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Shri Vitthal-Rukmini Temple

Pandharpur, Solapur district, Maharashtra

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Shri Vitthal-Rukmini Temple
Photo: Udaykumar PR, CC BY 3.0

About

The Shri Vitthal-Rukmini temple at Pandharpur is the heart of the Varkari tradition and the most visited temple in Maharashtra. Lord Vitthal, also called Vithoba and Pandurang, is seen as a form of Shri Krishna, that is, of Vishnu. He stands on a brick with both hands on his hips. The temple is on the bank of the Chandrabhaga (Bhima) river, and Pandharpur is also called the Kashi of the South. A special custom here is padsparsh darshan: every devotee may place his or her head on the Lord's feet. On Ashadhi and Kartiki Ekadashi, lakhs of Varkaris arrive on foot with the palkhis of the saints.

The story

The story says a young man named Pundalik once treated his old parents badly. On the way to Kashi, at the ashram of the sage Kukkut, he saw something wonderful: the Ganga, the Yamuna and other holy rivers came as women to serve the sage. They told Pundalik that hurting one's parents is the greatest sin. Pundalik changed and began to serve his parents with all his heart. Pleased by this, Shri Krishna himself came to his door. Pundalik was feeding his parents at that moment. He threw a brick towards the Lord and asked him to stand on it and wait until his service was done. The Lord stood on the brick with his hands on his hips. When Pundalik finished, he asked that the Lord stay here and give darshan to devotees. Ever since, he has stood here as Vitthal. Inscriptions in the temple show that a small shrine was set up here in 1189 and enlarged in the 13th century; most of today's building dates from the 17th century and later. The saints Dnyaneshwar, Namdev, Eknath and Tukaram sang abhangs in Vitthal's praise. The first step of the temple is called Namdev Payari, and the samadhi of Sant Chokhamela is at the gate.

Visiting

The Ashadhi Wari (June to July) is a unique experience, but crowds then run into lakhs. For a quieter darshan, October to February is good. The queue for padsparsh darshan is long; if time is short, there is also mukh darshan from a distance. Devotees bathe in the Chandrabhaga river before darshan.

Festivals

  • Ashadhi Ekadashi (Ashadh Shukla Ekadashi): the Wari, with palkhis from Alandi and Dehu
  • Kartiki Ekadashi (Kartik Shukla Ekadashi)
  • Maghi Ekadashi and Chaitri Ekadashi
  • Gokulashtami (Shri Krishna Janmashtami)

Famous temples

Sources