Pandharpur Kshetra - Where Sri Krishna appeared as Panduranga or Vitthal

• Meditation:

1. 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 Panduranga temple, Solapur district, Maharashtra

Pandharpur Panduranga temple, Solapur district, Maharashtra

• Krishna: I meditate on Sri Panduranga abiding in Pandharpur (located on the bank of river Bhima known as Chandrabhaga).

• Stotra: Pandurangashtakam (I worship that Panduranga, Who is the veritable Image of Parabrahman)
(Solapur district, Maharashtra)

• Greatness:

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

• Pandharpur is also a Sant Sthalam (Place of Saints):
- Sri Namdev (1270 - 1350 CE) was a Maharashtrian saint and rdent 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 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.

• Pandharpur is the place where the sacred river Bhima flows which is known as Chandrabhaga.

• Sacred Geography:

▬ River Bhima flows which is known as river Chandrabhaga

• 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.

• Temples (Summary):

• Krishna:
- Sri Panduranga

• Lakshmi:
- Devi Rukmini

• Location:

• Pandharpur Panduranga Temple is located in the Solapur district of Maharashtra.

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• Saints - Ramakrishna - Vivekananda - Ramana

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