Lord Shrivitthal ji”

Pandharpur is a well-known pilgrimage destination in Maharashtra. This pilgrimage site situated on the banks of Bhima river is located in Solapur district. In the month of Ashadh, on Devshayani Ekadashi, more than 5 lakh Hindu devotees come here to have darshan of Lord Vitthal by participating in the famous Pandharpur Yatra.

Once a young man named Pundalik had set out on a journey to Kashi, when he was passing through the forest, he lost his way. On the lost path, he saw an ashram. That ashram was of Kukkut Rishi. After reaching the ashram, Pundalik asked Maharishi Kukkut the way to Kashi. Then the sage told that he has never been to Kashi till date and that is why he does not even know the way. On hearing this, Pundalik ridiculed the sage and said, “What kind of sage are you?, who considers himself a sage and has never been to Kashi even once.” Mocking the poultry sage, Pundalik set out on his journey.
Pundalik had gone a short distance from the ashram when he started hearing the voices of some women. He looked to see where the sound was coming from. After looking around, it was found that the voice was coming from the ashram itself, but there was no woman in the ashram. He again walked towards the ashram in amazement.
When he reached the ashram, he found three women cleaning the ashram with water. When he asked them, he came to know that those three women were Mother Ganga, Mother Saraswati and Mother Yamuna. Pundalik was stunned with surprise. How are these three maintaining the sanctity of the ashram of that sage who does not even know the path to Kashi, leave alone the darshan of Kashi. Then Mother Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswati told him that “purity and reverence are in the mind, it is not necessary that you visit holy places or perform rituals. Kukkuta Rishi has served his parents with a pure heart throughout his life, and that is why he has acquired so much virtue that he can attain salvation.” Pundalik had left his old parents and set out for Kashi, this is why he His eyes opened, and he returned home and traveled to Kashi with his mother and father.
After this incident, Pundalik’s life had changed. Now his life was spent in serving his parents. Pundalik’s devotion to his parents was so immense that once even Lord Krishna felt tempted to go to Pundalik’s house. When Lord Krishna reached Pundalik’s house, Pundalik was serving his parents. He was very happy to see God coming to his house as a guest, but his mind was not disturbed even a bit. He gave a brick lying near him to God to stand on, and asked him to stop. After this he again became absorbed in the service of his parents. God got tired of standing and placed both his hands on his waist. This was the first time that God had to wait for the devotee to give him darshan.
After serving his parents, Pundalik went before Lord Krishna and He asked for forgiveness, Lord Krishna was very pleased to see his devotion to his parents and asked him to ask for a boon.
Pundalik said “God kept waiting for me, what could be more than this.” But when Lord Krishna requested, Pundalik said, “You reside on earth, and by staying here, keep your shadow over your devotees.” Since then Lord Krishna is standing on the same brick in Pandharpur area. The word Vithoba also means “Lord who stands on the brick.”
The idol of Lord Vitthal situated in Pandharpur is self-made, that is, it was not carved by any sculptor, and it has come in the same shape during its existence.