the route he took shelter in the ashram of Rishi Kukkut. While staying in the ashram at midnight he encountered the divine beings Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswati who came to the ashram to repurify themselves. At that moment while meeting them Pundalik's sins were removed. He asked them about the secret of Rishi Kukkut's power due to which divine beings are coming to this ashram. They told him that the rishi had served his parents all his life with devotion, and as a result he accumulated great punya. Hearing this a great transformation came to Pundalik. He took his old parents home and started serving them as the only aim of life.
Bhagavan was highly pleased with this and came to meet Pundalik. Pundalik was engrossed in serving his father and Bhagavan stood there with his arms resting on his hips. Initially Pundalik did not notice Bhagavan but due to the rays of light emanating from God's body, Pundalik turned towards Bhagavan but did not leave serving his father and God had to wait. Pundalik threw a brick for the God to sit. When his service towards his father was over God told him to ask for a boon. Pundalik requested Bhagavan to be eternally present in that spot. Thus Panduranga or Vitthal is seen standing on the brick which is given by Pundalik.
Panduranga or Vitthal Temple is the center of attraction of Pandharpur which draws thousands of devotees. In this temple, Sri Panduranga is depicted as standing on a brick given by Pundalik. "Vit" means brick and "Thala" means standing. Therefore, the Lord is known as Vitthala in Pandharpur.
The Vishnupad Temple is the place having the sacred footprints of Sri Panduranga. The temple is on the bank of river Chandrabhaga. It is said that when Sri Panduranga appeared before Sri Pundalik, his footprints manifested in the Vishnupad temple.
Preserve Nature and Nature will Preserve Us,
Simplify Life and help Nature Thrive,
Plant Trees and make the Planet Green,
Connect with Earth, Connect with Dharma, Connect with Being.
► Pandharpur - Pundalik Temple
► Pandharpur - Janabai Temple
► Pandharpur - Tukaram Temple