Shri Shirdi Sai speaks-29th Sept/Aerial view of Vithobha temple in Pandharpur

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Aerial View of Vithobha temple in Pandharpur

Pandharpur is one of the revered pilgrimage sites in Maharashtra. It is located

65 km west of Sholapur, on the banks of the river Bhimarathi also known as

Chandrabhaga. Vithoba temple, Pandharpur is the main centre of worship for the

Hindu deity Vithoba, believed to be a local form of god Krishna or Vishnu and

his consort Rukmani. It is the most visited temple in Maharastra. The warkaris

start marching from their homes to the temple of Pandharpur in groups called

Dindi to reach on Aashadhi ekadashi and Kartiki ekadashi

These are a couple of very old pictures of this temple.I have no idea in which

year they were clicked but by the appearance -I am sure, it is pretty old..

specially if u compare the aerial view picture with this one..Alot seems to have

changed here...

A dip in the holy river Chandrabhaga on whose banks Pandharpur resides, is

believed to have power to wash all sins.

Pandharpur is the abode of the famous Lord Vitthala also known as Panduranga,

Pandhari or Vithoba enshrined in the Vithoba temple. This temple is the greatest

center of attraction in Pandharpur for the masses as far as the spiritual field

goes. This temple has a total of six gates and covers a large area. One of the

most famous pilgrimages in Maharashtra, Pandharpur Ashadhi Ekadashi Wari has

been taking place for more than 700 years. The procession was started in the

current form by Sant Tukaram's son Narayanmaharaj in 1685. But it is believed

that the first pilgrimage was done by the parents of Saint Dnyaneshwar in the

13th century and Sant Dnyaneshwar during his time popularized it.

Pandharpur hosts four " Yatras " in a year. The " Aashadhi Yatra " is the one which

attracts most pilgrims (around 0.5 to 0.7 million) to Pandharpur every year.

Devotees take holy bath in river Bhima and usually stand in long queues in order

to take " Darshana " of Lord Vitthala. The second important yatra is " Kartiki " .

The huge crowds that accompany the palanquins of the various saints to

Pandharpur gives a clear image of the popularity of Vithoba in the region.

The Western gate and shikhara of Vithoba's shrine

Chief (eastern) entrance of the temple, with houses the " Namdeva chi Payari " .

The small blue temple in front of the gate is saint Chokhamela's memorial.One

interesting tale is also of the first step in the temple called “Namdev chi

payari†(step of Namdev). The child Namdev was always an ardent devotee of

Vithoba. One day his mother asked him to complete the ritual of “naivedyaâ€

(any food made in the house is first offered to God, the ritual comprises

placing the offering plate before the idol and sprinkling water around the plate

and with a prayer to God). 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. The child was so unhappy with the non-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 infinite 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 payariâ€.

The shikhara of Rakhumai's cella

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. 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.

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 the 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! "

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.

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 until 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.. May Lord

Vithobha help us to clean our past bad deeds with our good deeds and pure

devotion for our creator

Message from the teachings of Saibaba for 29th September

Sainath's Sacred Foot-Prints Sri Sai used to sit underneath a neem tree since He

entered Shirdi. One day, Krishnaji had a desire to see the Padukas, sacred

foot-prints of Saint Akkalkot Maharaj. Before he could start to Akkalkot, the

Swami of Akkalkot appeared in his dream and said, " You need not come to Me now.

My present stay is at Shirdi. So you go there and have the darshan " . Krishnaji

believed that Swami Samarth of Akkalkot and Sai Baba were one and the same.

Krishnaji went to Shirdi, stayed for six months and wanted to install the

padukas of Sai Baba underneath the neem tree hallowed by Baba sitting under it.

Krishnaji was advised by his friend to ask Dr. Rama Rao Kotare to make the

padukas. When the blue-print of the foot-prints were shown to Sri Upasani

Maharaj, he added lotus, conch-shell, chakra, the disc on them. They got the

padukas made in Bombay. Baba ordered that the padukas be installed on the

auspicious Sraavana Pournami day.Dikshit

brought the sacred padukas, keeping them on his head, to Dwarakamayi and placed

them before Baba who touched them and declared that the padukas were the Feet of

God. He gave twenty-five rupees to meet the expenditure to be incurred for the

installation of the padukas. Since then, devotees who visit Shirdi wave the

camphor-lit lamp and offer sanctified food to the padukas. It is a sacred

service to the Lord of the Universe.

 

 

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