Jai Sriman Narayana !!
Pandharpur
is one of the prominent pilgrim places located in Maharashtra on the river
banks of river Chandrabhaga/Bhimarathi.
This is one of the centuries old temples of Lord Krishna as Vittobha occupies
massive acres of land. It has six
entrances and the eastern gate is known as ‘Namdev Dwar ‘. There
are shrines of Lord Ganesha, Garuda, Lord Dattathreya, Goddess Sri Satyabhama,
Sant Kanhopatra located within the
vicinity of the main temple.
Presiding
deity – Sri Vittobha/Vittal/Vitthal/Pandarinath/Pandurang with his consort
Goddess Sri Rukmini/Rukkumai
Significance
– Varkari Yatra/Dindi Yatra/Ashadi Yatra, group of devotees march towards the
temple from their hometown with a promise to reach this sacred destination on
Ashadi Ekadashi Day. This is 800 years
old custom initiated by great Sant Vitthalpant, father of Sant Gyaneshwar still
continuing with great splendor.
Festivals
– Navaratri, Dusshera, Ashadi Ekadashi, Gudi Paduva, Diwali, Ram Navami,
Theertham
– Chandrabhaga/Bhima – Holy dip in this river during the month of Ashad,
Karthik, Chaithra and Magh are highly meritorious.
The
legend has that Pundalik was a passionate devotee of Lord and a devoted son of
an aged couple lived in Pandharpur. He
firmly believed that service to one’s own parents is equivalent to the service
to Lord. Lord Krishna was most pleased at
the readiness of Pundalik and his heartfelt service to his aged parents. One day Lord Vittal arrived at the doors of
Pundalik and enthralled to see his devotion to his parents. Lord was mesmerized at the dedication of
Pundalik and voiced his arrival. But
Pundalik was so immersed at the service of his parents, eventually he unnoticed
the presence of his guest; he tossed a brick towards the door so that his guest
could be seated till he finishes his service to his parents. As soon as his duties got over, Pundalik
remembered his guest and rushed out of his hut.
He found that the most compassionate Lord Vittal was standing on the
brick he had offered. Punadalik was in
an ecstasy prayed to Lord Vittal to remain on this sacred land forever. In this temple Lord Vittal can be seen
standing on a brick.
This
temple remains open from morning 4.00AM to 8.00PM in the evening.
Jai Sriman Narayana !!
No comments:
Post a Comment