Pandharpur is the spiritual capital of Maharashtra. It is the home to Panduranga Vitthala – the most merciful Lord of Bhajans. Pandharpur is situated in the Solapur District, on the western banks of River Chandrabhaga. It is the land of the kirtanas or the abhangas. This sacred city has been known by various names such as Pandharpur, Pandhari, Pandurangapura, Pundrika Kshetra, Pandurange, Pandurangapalli, etc.
Sant Tukarama in one of his abhanagas writes:
uddanda dekhile uddanda ekile, uddanda varnile kshetra mahime
aisi chandrabhaga aise bhimaa tira, aisa vitevara deva kothe
aise santjana aise haridas, aisa namaghosha saangaa kothe
tuka mhane aamhaa anaathaam kaarane, pandari nirmaan keli deve
I have gone around the whole world, had darshan of many tirtha kshetras; I have also heard about their glories from the saintly people. In all the Puranas there is a description of the tirthas but I have not seen the river Chadrabhaga and Lord Panduranga Vitthala, just by having darshan of whom all the sins are gone away. In which tirtha are the servants of Lord Hari like Namdev, Jnana Dev, Eknath? Where there is such victorious echo of the bhajans and kirtanas of Lord Sri Hari? Lord Narayana has made this Pandharpur Kshetra for orphans like us.
Pandari means ‘bhuvaikuntha’. There is something unique about the opulence of Panduranga, Pandari and the devotees of Panduranga. Here devotee forgets the difference between the perfection and the neophyte stage of devotional service, and drown themselves into the ocean of ecstasy of the Hari Nama Sankirtana.
Sant Tukaram also mentions:
sukhaalaagi jari karisi talamala, tarii du pandarisi jaaya eka vela
maga tum avaghachi sukharupa hosi, naama janmojanmiche dukha visarati
O human, if you are hankering for the happiness in your life, then go to Pandharpur. There you will drown completely into the ocean of happiness and be freed from the difficulties of many births.
The Description of Pandharpur Kshetra
Lord Panduranga Vitthala is present in Pandharpur in 3 forms – Chandrabhaga Tirtha, Pandharpur Kshetra and Vitthala. This kshetra is half yojana wide and 1.25 yojana long. It is 3 times better than Pushkara, 6 times better than Kedar, ten times than Kashi and 6 times better than Srisaila Kshetra. East facing Kshetra Murti, Pundalika and Lakshmi Tirtha are located in the form of Yantra in a Triangular form. In the center of this triangle is the Bindu Tirtha. In that Bindu Tirtha is the Vaikuntha of Sri Hari. Within Bindu Tirtha is the main temple of Panduranga Vitthala is situated.
There are 4 entrances to Pandharpur: Eastern entrance is marked by the presence of Sandhyavali Devi. There is a sangam of 2 rivers here. Lord Brahma is present in the form of Vata Vriksha in this place. Mansur is the Southern entrance. There is a Siddheshwar Shivalinga in this place. There is also sangam of Bhima and Pushpavati river. On the Western entrance is Bhuvaneshwari Devi. On the Northern entrance is Mahishasura Mardini Durga Devi and the sangam of Bhima with Bharani River.
Similarly there are 4 second level entrances into Pandharpur. In West there is Karaveer Dwar marked by the temple of Lakshmi Devi. In the South there is Shurpalaya Temple. In the East is Trivikrama Vishnu and in the North is Narsingpur.
As per the Padma Purana, Pandharpur is shaped like a lotus flower, hence it is also called as Pundarikavana. The Skanda Purana this place is glorified as Dhanu Kshetra in the shape of a bow. Padma Purana also mentions that it is shaped as a bow.
Pandharpur is Nada Brahma
Pandharpur Kshetra is known as Nada Brahma. Tirumala is known as Kaanchana Brahma and Jagannath Puri is known as Anna Brahma. Nada means sound and brahma indicates Parabrahman. Nada Brahma indicates the sound glorifying Parabrahman.
Skanda Purana states that any who devotee dances in front of Panduranga chanting His holy names, goes beyond the planet of Surya after death. Such devotee is very dear to Lord Panduranga. Devotee who performs devotional service in the Rangashila near Garuda Sthambha, after being transcendetally satsified, being freed from the expectation of sinful and pious results, is a liberated soul. Anyone who worships Vitthala with devotion, sings His glories, is liberated from the clutches of this material world.
Padma Purana states taking holy bath in Pandharpur, meditating on Panduranga and paying Him obeisances fulfills all desires. That devotee acheives Vaikuntha. Demigods and godesses desire to take birth on this planet just to worship Panduranga Vitthala. Just by chanting the name of Pandharpur, one’s sinful reactions go away.
It is very difficult to get the blessings of Lord Panduranga to live in Pandharpur just like it is very difficult to achieve the siddhis. This dham is so holy that result of living in Kurukshetra, Ganga Sagar, Kedar, Naimisharanya for thousands of years is achieved just by standing next to Panduranga. (Skanda Purana)
The glories of Pandharpur
tat kshetram paandurangaakhyam darshanat mokshadaayakam
tat daivatam vitthalaakhyam jagat kaarana avyayam
One gets liberation in Pandhari just by having darshan of this holy place. The cause of this world Lord Vitthala is the Lord of Pandhari. (Padma Purana)
Places to be visited in Pandharpur
There are many tirthas to be visited in Pandharpur. Some of them being:
Panduranga Vitthala Temple
Rukmini Temple
Pundalika Temple
Chandrabhaga Ghat
Gopalpur
Takpithe Vithoba Mandir
Padma Tirtha
Lakhubai Temple (Lakshmi Tirtha)
Nira Narsingpur
How to reach Pandharpur?
Pandhari is situated in Maharashtra. To experience this holy place in its original spiritual potency, travel with Tirtha Yatra on Pandharpur Yatra. Keep aside all your worries such as prasadam arrangement, travel, hunting for travels and relish the darshan of Lord Vitthala.
On your own you may reach this holy place as follows:
By Air: The nearest airport is Pune International Airport which is well connected with flights all over India. Hire a taxi from Pune.
By Rail: Pandharpur is well connected by Indian Railways too.
By Roadways: You may hire a taxi from Pune, Kolhapur or Solapur to reach Pandharpur.
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