Ashadi Ekadashi

Today is Ashadi Ekadashi.

Read about its importance in my earlier articles on the same -

This is Utkarsh Speaking: Ashadi Ekadashi – Vithoba of Pandarpur

This is Utkarsh Speaking: Vithoba of Pandarpur – Pundalik 

Vithoba of Pandarpur – Pundalik

Last time we read about Vithoba and Rakhumai and their association with Vishnu. We will now discuss about Pundalik, a devotee of Vithoba. There are a few stories associated with Pundalik.

According to one of the myths, an ascetic by the name of Pundarika (same as Pundalik) was a devotee of Lord Vishnu and was dedicated to the service of his aged parents. It is said that pleased with his devotion, Lord Krishna (again a form of Vishnu) came from the Mount Govardhana along with his cows to graze and meet Pundarika. Krishna at that time was in described as wearing a headdress made out of peacock feathers, with his hands on his hips and his cow-stick between his thighs. Pundarika, moved by the divine sight, requested Krishna to stay on at the site, which was at the banks of the river Bhima, as that would make the area a sacred place or a tirtha-sthana. The location is today identified as Pandarpur which is at the banks of river Bhima and the description of Krishna matches with the image of Vithoba at Pandarpur.

Another legend has it that Pundalik who was devoted to his parents, started neglecting his parents after his marriage since he had madly fallen in love with his wife. However, a sage made him aware of his folly and he felt guilty of what had happened and re-dedicated his life to the service of his parents. Meanwhile Radha, came to visit Krishna at Dwarka and sat on the lap of Krishna and did not even acknowledge Rukmini who was the queen of Krishna. As if this act by itself was not offending enough, Krishna did not even find Radha guilty of the act. Rukmini took offence to this and left the palace and went to the forest of Dandivan which is near the modern day Pandarpur. Later Krishna who was saddened by the absence of Rukmini went to Dandivan in search of Rukmini and later found her resting near Pundalik’s house. After a lot of coaxing and cajoling, Rumini agreed to return with Krishna. They then went to visit Pundalik who was busy taking care of his parents. On hearing Krishna, he threw a brick outside and asked him to wait and rest on it till he is done with his parents. Krishna stood and waited and it is said that on the request of Pundalik Krishna remained on the brick with Rukmini as Rakhumai.

Both the myths have very simple rustic origins, which imply that Vithoba was a local deity who in due course of time got assimilated with the larger Hindu pantheon. The larger association of Vithoba, with Krishna and thus Vishnu proves the ‘long-distance’ association with the mainstream gods. However, the local flavor has not changed and the rituals and the legends still bear testimony to the same. The legends of Pundalik also gives moral messages of taking care of aged-parents as that seems to be the underlying theme in both the above mentioned variants of the myth. Thus the myths have both religious as well as moral undertones.

Ashadi Ekadashi – Vithoba of Pandarpur

July 11, is the day of Ashadi Ekadashi (the eleventh day of the month of Ashad). The day is significant according to the Hindus as it marks the beginning of Chatur-masa (four months). On this day, Lord Vishnu goes to sleep for four months and thus these four months are considered to be inauspicious for any religious or social activities like marriage. Many people observe fasts and abstinence of different sort during these four months.

However, for Mahrashtrians, this has another significance which is associated with Vithoba or Vitthala of Pandarpur. As per the Bhakti cult of Maharashtra, two main exponents of the Bhakti movement, Sant Tukaram and Sant Jnaneshwar are supposed to have reached Pandarpur on the day of Ashadi Ekadashi. The day till date is commemorated by undertaking a pilgrimage to Pandarpur by the devotees which is better known as the Pandarpur Yatra. The unique feature of the temple is that the shrines of Vithoba and his consort, Rakhumai have two different temples. Let me tell you the myth associated with this.

Vithoba’s (a name for Lord Vishnu) wife was fondly called Padubai and was always busy with her household chores. Once she was so busy with her work that she did not attend to Maliraya, a guest of Vithoba. Vithoba’s anger knew no bounds and in his anger he cursed her that she would go mad and be separated from her. True to her curse, Padubai went to a forest and died. Vithoba was so angry that he took the form of a snake and came in between the corpse of Padubai and her parents who had come to see her at the sad turn of events. He then had clouds turn to rain and wash away her bones into the sea, after allowing the kites and vultures eat up her body.

All this upset Maliraya to no end as he felt guilty for the events. He took severe penance for twelve years at the sea-shore and then got the release of Padubai’s bones from the lord of the sea. He then immersed the bones in the Chandrabhaga River and a beautiful lotus emerged out of it. Meanwhile Vithoba was sad and guilty for his acts, was roaming and looking for Padubai all over, till he reached Chandrabhaga River. When he saw the lotus, he plucked it and Padubai emerged as Rukmini. But by then Vithoba had renounced family life and could not undo his own curse and so they decided not to live under the same roof, but decided to meet regularly and speak to each other. The two separate temples symbolize Vithoba’s non-attachment and a life of suffering and a life of duty, devotion and forgiveness.

Many see Vithoba as a pastoral deity, who got assimilated in the Hindu pantheon in due course of time. Many have said that Vithoba is a form of Shiva, like majority of the pastoral deities and this could be based out of the fact that Pandarpur has many Shiva temples. However, the exponents of the bhakti cult like Sant Tukaram and Sant Eknath have identified Vithoba with Vishnu and Rakhumai with Rukmini.

Vithoba is also associated with his devotee Pundalik and as a savior of the Varkhari community. Next time we will go thru the myths associated with Pundalik.