A visit to Pandarpur - The Land of Lord Vitthal, Maharashtra
Jai Jai Panduranga Hari Bolo!! Panduranga Hari!!
Panduranga Panduranga Panduranga Vittala!!!
💥💥Significance of Lord Vittal temple💥💥
👉The temple is situated on the banks of River Chandrabaga (aka River Bhima) in the Sholapur district of Maharashtra State. The River Chandrabaga is in the shape of the crescent moon, it is the tributary of the Tapti-Purna River.
👉This holy place is visited by 100,000 to 150,000 devotees during Ashadha, and Karthik Ekadashi, Devotees stay in the queue for 4 to 5 days to take the darshan of the Lord.
👉Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu visited Pandarpur during his South India yatra. During his visit, he initiated Saint Tukaram.
👉Our trip was for 2 days and 1 night. We traveled in Basava Express from Bangalore to Sholapur. From Sholapur railway station we took a bus to ISKCON Pandarpur. Guest rooms are available for stay, we can honor Prasadam in Govinda's or at the temple. We returned by Sholapur Hassan Express. You can actually cover the trip in one day from Bangalore.
🌷 Lord Vitthal Rukmini Mandir, Pandarpur (Pandaripuram)🌷
Lord Vitthala is a self-manifested (Swayambhu) deity. Lord Vitthala has performed many pastimes in and around Pandarpur. Lord Krishna in the form of Vitthala manifested here for two reasons.
👉Reuniting with Rukmini Devi
One day in Dwaraka, Lord Krishna in his sleep was murmuring Srimati Radharani's name, Rukmini Devi, asked Narada Muni about Shrimati Radharani. After knowing her utmost love for Krishna, Rukmini Devi wanted to exhibit the same love so she descended to do Tapas in Pandarpur. Lord Krishna arrived here to rejoin with Rukmini Devi.
👉 To give darshan to Pundalik
Lord Krishna wanted to witness Pundalik's unconditional service to his parents, he arrived at his place. At that time Pundalik was busy serving his parents, he threw a brick outside not knowing it was Lord Krishna and he asked him to stand on the brick. Later Pundalik came to know that it was Lord Krishna, he immediately asked for his forgiveness and Lord Krishna was very pleased. Pundalik asked for two benedictions. One of them is to witness the childhood pastimes of the Lord. Due to this, Gopalpur, Govardhan Parvat, and Vishnupaad places were manifested. Another one is to stay in Pandarpur so devotees from all over the place can take this beautiful darshan of the Lord.
👉Kana Patra pastime
Kana Patra is a devotee of the Lord. Sultan of Vijayanagar wanted to marry her and he sent his ministers to bring her to the palace. When she was leaving Pandarur she pleaded with the guards to take darshan of the Lord Vitthal for one last time. The guards let her inside the temple for one final darshan. She went inside and hugged the Lord and cried.
She felt the Lord's lotus feet was very soft like butter, she pressed Lord's feet using her fingers and it made a hole. The imprints of her fingers are still there. She sincerely prayed and Lord took her inside. Her dresses were outside, the Brahmanas were terrified that they will be caught by the guards, hence they buried her dress. Immediately a tree came out and the tree still exists near the Kana Patra deity.
👉Stamba
There is a Stamba covered with metal while going to take darshan, this is the place where Purandara Dasa wrote many poems for the Lord. It is to be noted that Purandara Dasa wrote 475,000 songs on Lord Krishna.
🌷Gopalpur (Govardhan Parvat)🌷
👉By the request of Pundalik, Lord Krishna exhibited his childhood pastimes in this hill known as Govardhan Parvat and the deity here is very special since devotees say the Pandarpur yatra is not complete without taking darshan here.
👉The head of the deity is Lord Vitthal Panduranga and the body is Lord Krishna. You get to go so close to the deity and touching the lotus feet is allowed.
🌷 Janabhai/Chakkubhai pastimes🌷
👉Saint Namadev's father witnessed a 7-year-old girl who did not want to leave Pandarpur due to her immense bhakti for Lord Vitthal. He gave shelter to that girl named Chakkubhai in his home. Saint Namadev's mother was not very happy since the girl will increase the burden for her since the housework will increase for her. But the father promised that the girl will help instead.
👉When Chakkubhai was attending her household chores she sings for Lord Vitthala. Hearing her beautiful voice full of devotion, Lord Vitthal comes personally and sits beside her, and enjoys the songs.
👉 One day Chakkubhai was really tired of doing the chores, and Lord Vitthal was sitting and asking her to sing, she told him "You come every day just to listen to my songs but you are not helping me." Since then Lord Vitthal helps her in her chores.
👉The utensils used by Chakkubhai are kept in the Gopalpur temple. Especially the raagi chakki. You can use them if you give them a small donation. The pujari's sing for you too. In the underground where Chakkubhai attained the lotus feet of Lord Vitthala, we can take darshan of both of them. There is a blanket that Chakkubhai used that is also kept for darshan.
🌷Vishnupaad🌷
👉This is the place where Krishna did his childhood pastimes where his lotus feet are imprinted on the rocks. The footprints are in the mandap.
🌷Prabhupada Ghat in ISKCON🌷
🌷Lord Surya Narayana Temple🌷
🌷Other Activities🌷
👉Shopping outside of Lord Vitthal temple
👉Pastime Photo Studio
When you come out of Gopalpur temple on the roadside there are studios where you can dress like Jaanabhai/Chakkubhai and take pictures with Krishna. You will get a chance to experience doing household work with Lord Krishna and also get to play with him.
👉Boating in River Chandrabaga
Devotees can take a boat from Prabhupad Ghat to the other side and reach Vitthal temple by walk.
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