Viṭṭhala of Pandharpur

Kṛṣṇa as Viṭṭhala (Viṭhobā) · Chandrabhāgā river, Solapur district, Maharashtra

Pandharpur is the spiritual home of the Vārkarī tradition of Maharashtra. Viṭṭhala, a form of Kṛṣṇa, stands on a brick with his hands on his hips, beside his consort Rakhumāī (Rukmiṇī).

Twice a year, for Āṣāḍhī and Kārtikī Ekādaśī, lakhs of Vārkarīs walk for weeks in the wārī, carrying the pādukās of the saints Jñāneśvar from Āḷandī and Tukārām from Dehū, singing abhaṅgas all the way. Devotees bathe in the Chandrabhāgā (Bhīmā) and may touch Viṭṭhala’s feet, a rare intimacy.

Tradition says Kṛṣṇa came to visit his devotee Puṇḍalīka, who was busy caring for his aged parents. Not wanting to leave his service, Puṇḍalīka tossed a brick outside and asked the Lord to wait on it. Kṛṣṇa, pleased by such devotion to parents, stood on the brick with hands on hips — and has waited there ever since.

Maharashtra · Vārkarī tradition · Āṣāḍhī Ekādaśī · Wārī pilgrimage

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