Pandharpur

Pandharpur
Town
The chief gate ofVitthal's temple, facing the Bhima River, Ujwala Setu,Pandharpur Wari,Chandrabhaga river
Nickname(s): Pandhari, Pandaripuram
Pandharpur Location in Maharashtra, India
Coordinates:17°40′40″N75°19′40″E
Country	India
State	Maharashtra
District	Solapur
Government
• Type	Municipal Council
Area
• Total	20.2 km2(7.8 sq mi)
• Rank	9
Elevation	450 m (1,480 ft)
Population (2015)
• Total	242,515
• Density	12,000/km2(31,000/sq mi)
Language
• Official	Marathi
Time zone	UTC+5:30(IST)
Vehicle registration	MH-13

Pandharpur(Pronunciation:[pəɳɖʱəɾpuːɾ]) is a popular pilgrimagetown,on the banks ofChandrabhagā River,nearSolapur cityinSolapur District,Maharashtra,India.Its administrative area is one of eleventehsilsin the District,and it isan electoral constituencyof the state legislative assembly (vidhan sabha).TheVithoba templeattracts about a millionHindupilgrims during the majoryātrā(pilgrimage) inAshadha(June–July).

A small temple of Śri Vitthala-Rukmini is also located, which is as old as the main Vitthala-Rukmini Mandir, in Isbavi area of Pandharpur known as Wakhari Va Korti Devalayas and also known as Visava Mandir. The Bhakti Saint,Chaitanya Mahaprabhu,is said to have spent a period of 7 days in city at the Vithobha Temple. It is said that the deity Vithoba has been worshipped by many saints of Maharashtra. SantDnyaneshwar,SantTukārām,SantNāmdev,SantEknāth,Sant Nivruttināth, SantMuktābai,SantChokhāmel̥ā,SantSavatāMāli, SantNarhari Sonār,SantGorā Kumbhār,SantMeerā Baiand SantGajānan Mahārajare a few of those prominent saints.

History

The oldest mention of Pandharpur is from 516 CE fromRashtrakutaera copper plate inscription.YadavaKings in 11th and 12 the century gave numerous donations to the temple as evident from the inscriptions.

In the era ofAdilshahi,most of the town was destroyed byAfzal Khan.Saints from all across Maharashtra still gathered here for annual pilgrimage and thus Pandharpur became the heart of the devotional movement which laid to the social-religious reform. This resulted in new social synthesis which later paved the foundation ofMaratha Empire.

In the second half of the 18th century under theMarathasthe temple and town was rebuilt under thePeshwasof Pune,ScindiaofGwailorandHolkarof Indore.

Mahadwar

Mahadwar is main locality in the city and a market place. Mahadwar leads to main ghāt of Pandharpur that is "Mahadwar ghat". There is temple of Bhakta Pundalika on the ghāt.

It is said thatKrishnacame to Pandharpur to meet his disciple BhaktaPundalīka who was busy serving his parents that time.He offered brick called viṭ in maraṭhi to Krishna and requested him to wait standing on the brick for sometime till he attends his parents. The same Krishna is standing on the brick for last 28yugaand thus is also knows as Vitthala. So in ārati of vitthal it is mentioned "yuge atṭhāvis (28), viṭhevari ubhā".

Significance

There are other many ancient scriptures which elaborate the importance of Vitthala.

Chandogya Upanishad:The fourth chapter of theChandogya Upanishad,has one of the source of the ancient tradition of Shri Vitthala's worship. It contains the story of King Janśhruti who mentions about his visit to Pandharpur when he was on the way to search for Raikva. He remarks that "He arrived at the location where the god" Vitthala, "who is simply a reincarnation of Vishnu, was located on the bank of the river Bhimā. The name of this pilgrimage is Bindutirth, and the name of the local deity is Bindumādhav. There the God who gives the blessings of material and spiritual prosperity still lives."

Pandharpur Streets

Padma Purana:The meaning of Pānduranga or Viṭthala is explained inVarāhasamhitā ofPadma Purana.Devrishi Nāradanarrates toĀdiśeṣaabout arrival of Pānduranga in Pandharpur, It explains the background and significance of Vitthala's brick-standing at Pandharpur and origin of theBhimaRiver. Additionally, it provides information on Pandharpur's different gods and deities.Neera Narasinḥpuris as holy asPrayāga,Korti or Vishnupad is as holy asGayā,and Pandharpur is as holy asKāśī.Therefore, a trip to Pandharpur could result in the blessings of the pilgrimage to these three locations. This is where Gaya śhraddha and Kāshi yātra rituals can be carried out.

Pundalik

Skanda Purana:Shiva narrates to Pārvati, "This place is spiritually fruitful three times more thanPuṣhkara,six times more thanKedārnāth,ten times more thanVārānasiand many more times thanŚriśaila.Performing Yātra,Vāri,and Dān have great merit at this place.

Pilgrims bathing in the Chandrabhaga river at Pandharpur

There are four gates on the outside and inside of this building. Only via these gates may a person enter a city and they must bend their heads to the deity of these revered gates. GoddessSarasvatiis to the east, Siddheshvar of Machanoor is to the south, Bhuvaneshvar is to the west, andMahiśhāsūrmardiniis to the north at the internal gate. To the east of the exterior gates are Trivikarms of Ter, Koteshvar of Krishnatir Shorpalaya Kśhetra,Mahālakśhmī of KolhāpurandNarsinḥaof Neera narasinhapur.

Vishnu is regarded to reside here with his nine celestial attributes. Vimalā, Uttkarshani, Dyan, Kriyā, Yoga, Pavi, Satyā, Eshana, and Anugraha are the names of those nine powers.Garuḍh(the eagle) stands in front of the Pānduranga statue, withBrahmāand Sanakadika to its right and the eleven Rudras and Shiva to its left. All of the gods, includingIndra,are applauding Panduranga from behind the idol.

This ancient text goes into detail about the importance and advantages of various temple rituals, including taking refuge in the temple's shadow, performing Pānduranga darshan, praising Panduranga in front of him, dancing in the rangshala, visiting the temple for darshan during dhupārti, cleaning the temple grounds, etc.The text clarifies the significance of the Pandharpur shrines Kundal Tirtha and Padma Tirtha.

Balarāmaalso arrived and served the deity, along with Dhaumya Rishi andYudhiṣhṭhiraand all of his brothers. In Pandharpur,Rukminiserved the deity and gave birth toPradyumna.The effects of the river Bhima's entry into Pandhari, Pandhari's protector ShriBhairava,the devotee Muktakeshi's meditation, and her acceptance by God are all detailed in this scripture.

Demographics

According to the 2011 census of India, Pandharpur had a population of 98,000. Males constituted 52% of the population and females, 48%. 71% of the population was literate; 78% males and 64% females.

Marathi is the official and main language of people.

It is a major holy place in Maharashtra and it is also called South Kashi (Dakshin Kashi) in Maharashtra. It is famous for the Lord Vitthala temple situated on the bank of Bhima river. Bhima river is also known as Chandrabhaga as it takes shape like crescent moon near the town and hence gets the name.There are 4 yatra's (vaari- gathering of pilgrims/devotees) per year, Chaitri, Ashadhi, Kartiki and Maghi, of which Ashadhi and Kartiki are the main ones. Devotees come from all over Maharashtra, Karnataka and some part of Tamil NaduThey usually come walking hundred of miles, all the way from their hometown.

Connectivity

By Road

Pandharpur is 76 km fromSolapur,136 km fromSangli,210 km fromPuneand 360 km fromMumbai.Pandharpur possesses good connectivity with rest of Maharashtra, Karnataka and Telangana by road. MSRTC bus station is located in the central part of city and at just 1 km distance from Shri Vitthala-Rukmini Temple. Direct services to almost all parts of Maharashtra are available with highest frequency to the cities of Solapur,Sangliand Pune. When it comes to other states, daily buses are available to different parts of Karnataka(mostly north Karnataka) and Hyderabad. Apart from this many private bus services operate daily between Pandharpur to Pune and Pandharpur toSangli.

By Train

Pandharpur railway station has daily trains to nearest Kurduwadi and Miraj junction. Miraj-Kurduwadi train is daily popular train. Kolhapur-Nagpur express is available twice a week on Monday and Friday. Daily direct train fromSangli railway stationto Pandharpur is also available daily night which is Sangli-Miraj-Parli Vaijnath express. Every Friday there is a train to Yeshwantpur(Bangalore), Daily there is a train to Mysore Via: Vijayapura, Gadag, Hubballi & Bengaluru. The best option is nearest Solapur junction (75 km) which possess great connectivity to both north and south India. Many travellers also prefer to get down atSangli railway stationwhich is 136 km from Pandharpur and take a private car or bus from Sangli to Pandharpur. Dadar-Satara express running on Dadar-Pandharpur-Sangli-Satara also connects Pandharpur to Sangli, Bhilavdi, Kirloskarvadi, Karad, Masur, Satara.

By Air

Nearest International and domestic airports arePune Airport(210 km) and Kolhapur airport is (180 km).

External links

• PANDHARPUR by Gazetteer's Dept