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Pandharpur Temple, Pandharpur darshan yatra in Maharashtra

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Centres Of Faith - Pandharpur - Introduction

Introduction

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Introduction: 
   
Pandharpur is situated in the Solapur district of Maharashtra, 212 km to the south-east of Pune. It is also known as Bhu-vaikunth (God’s home on Earth) where Lord Vishnu resides permanently in the form of Vithoba.
    
It is the biggest pilgrimage centre in Maharashtra where lakhs of devotees visit for a darshan of Lord Vithoba. Vithoba is also known by other names like Vitthalnath, Pandharinath, Pandurang etc.
    
Since Vithoba is also considered to be a form of Krishna, one finds temples of Rakhumai (Rukmini), Balram, Satyabhama, Jambvati and Radha too.
    
Pandharpur was also a centre of Maratha-dharm associated with the devotional movement (Bhakti Andolan) and saints like Gnaneshwar, Namdev, Tukaram, Eknath, Janabai have been associated with this place in some or the other manner.
    
Most of the visitors here are of the Varkari sect (Vari - pilgrimage, Kari – doer of an act). They are organised as groups known as Dindi.
   
Pandharpur is also the birthplace of world renowned painter and film producer, Maqbool Fida Hussain.
 

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Mythological Beliefs

Mythological Beliefs: 
   
It has been referred to as Dindivan in ancient texts. The Varkari devotees believe that just as Kashi is situated on the trident (trishul) of Shiv, similarly Pandharpur is situated on Vishnu’s Sudarshan Chakra. Therefore it will not be destroyed even during Pralay kaal (catastrophe).
    
 Here, the Bhima River is called Chandrabhaga. It is believed that the Moon God came here to have a bath to get rid of his sins.
    
According to Padma Puran, once Shachi, wife of Indra, came to Vaikunth in the hope of love from Vishnu. Lord Vishnu declined her request but promised to fulfil her desire in his next avtaar. During Vishmu’s avtaar as Krishna, Shachi was born as Radha. In spite of Krishna’s marriage with Rukmini, his affection for Radha continued. This enraged Rukmini who came to Dindivan and began meditating. Later Krishna came searching for her. When Rukmini refused to discontinue, Krishna also began his meditation.
   
According to the most popular belief, a devotee by the name of Pundalik known for serving his parents, lived here. Pleased with his dedication towards his parents, the Lord came to Pandharpur to meet him. At that moment Pundalik was serving his father. Without any distraction towards his responsibility, Pundalik handed over a brick (Veet in Marathi) to the Lord to rest on. After he was free from his service, Pundalik appeared before the Lord. When the Lord granted him a boon, Pundalik wished that the Lord be present there in this form forever.
 

Historical Facts

History: 
   
The earliest evidences of this temple are from the 6th century A.D. A copper plate announcing a grant from the Rashtrakut dynasty mentions about this temple.
   
Vishnuvardhan (Vitti Dev), the founder of the Hoysala dynasty (capital - Dwarsamudra) renovated the temple in 1195 A.D.
   
An inscription dated 1236 A.D. from Karnataka, suggests that the Hoysala king, Someshwar, donated a village to the temple.
   
Aadiguru Shankaracharya who composed Pandurangashtakam, also probably came here.
   
Its importance continued even during the Vijaynagar Empire. Tenaliram, one of the Ashtadiggajas (meaning 8 elephants facing 8 directions) from Krishnadevrai’s (1509-1529) court, has written Pandurang Mahatmya.
   
The Peshwas and the British had an encounter with each other during the third Anglo-Maratha battle. It was after this battle that the Maratha Empire came to an end and the Peshwas became English pensioners.
 

Main Places To See

Main Places To See: 
   
Shi Vitthal Temple:
 
It is situated in a huge complex with six doors as entrances. The eastern entrance is called Namdev dwar which is where his Samadhi also exists. The main temple has a black stone idol of Vitthalnath standing on a brick with both his hands rested on his waist. In the same complex are the temples of Rukmini as well as the other wives of Krishna.
    
Pundalik Temple:
 
On the banks of the river is the temple of the great devotee, Pundalik. There is a piece of stone which cannot be lifted by a normal human being but always stays afloat on water.
    
Vishnu Paath:
 
In the Chandrabhaga River, Lord Vishnu’s feet are imprinted on a stone. Devotees complete the last rites of their ancestors in this region.
   
Narsinghpur:
 
This village is about 25 km from Khurdwadi Station. People in the region refer to it as the Prayag of South. The Bhima and Neera Rivers meet here. A temple of Lord Narsingh is situated here which has the idol of the Lord as well as Prahlad. It is believed that here, in the ashram of Narad-muni, Hiranyakashyap’s wife Kayadhu gave birth to Prahlad.
 
   

Main Festivals

Main Festivals: 
   
During the entire year, everyday is of some or the other significance in the Vitthal Temple of Pandharpur. The most auspicious day here is Ekadashi (24 in a year).
   
Four Dindi processions are held in a year of which two are the most important:
 
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 Ashaadhi Ekadashi:
 
On the Shukla Paksh Ekadashi of Ashaadh month (June/July), a number of tours from the birth place of various saints of Maharashtra come here. These Dindi groups are accompanied by the Palkhi (palanquin) of the concerned saint like Gnaneshwar from Alandi, Tukaram from Dehu, Nivrattinath from Trimbakeshwar, Eknath from Paithan etc. According to the Padma Puran, from this day onwards the Gods go to sleep for four months.
   
-
 Kartik Poornima:
 
The Puranas believe that the Gods wake up on this day when the entire city is filled with an air of excitement.
   
Navratri:
 
During Navratri in Ashwin month, Vitthal and Rukmini are adorned with new clothes and beautiful ornaments everyday.
   
Margshirsh:
 
During this period, devotees from various places visit Vishnupaad to offer Pind-daan to their ancestors.
   
Rindamba:
 
This is a relay race organised during the Dindi Yatra and dedicated to Saint Tukaram. The race begins from Belapur.
 

Where To Stay

Where To Stay : 
   
Dharamshalas
   
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There are a number of dharmshalas (owned by various Varkari followers) and hotels. However some devotees stay with their purohits as paying guests.
   
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Sant Gadge Maharaj Dharmshala, Shri Maheshwari Dharmshala, Mangal Niketan etc.
   
Hotels:
 
 Category
 General
 Name
 Laxminarayan Lodge
 Address
 Station Road, Damodar Market
 Telephone
 +91 - 2186 - 223 721, 09822174279
   
 
 Category
 General
 Name
 Shri Maheshwari Dharmshala
 Address
 Pradakshina Road
 Telephone
 +91 - 2186 - 223 377
   
 
 Category
 Medium
 Name
 Udupi Hotel
 Address
 Pashchimi - Dwar Mandir
 Telephone
 +91 - 2186 - 224 666
   
 
 Category
 Medium
 Name
 Shamiana Hotel
 Address
 4001, Station Road
 Telephone
 +91 - 2186 - 222 411, 225 527
   
 
 Category
 High
 Name
 Aishwarya Hotel
 Address
 125, Murarji Path, Dist. Solapur
 Telephone
 +91 - 217 – 2629491 / 92 / 93
 Fax  +91 - 217 - 2621832
   
 
 Category
 High
 Name
 Bhakt Niwas
 Address
 Near Padmavati Sarovar
 Telephone
 +91 - 2186 - 223 312 / 4527, 09860083312
 Fax  +91 - 2186 - 224 466
 Web Site  www.vitthalinfo.com
 

Location/Climate

Location/Climate: 
 
Location
 
 Geographical  Location  Height  Above  Sea Level  Average Annual Rainfall
 Latitude  Longitude  458 metres  600 mm
 17.7˚ N  75.3˚ E
   
 
Temperature

Temperature is given in degrees Celsius.
 
 Month  Jan   Feb   Mar   Apr  May  Jun  Jul  Aug  Sep  Oct   Nov    Dec
 Maximum   31  34  38  40  40  35  32  31  32  33  32  30
 Minimum  17  18  22  25  25  24  23  22  22  21  33  16
   
 
Important Information
Pandharpur is situated in Southern Maharashtra on the banks of Bhima River which is also known as Chandrabhaga.
May is the hottest month and January, the coldest.
Tourists visit all year round. Those interested in seeing the Vari should come in June/July.
 

General Information

General Information: 
 
 STD Code
 02186
 Puja Timings
 4.30 - 11.00 a.m., 4.30 - 10.45 p.m.
 Police Assistance
  Taluka Police Station
 Tel: +91 - 2186 - 223 443
 Ambulance/Hospital     Bhosle Hospital, Gatade Plot, Old Karad Naka
 Tel: +91 - 02186 - 224 330
 Takle Hospital, Karad Naka
 Tel: +91 - 2186 - 223 467
 Currency  Exchange
 Bank of Baroda, Veer Savarkar Road, Pandharpur,  Maharashtra - 413 304
 Tel: +91 - 2186 - 225 620
 ATM Centre  HDFC, Sun Plaza, 8516/11 Murarji Path, Lucky  Chowk,  Solapur - 413 007
 SBI, Laxmi Path, Pandharpur, Maharashtra - 413 304
 ICICI Bank, Shivparv Complex, Solapur - 413 307
 Post Office
 Pandharpur Taluka, Dist, Solapur,
 Pandharpur - 413 304
 Tel: +91 - 2186 - 223 410
 Tourist Office
  MTDC, Bhakti Niwas, Pandharpur
 Tel: +91 - 2186 - 223 312
   
 
Food
Maharashtrian food is available in most of the dhabas and restaurants. Hotel Aishwarya has a decent offering of South Indian and Chinese food.
 

Travel Planner

Address (Click on "A" to locate): 
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PDF File: 
application/pdf iconpandharpur.pdf
Airports in the vicinity: 
Mumbai
Pune
Aurangabad
Solapur
Nagpur
Railway: 
 Main Railway Stations  Station Code
 Mumbai CST  CSTM
 Pandharpur  PVR
 Surat  STA
 Ahmadnagar  ANG
 Pune  Pune
 Jejuri  JJR
 Nasik  NK
Road Distance from Destinations: 
 Trimbakeshwar  Nasik 26 km
 Mumbai 141 km
 Pune 206 km
 Nashik

 

  Mumbai 158 km
 Nagpur 201 km
 Aurangabad 197 km
 Shirdi  Nashik 96 km
 Aurangabad 130 km
 Ahmednagar 89 km
 Kailashnath - Ellora  Nasik 177 km
 Mumbai 331 km
 Aurangabad 28 km
 Ghrishneshwar  Aurangabad 32 km
 Nasik 177 km
 Shegaon  Nagpur 160 km
 Aurangabad 167 km
 Mahabaleshwar  Pune 86 km
 Solapur 260 km
 Pandharpur  Pune 196 km
 Aurangabad 290 km
 Shani Shingnapur  Aurangabad 84 km
 Nasik 65 km
 Pune 65 km
 Bhimashankar  Mumbai 108 km
 Pune 87 km
 Nasik 145 km
 Jejuri  Pune 40 km
 Solapur 215 km
 Aurangabad 244 km

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