 Vithoba (Vitthala) and his consort Rakhumai (Rukmini) Vithoba is a colloquial form of Vitthala, one of the manifestations of the Hindu God Vishnu. Vithoba of Pandharpur is traditionally one of the most important deities in the Indian states of Maharashtra, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. Vithoba was a major focus of the Bhakti and Varkari movements in these states. A very substantial segment of devotional literature in the Marathi and Kannada languages is dedicated to Vithoba. This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ...
For other uses of the name Vishnu, see Vishnu (disambiguation). ...
Maharashtra (Devanagari: महाराषà¥à¤Ÿà¥à¤°, literally: Great Nation)( (help· info)) is Indias third largest state in terms of area and second largest in terms of population after Uttar Pradesh. ...
It has been suggested that Divisions of Karnataka be merged into this article or section. ...
Andhra Pradesh : (ఆంధà±à°° à°ªà±à°°à°¦à±‡à°¶à±; Ä€ndhra PrÄdesh), is a state in South India. ...
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Marathi is one of the widely spoken languages of India, and has a long literary history. ...
Kannada - aptly described as sirigannada (known to few as Kanarese) is one of the oldest Dravidian languages and is spoken in its various dialects by roughly 45 million people. ...
The word "Vitthala" is said to be derived from the Marathi/Kannada word "Vittu", meaning "brick". The prescribed iconogaphy of the lord of Pandharapur stipulates that he be shown as standing upon a brick; this is connected to an important folk-legend connected with the deity, which is elaborated upon below. The suffix "ba" is used to denote "father" in Marathi, and is cognate with the south Indian suffix "appa", which has the same meaning and usage. A map of South India, its rivers, regions and water bodies. ...
The main temple of Vithoba (Vitthala) and his consort Rakhumai (Rukmini) is located at Pandharpur in Maharashtra, on the border of that state with Karnataka. Pandharpur is a town in state of Maharashtra in Western India. ...
Maharashtra (Devanagari: महाराषà¥à¤Ÿà¥à¤°, literally: Great Nation)( (help· info)) is Indias third largest state in terms of area and second largest in terms of population after Uttar Pradesh. ...
It has been suggested that Divisions of Karnataka be merged into this article or section. ...
Pundalik The saga of Pundalik is one of the most important Mahima legends associated with Vithoba. How Vithoba came to Pandharpur is a story in which a man called Pundalik plays an important part. Pundalik was a devoted son to his parents Janudev and Satyavati. They lived in a forest called Dandirvan. But after his wedding, Pundalik began ill-treating his parents. Tired with their son’s misbehaviour and ill treatment, the elderly couple decided to leave for Kashi. Legend holds that people who die in the city of Kashi attain salvation and emancipation from the cycle of birth and death, and so, many pious Hindus in bygone era would relocate to Kashi as their end drew near. There are multiple meanings of Kashi: Benares (a. ...
There are multiple meanings of Kashi: Benares (a. ...
However, the elderly couple were not destined to escape their sufferings so easily. Upon hearing of their plans, Pundalik's wife decided to join them and make a pilgrimage. Pundalik and she then joined the same group of pilgrims on horseback. The ill treatment of the old couple continued at the hands of Pundalik. While the youthful son and his wife rode on horseback, the frail old couple walked in bad weather. Pundalik even made his old parents work towards making his own journey comfortable. Every evening when the party camped for the night, the son forced his parents to groom the horses and do other jobs.
On the way to Kashi, the group reached the ashram (hermitage) of a pious and venerable sage named Kukkutswami. Being tired from the journey, they decided to spend a few days there. That night, when all were asleep, Pundalik by chance lay awake. He witnessed a remarkable vision. Just before dawn, he saw a group of beautiful, young women, dressed in dirty clothes, enter the ashram, clean the floor, fetch water and wash the venerable sage’s clothes. After they finished their chores, they went to the prayer-room of the hermitage. When they reappeared after prayer, their clothes were spotlessly clean. Then, they vanished as inexplicably as they had appeared. There are multiple meanings of Kashi: Benares (a. ...
Pundalik did not feel moved to raise an alarm; on the other hand, he felt a deep sense of peace as he witnesses this scene. It remained on his mind the whole day, and he resolved upon remaining awake the next night, to be sure that what he had witnessed was not merely a dream. This time however, Pundalik was very curious. He approached the beautiful women and asked him them on who they were.
They said, they were Ganga, Yamuna and other holy rivers of India in which were revered for their holiness and pilgrims thronged to have a dip in their holy waters to wash away their sins. The holy rivers explained that their clothes were dirty and unclean due to the sins of the bathing pilgrims. "But O Pundalik, you, with your ill-treatment of your parents, are the greatest sinner of them all! " The River Ganges (Ganga in Indian languages) is a major river in northern India. ...
Confluence of Yamuna River and Tons River Yamuna (sometimes called Jamuna) is a major river of northern India, with a total length of around 1370 km. ...
This incident completely shocked Pundalik and got a transformation in him. He realized his mis- deeds and became devoted to his parents. He made all efforts to make his parents comfortable. And left no stone unturned to make his parents happy, even at the cost of his own comfort.
They say, devotion in any form reaches God immediately. Seeing this outmost devotion of Pundalik to his parents , Lord Vishnu was very pleased. God was so happy with him that He wanted to bless Pundalik immediately, so he left from Vaikuntha (Lord Vishnu’s abode) for bhoolok (Earth)and Pundalik’s ashram. Image:Http://www. ...
For other uses of the name Vishnu, see Vishnu (disambiguation). ...
Vaikunta is the abode of Lord Vishnu, one of the Trimurti Hindu Gods. ...
Lord knocked Pundalik’s door. At that time Pundalik was serving his parents food and was busy. Pundalik heard the door knock and realized it was God who had come to see him. But such was his devotion to his parents, he wanted to complete his duties and only then attend to the visitor, irrespective of whether it was even God at his doorstep. Pundalik threw a brick outside for God to stand on and wait for him till he finishes attending to his parents.
Seeing this devotion & commitment to his parents he was extremely impressed. And the ever-loving God waited for his devotee. When Pundalik came out and begged God's pardon, Lord Vishnu replied that far from being displeased, he was pleased with his love for his parents and granted a boon to him. Pundalik requested God to stay back on Earth and bless all his numerous devotees. Lord agreed to stay back as Vithoba, or God who stood upon a brick. Along with Vithoba, Rakhumai (Mother Rukmini) is also worshipped.
A temple was built at the place where Lord Vishnu stood on the brick. The idol too is “svyambhu” which means it was not built, craved, it came into existence by its own. One interesting tale is also of the first step in the temple called “Namdev chi payari” (step of Namdev) Child Namdev was always an ardent devotee of Vithoba. One day his mother asked him to complete the ritual of “naivedya” (any food made in the house is first offered to God, the ritual comprises of placing the offering plate before the idol and sprinkling water around the plate and with a prayer to God)
Child Namdev was pleased to do “naivedya” . After the ritual he waited for God to appear and take the offering. But God did not appear. He was disheartened. He kept praying and requested God to come in person and accept the offering. Child Namdev was so unhappy with no appearance of God, he started banging his head at the feet of God and begging him to come and take the offering. Seeing the utmost devotion and innocence of a child, God was pleased. He appeared and ate the offering and blessed Namdev. The adult Namdev when blessed by God asked for being present in the "first step" in God’s temple, so that he could be blessed with the touch of infinte number of devotees who would be able to have “darshan” (view) of God. Thus, the first step in the temple at Pandharpur is called “namdev chi payari”. Namdev, Nam Dev, or Saint Namdev (1270-1350) born to a low-caste tailor named Damasheti and his wife, Gonabi in the village of Naras-Vamani, in the district of Maharashtra, India. ...
Pandharpur is a town in state of Maharashtra in Western India. ...
Pandharpur remains the most visited temple in Maharastra. The warkaris start walking from their homes to the temple of Pandharpur to reach on Ashadi ekasadhi and Kartiki ekadashi. A dip in the holy Chandrabhaga on whose banks Pandharpur resides, is said to have power to wash all sins. Maharashtra (महाराष्ट्र) is a state in west-central India. ...
Initially all the devotes were allowed to touch the feet of the idol of Vithoba, but due to many years of numerous devotes the stone at the Lord’s feet chiseled. So as a precautionary measure, none of the devotees are allowed to touch the idol. Only priests are allowed to conduct rituals and touch the idol.
The name Vithoba means Father Vitthala. Vitthala is said to have been derived from the word Vishnu in Kannada. Panduranga is a sanskritized form of Pandarga, the old name of Pandharpur. Vithoba (father) is also known as Vitthal, Vithal, Vitthal, Pandurang. He is also worshipped in Kerala, Karnataka.
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