PANDHARPUR  TRAVEL  DIARY  --PART   THREE 

 PANDHARPUR TEMPLE 

The Main  entrance of Lord Vittala's Temple is facing towards the Chandrabhaga or Bhima river. Samadhi of Namadev and Chockamela is at the entrance. Pilgrims will first pray to these Devotees and then enter the temple. Small Ganesh Shrine is present inside the temple as the first Shrine. Then, a small hall where bhajans are performed. Small Shrine for Garuda and Hanuman facing Lord is in the same hall. Then, after climbing a few steps, we can see the beautiful face of Lord Vittala. We can have this Mukha Darshan any time without standing in Queue. For, Padha Darshan (To touch the Lotus Feet of Lord), there is an entrance which leads to Queue Complex outside the temple. It will lead to many small shrines of Bhaktas, then towards the Lord Panduranga. We can touch the feet of Lord. We feel blessed when we touch the Lord's Lotus feet. 

 A noticeable aspect is that Vithala and Rukhmani are in separate shrines. They are not together. This is the position in Madurai Meenakshi Temple  where  Siva and Parvati are in separate shrines. A little distance between spouses contributes to marital harmony !! 

The idol of Vithoba is of black stone and is 3 feet 9 inches in height. It stands on a Vith--Brick which is One square foot. The idol is believed to be 5000 years old. The Lord has his arms Akimbo. On his  left hand is the Conch and on the right Chakra. There are  ear-rings on long  ears and they  touch the shoulder.

There ere are Shrines for Rukmini Devi, Sathyabhama Devi, Radhika Devi, Lord Narasimha, Lord Venkateshwara, Goddess Mahalakshmi, Nagaraj, Ganesha, Annapoorani Devi. There is another mandap where all devotees play like Krishna who had played with Gopikas. 

An interesting tale is that of the temple's first step is called “Namdev Chi Payari” (step of Namdev). The child and future Saint, Namdev was an ardent devotee of Vithoba. One day his mother asks him to complete the ritual of “naivedya” (any food made in the house is first offered to God, the ritual comprises placing the offering plate before the deity and sprinkling water around the plate and with a prayer to God). Namdev faithfully does “naivedya” and waits for God to appear and take the offering. But he is disheartened. He keeps praying and requests God to come in person and accept the offering. With no answer, the child starts banging his head at the feet of God. Seeing this utmost devotion and innocence of a child, God appears, eats the offering and blesses Namdev. Namdev asks for being present in the "first step" at His temple, so that  innumerable devotees will touch him before having the “Darshan” . So, this first step is called “Namdev Chi Payari”.

The east-west length of the Temple is 350 feet and North-South length is 170 feet. There are  many doors

1. Namdev Gate.Pious people first take darshan of this step.

2.On the right hand side of the Namdev step there is a big Fig tree. Facing this is  the Eastern  gate.

3. Third Eastern door called " Tati Door". From here you can  see three Temples.

 Dindi and Palkhi

Ashadi Ekadasi is  celebrated during the months of June- July (Aashaadh Shukla Paksha). It consists of a beautifully decorated Palkhi having the “padukas” of the Lord and the Palkhi procession consists of people collectively walking, singing and dancing to the glory of the Lord in what are called as ‘Dindis’.

The Palkhi procession has remained unbroken since it began despite wars, famines and floods. More than Fifty Palkhis of saints assemble at Pandharpur every year. In Maharashtra “Varkaris” (predominantly simple farmers) is a big community. They usually undertake 21-day walk after they have completed the sowing process in their fields. In the Ashadi Ekadasi festival, people from every faith and religion participate. Learned sages also come for it. Jnaneshwar preached the Gita which is considered the most important  religious text in Maharashtra.

The 'Bhakti Marg' (the path of devotion) as propounded by Sant Jnaneshwar, teaches  us to forget the physical self in pursuit of the Lord. When the Varkaris sing and dance during the pilgrimage, they forget the material world around them.

Along with the Dindi procession, seva to the poor and needy is done reflecting that Lord is in all forms. This is called ‘Seva Dindi’. During the Seva Dindi, the people on pilgrimage undertake selfless service to the poor and needy like Amrut Kalash (Annadhan), Narayan seva, Medical seva, Building and repairing rural infrastructure, etc.

Participation in Ashadi Dindi and Seva Dindi helps an individual in many ways by bringing good health, peace and prosperity in his life. Chanting the continuous glory of the God in the Ashadi Dindi procession and Seva Dindi purifies an individual, there is an inner cleansing that takes place in Mind, Body and Spirit and the participants tend to lose their individual identities and experience bliss. It develops all aspects of human personality and helps us understand the true purpose of Life.

 Movement against Untouchability--Sane Guruji

In the pre-1947 period untouchables were not allowed to enter the temples, against this communal attitude Gandhian freedom fighter Sane Guruji went on to fast-unto-death, supported by others of the Gandhian movement. He succeeded in getting temple doors opened for all worshiping communities.

PPR

04 / 12 / 2015