Pandharpur Shri Vitthal Temple
Pandharpur is also known as Pandhari. This village is situated at a distance of about 200 km from Pune. Here is the world-famous Pandharpur Shri Vitthal Temple of Lord Vitthal. Hindus consider Lord Vitthal to be a form of Lord Krishna. Lord Vitthal is called Vishnu Avatar. Goddess Rukmini is enshrined with Lord Vitthal in this temple. Lord Vitthal is also known as Vitthoba, Pandurang, Pandharinath.
The Bhima river here is known as Chandrabhaga. During the months of Ashadha, Kartik, Chaitra and Magha a fair is held on the banks of the river, which is attended by thousands of people. Lord Vitthal is pleased by singing hymns in those fairs.
People from every corner of the country gather here by walking on foot to this pilgrimage site to have a darshan of Lord Vitthal. Some people gather in Alandi during this journey and reach Pandharpur via Pune and Jajuri. He is known as Dindi by the name of Gyandev Mauli’s Dindi.
History of Pandharpur Shri Vitthal Temple
This pilgrimage was established in the 11th century. The main Pandharpur Shri Vitthal Temple was built by the Yadava rulers of Devagiri in the 12th century. The city is also the land of Marathi poet-saints dedicated to the Bhakti sect. The almost 1000 years old Palkhi tradition was started by some famous saints of Maharashtra. His followers are called Varkaris who kept this practice alive.
This Pandharpur Shri Vitthal Temple has been built as a memorial to Bhaktaraj Pundalik. Its presiding deity is Shri Krishna in the form of Vithoba, who happily made a stone (Vith or brick) thrown by the devotee Pundalik as his seat. The Vijayanagara king is said to have taken the idol of Krishnadeva Vithoba to his kingdom, but it was then taken back to Pandharpur by a Maharashtrian devotee. A record of 1117 AD also proves that the devotees of Varkari Granth under the Bhagavata sect had collected enough money for the worship of Vitthaldev.
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Shri Vitthal Mandir
Shri Vitthal Temple is the main temple here. This temple is very huge. Shripundarinath is standing in his own temple with his hands on his waist. There are temples of Rukminiji, Balramji, Satyabhama, Jambavati and Shriradha in the same circle. While entering the temple, there is a tomb of devotee Chokhamela near the gate. Namdevji’s tomb is on the first step. On one side of the gate is the idol of Akha Bhakti.
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According to story in Puranas
Devotee Pundrik was the ultimate servant of the parents. He was engaged in the service of his parents, at that time Shri Krishnachandra came to visit him. Pundrik kept pressing his father’s feet. He moved the brick to make the god stand up; But did not get up. God kept standing on the brick with his hand on his waist. After retiring from service, Pundarika asked God for a boon to stay here in this form.
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How to reach Pandharpur Shri Vitthal Temple
By Rail– Pandharpur is connected to Kurduvadi Railway Junction. Several trains run daily from Kurduvadi Junction to Mumbai. Trains also run from Pandharpur to Mumbai via Pune.
By Road – Pandharpur is connected to many cities of Maharashtra through road transport. Apart from this, daily buses also ply from North Karnataka and North-West Andhra Pradesh.
By Air – The nearest domestic airport is Pune, which is at a distance of about 245 kms. While the nearest international airport is located in Mumbai.
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