Temples in Pandharpur
Vitthala Temple
Sri Vitthala is a form of Lord Krishna. The Deity is also called Vithobha or Panduranga. The Deity is a five thousand year old, self-manifest Deity. Parts of this temple date to the 12th and 13th century, but most of the temple was built in the 17th century and later.
According to Maharastrian tradition, when Lord Krishna was performing His Dwarka pastimes, He came to Maharashtra upon the request of His devotee Pundalika. When the Lord arrived, Pundalika was so busily engaged serving his parents that he asked the Lord to wait on the top of a brick platform. Thus the Lord is named Vitthala, which means "one who stands on a brick" (in a waiting posture).
When you enter the main door of the temple, you see a deity of Sri Ganesh, who is prayed to for removing all obstacles in the worship of Sri Vitthala. On either side of the Deity room are huge four-armed statues of Jaya and Vijaya, the doorkeepers of Vaikuntha, the spiritual world.
Sri Vitthala is a slightly smiling, blackish complexioned, three-and-a-half-foot Deity. His hands rest on His hips, and He wears a Vaijayanti garland and tulasi garland. His right hand holds a lotus flower, and His left holds a conch-shell. On His forehead beneath His crown is a broad mark of tilaka. Everyone is allowed to go up to the altar and touch the lotus feet of the Deity. Some pilgrims rest their head upon His feet.
Lord Vitthala is bathed in public view mangala-arati. At some point the bathing is interrupted so that the Lord may be fed butter mixed with sugar candy. A big lump of butter is literally put into His mouth. Then a short arati is offered, and the bathing resumes.
Behind Lord Vitthala's shrine stands the shrine of Srimati Rukmini Devi, the consort of the Lord. Shivaji, the great Maratha general, was a devotee of Sri Vitthala.
Pundalika Temple
The Pundalika Temple is about a half km from the Vitthala Temple. This temple marks the spot where Pundalika, the Lord's devotee, spent the last years of his life. It is in the middle of the riverbank.
Vishnupada Temple
The Vishnupada Temple is about a kilometre south of the Pundalika temple. The Vishnupada Temple is in the middle of the river connected by a causeway to the shore. During the rainy season this temple is under water for about three months.
In the middle of this temple is a square five feet by five feet. There are three rocks in this square that have the foot-prints of Lord Krishna and of a cow embedded in them. Krishna's footprints are in two positions. In one position He is standing on both feet, and in the other position He is standing on His left foot with His right foot crossed and resting on His toes. There are footprints of a cow at each corner of the square.
On the first day of the month of Margashirsha the sandals of Vitthala are taken to this temple. On the last day of the same month the chariot of Vitthala is brought to this temple in a grand procession. Sraddha is performed at this temple. Pilgrims perform funeral rites here for their departed ancestors.
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