Vitthal Rukmini of Pandharpur

Lord Vitthal or Pandurang is an incarnation of Lord Vishnu. Once upon a time there was a devotee named Pundalik, who was travelling to Kashi and on the way he reached the ashram of a Saint named Kukkut. Pundalik asked the saint the way to Kashi, to which he replied that he wasn't aware of the way as he had never been there. Hearing this Pundalik made fun of the Kukkut Rishi for not knowing the way, and further said “ a holy man like you should have already visited Kashi”. The Rishi kept quiet and din't react to Pundalik’s comments.

That Night Pundalik stayed at the ashram. And suddenly he woke from his deep sleep hearing to women’s voice. He saw that 3 women were sprinkling water in the ashram and cleaning. On enquiry, Pundalik found that the 3 women were Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswati, the three Holy rivers came down to clean the ashram of Rishi Kukkut. Pundalik was bit surprised how a saint like Kukkut who had not visited Kashi, was such holy and powerful that the 3 holy Rivers have come to His ashram !

The three women told to Pundalik that piousness, spirituality and devotion doesn't depend on visiting holy places or doing costly rituals. But depends on performing one's Karma correctly (fulfilling all the duties and responsibilities). They further added that Sage Kukkut, had served and nursed his parents most faithfully and devoted all his life to them. Thus he had accumulated virtue enough to earn Moksha, and thereby the 3 holy women came down to Earth to serve the Rishi.

On the contrast, Pundalik has left his old parents at home and was visiting Kashi to gain Moksha and blessing. Pundalik didn't bother to entertain the request of his parents to take them along with him to Kashi. Pundalik after hearing all this understood his mistake and rushed back home, and took his parents to Kashi and after return from the holy Kashi, started to take utmost care of his old parents. Lord Krishna was moved by the sincere devotion of Pundalik towards his parents and decided to test Pundalik.

Lord Krishna came to Pundalik’s home, but Krishna saw that Pundalik was busy attending his parents. Pundalik saw Lord Krishna at the door, but his devotion towards his parents was so intense, that he wanted to finish his duties first and later attend to his guest. Pundalik has reached such a stage that it didn't matter to him, whether the guest was a mere mortal or God. All that mattered was service to His parents. Pundalik gave Lord Krishna a brick to stand on , and asked Him to wait until his duty was completed. And Lord Krishna moved by the devotion of Pundalik to his parents, waited for him patiently.

Later, Pundalik came out and asked Krishna for forgiveness for making Him wait. Krishna asked for any desired boon, for which Pundalik said “ My lord , what can I ask for ? My lord himself waits for me”? Krishna insisted that Pundalik ask for a boon, then he asked Krishna to remain on Earth to bless and take care of His devotees. Lord Krishna agreed to stay there and is known as Vithoba or the Lord who stands on a brick. This form of the Lord Vithoba is Swayambhu (which came into existence on its own). Since in Marathi red brick is called as Vit and the form of Krishna who stood on Vit is Vitthal or Vithoba.

In Maharashtra Karnataka, Vishnu is called Vitthal the one who is standing on Vith (red rectangle stone ), he is also called Panduranga because when he came from Dwaraka to Pandharpur though he was black the White sands were all over his face , so he was called Pandra-ranga (Panduranga). He is Narayana himself came to Pandharpur in search of Rukmini Devi as Rukmini Devi got angry on Krishna and left Dwaraka . She had a motive in leaving Dwaraka because everything is Vishnu and Lakshmi Devi's Leela,

As they wanted to see his one of his beloved bhakta Pundalik and their parents , when Krishna reached Pundalik's house, Pundalik was busy serving his parents , he knew that sarveshwara jagatpita was standing outside but he thought serving his parents was greater than attending God , this nature of Pundalik gave paramanandam to Krishna so he stood there waiting with his two hands on his hips. The two hands on his hips denotes two things.

Once Pandurang was thinking what I should give to my devotees, something valuable, after searching throughout the universe, he thought is there anything greater than me, so he is lifting himself with his two hands and giving himself to his devotees. He is always waiting for devotees like Pundalik to come to him because he wants us to be with him always and he is asking with two hands on his hips “how much time should I wait for you my dear Pundalik “ Then it follows with many devotees, Sant Namdev, Sant Eknath, Sant Dnyaneshwar, Sant Tukaram, Sant Purandara dasa Vitthal, Sant Sakhubai, Sant Muktabai and many more. Pandharinath Maharaj ki jay. Bola Pundalik varada Hari Hari Vitthal