Pandharpur Kshetra - Where Sri Krishna appeared as Panduranga or Vitthal

• Meditation:

Pandharpur Panduranga temple, Solapur district, Maharashtra

• Meditation:
- Krishna: I meditate on Sri Krishna abiding as Sri Panduranga in Pandharpur.
- Lakshmi: I meditate on Devi Lakshmi abiding as Devi Rukmini in Pandharpur.
- Sages and Saints: I meditate on the Sages and Saints meditating in the Pandharpur Kshetra.
- River Bhima (Chandrabhaga): I meditate on the holy river Bhima (known as Chandrabhaga) flowing through Pandharpur.

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)

• Pandharpur (Solapur district, Maharashtra)

• Greatness:

• Pandharpur is primarily a Krishna Sthalam (Pilgrimage of Krishna):
- Sri Krishna (known as Panduranga or Vitthala) gave darshan to Pundalik (or Pundarik) standing on a brick.

• During the Yatra of Pandharpur Wari, thousands of Warkaris march towards Pandharpur with the Palkhi of Sri Dyaneshwar from Alandi and Palkhi of Sri Tukaram from Dehu. The Yatra takes around 21 days and converge on Pandharpur on the day of Ashadha Ekadasi. Other Palkhis also join from other places.

• Pandharpur is also a Sant Sthalam (Place of Saints):
- Sri Pundalik (Devotional tradition): Before whom Lord Panduranga appeared.
- Sri Janabai (12xx - 1350 CE): An ardent devotee of Lord Panduranga.
- Sri Namdev (1270 - 1350 CE) was a Maharashtrian saint and ardent devotee of Lord Panduranga. He sang abhangs praising the Lord.
- Sri Jnaneshwar (1275 - 1296 CE) was a Maharashtrian saint and devotee of Lord Panduranga.
- Sri Purandara Dasa (1484 - 1564 CE) was a Haridasa saint and devotee of Lord Panduranga.
- Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu (1486 - 1534 CE) visited Pandharpur and stayed here for a few days.
- Sri Eknath (1533 - 1599 CE) was a Maharashtrian saint and devotee of Lord Panduranga.
- Sri Tukaram (1598 - 1650 CE) was a Maharashtrian saint and devotee of Lord Panduranga.

• Sacred Geography:

Pandharpur Chandrabhaga river, Solapur district, Maharashtra — River Bhima flows

▬ River Bhima flows which is known as river Chandrabhaga

• 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.

► Pandharpur - Panduranga Temple (Vitthal - Rukmini Temple)
(Solapur district, Maharashtra)

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.

► Pandharpur - Vishnupad Temple
(Solapur district, Maharashtra)

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.

• Temples and Places of Sages in Pandharpur:

► Pandharpur - Narada Temple
(Solapur district, Maharashtra)

The Narada Temple is near the Vishnupad Temple on the bank of river Chandrabhaga. Part of the temple almost always remains immersed in water.

• Temples and Places of Saints in Pandharpur:

► Pandharpur - Pundalik Temple
(Solapur district, Maharashtra)

The Pundalik Temple is located on the bank of river Chandrabhaga.

► Pandharpur - Janabai Temple
(Solapur district, Maharashtra)

The Janabai Temple is located on the bank of river Chandrabhaga near the Vishnupad Temple.

► Pandharpur - Tukaram Temple
(Solapur district, Maharashtra)

The Tukaram Temple is located within the city and is quite close to the Panduranga Temple.

• Temples (Summary):

• Krishna:
- Sri Panduranga (Vitthal - Rukmini Temple)

• Lakshmi:
- Devi Rukmini (Vitthal - Rukmini Temple)

• Devi:
- Kalika Temple

• Sages:
- Narada Temple

• Saints:
- Pundalik Temple
- Janabai Temple
- Tukaram Temple

• Puranic Events:

• 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.

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