Pandharpur Shri Vitthal Rukmini Temple

Shri Vitthal Rukmini Temple at Pandharpur, named after Saint Pandulik, is located on the river banks of the Bhima River, also known as the Chandrabhaga River, in the Solapur district of Maharashtra state.
The deity of the Pandharpur temple is Lord Krishna (Vitthal) and his consort Rukmini.
The shrine here is also known as Pandharinath, Pandhariraya, Vithai, Pandurang, Vithumauli, Vithoba, Hari, Vitthal Gururao, Pandurang, etc. However, today, this god is well known as Shri Vitthal and Pandurang.

The deity idol of Vitthala or Vithoba, is made of black stone and is three and a half feet tall. He has a Shivalinga on his head and the Kaustubha Mani around his neck. It is placed in front of a Prabhaval, a silver plate in the sanctum.

Legend

Pundalik is a devoted son to his parents Janudev and Satyavati, who lived in a forest called Dandirvan. But after his wedding, Pundalik begins ill-treating his parents. Tired with their son’s misbehavior and ill treatment, the elderly couple decide to leave for Kashi.Legend holds that people who die in the city of Kashi attain salvation and emancipation from the cycle of birth and death.

Upon hearing his parents’ plans, Pundalik and his wife decide to join them on pilgrimage. The ill treatment continues. While the Pundalik and his wife ride on horseback, his parents walk. Pundalik even makes his old parents work to make his own journey comfortable.

On the way to Kashi, the group reached the ashram (hermitage) of a pious and venerable sage, Kukkutswami. Exhausted, the family decides to spend a few days there. That night, when all were asleep, Pundalik by chance is awake and sees a remarkable vision. Just before dawn, a group of beautiful young women, dressed in soiled clothes, enter the ashram, they clean the floor, fetch water and wash the venerable sage’s clothes. After finishing their chores, they go to the prayer-room. When they reappear after prayer, their clothes are spotlessly clean. Then, they vanish as inexplicably as they had appeared.

Pundalik feels a deep sense of peace witnessing the scene. It remains on his mind the whole day and he resolves to remain awake the next night, and confirm it was not merely a dream. The next night, Pundalik approaches the beautiful women and asks who they are. They reveal themselves as the Ganga (Ganges), Yamuna and other holy rivers of India. Pilgrims wish to take a dip in their holy waters to wash away their sins, which in fact are soiling their clothes. Then, the women say: “But O Pundalik, you, with your ill-treatment of your parents, are the greatest sinner of them all!”[citation needed] Pundalik realizes his misdeeds, becomes entirely devoted to his parents and ensures their comfort, even risking his own.

Impressed by Pundalik’s devotion to his parents, Krishna, plans to bless Pundalik immediately. So, he left (His abode) for Pundalik’s ashram. Krishna knocks at Pundalik’s door while he is busy serving his parents food. Pundalik realizes that God is at his door but decides to serve his parents first. So, Pundalik throws a brick outside for God to stand on and wait for him until he finishes attending to his parents. It is the first day of monsoon so it is wet and muddy outside. If Vishnu stands upon a brick his feet will remain clean and dry.

Seeing this act, Krishna was extremely impressed by Pundalik’s love for his parents and granted a boon. Pundalik requests Krishna to stay on Earth and bless all his true devotees. Krishna agrees to stay and takes the form of Vithoba. Currently, the deity resides in the Vithoba temple and is worshipped alongside Rukmini, his chief consort.