Pandharpur

Pandharpur पंढरपूर
—  City  —
The chief gate of Vithoba's temple
Nickname(s): Pandhari, Pandaripuram
Pandharpur Location in Maharashtra, India
Coordinates: 17°41′N 75°20′E
Country	India
State	Maharashtra
District	Solapur
Government
• Type	Metropolitan City
Area
• Total	83 km2 (32 sq mi)
Area rank	09
Elevation	458 m (1,503 ft)
Population (2011)
• Total	1,405,421
• Rank	09
• Density	Bad rounding here17,000/km2 (Bad rounding here44,000/sq mi)
Languages
• Official	Marathi
Time zone	IST (UTC+5:30)
Website	www.pandharpur4u.in

Pandharpur is an important pilgrimage city on the banks of Bhimā river in Solāpur district, Maharashtra, India. Pandharpur is situated on the 1711 north axis and 7511 the east longitude in Solapur District. Pandharpur is the India's 3rd largest tehsil.^{[citation needed]} The Vithoba temple attracts about half a million Hindu pilgrims during the major yātrā (pilgrimage) in the month of Ashadh (June–July).

Geography

Map of Vithoba Temple of Pandharpur and surroundings

Pandharpur has an average elevation of 458 metres (1502 feet). Pandharpur is 3rd largest Tahsil in India and ninth largest population city in Maharashtra.

Demographics

According to the 2001 census of India, Pandharpur had a population of 91,381. Males constituted 52% of the population and females, 48%. 71% of the population was literate, (higher than the national average of 59.5%), 78% of males and 64% of females being literate. 12% of the population was under 6 years of age.

Bank/MultiState/Pathsanstha

1) Dhanashri Multi State Co.Op.Credit Society Ltd.Mangalwedha.Br.Pandharpur.

     Address-Near Tanpure Maharaj Math,Pandharpur

     Phone- 02186-222832

Religious importance

The Vithoba of Pandharpur

Further information: Vithoba and Vithoba temple, Pandharpur

Pandharpur is one of the most prominent pilgrimage sites in Maharashtra. It is located on the banks of the Bhimā river, which is alternatively known as Chandrabhāgā because of its half-moon-like shape. The city is named after a great merchant, Pundalik, who achieved self-realization there.

Pandharpur, also known as Pandhari, hosts the renowned Vitthal temple on the banks of Bhimā. "Vithoba", "Pāndurang", and "Pandharināth" are the popular alternate names of the deity, Viththal, who is regarded in Hinduism as a form of Lord Krishna, who, in turn, is considered as an incarnation of Lord Vishnu. Rakhumāi or Rukmini is Viththal's consort in the temple.

The worship of Vitthal in the Pandharpur temple is based mainly on the contents of the Puranas, and the contributions of the Vaishnav saints of Maharashtra and Karnataka during the 13th through the 17th centuries, namely, Dnyaneshwar, Namdev, Gora Kumbhar, Chokhamela, Eknath, Tukaram, Purandara Dasa, Vijaya Dasa, Gopala Dasa, and Jagannatha Dasa, have augmented the worship.

The Pandharpur temple covers a large area, and has six gates. The eastern gate is known as the "Namdev Gate".

Pandharpur hosts four annual pilgrimages ("yātrās") of Hindu devotees. Among them, the pilgrimage in the month of Āshādh (June–July) in the Hindu calendar attracts the largest number of pilgrims—around 0.5 to 0.7 million people. The pilgrimages in the months of Kārtik (October–November), Māgh(January–February) and Shrāvan(July–August) attract the second, third and fourth largest numbers of pilgrims respectively.

This has been a great place to visit for devotees all over India. There are some other important holy places around Pandharpur. The deities include Goddess Tulja Bhavani (Goddess of family - KulDevata of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj) at Tuljapur, Saint Shri Swami Samarth (God Form of Dattatreya) at Shri Kshetra Akkalkot, Lord Dattatreya at Ganagapur etc. All these places are located in or near Solapur District. Famous Devi Temples in Pandharpur include Padmavati, Emayi –Tukai, Ambabai, and Lakhubai.

Milk and all other milk products for Pooja in Pandharpur temple are supplied by Shri Kesav Goshala of Pandharpur, which belongs to Nagoriya Math.

Entertainment

• Adlabas Mangalwedha(area:45,000 square feet) is the first multiplex in city.
• Cinemax Lajpat Mall,
• Sargam Multiplex
• City Pride (CP) Ac coach.

Education

• English Medium School, Pandharpur, is run by the Modern Education Society.
• Kawthekar High School, established in 1947, is run by the Pandharpur Education Society.
• D. H. Kawthekar High School
• Karmaveer Bhaurao Patil College, Pandharpur also known as Pandharpur College
• Sinhgad Technical Education Society
• Lokamanya Vidyalay High School is over 100 years old.
• Apte Uplap High school, is Run by Vidya Vikas mandal
• Uma college Pandharpur
• Sayandhri college, Korti
• MIT CBSE School, Wakhari
• Karmayogi Polytechnic & Engineering college
• New Satara Samuh, Polytechnic & management college, Atpadi Road
• Shri Vithal College Of Education, Venunagar
• Shri Vithal Education & Research Institute, College Of Engineering Pandharpur Established in 1998, is run by the SVERI Trust.
• Vivek Vardhini Vidhalaya & Jr College, Pandhapur

Notable people from Pandharpur

• Chaitanya Maharaj Deglurkar^{[citation needed]}

Pralhad Shivaji Badave

Who started the Varkari Bhajan as ‘Dnyanoba - Tukaram ‘ which is sung by all Varkari Sampradaik (Bhagavat cult) devotees in the way of Pandharpur at the time of Palkhi Sohola of various saints & at the time of Dindi Parikrama of holy Tirthkhetra of Pandharpur & Alandi, Dehu & also at the time of various Varkari Samprdaik functions, Bhajans. He was well known Marathi poet (Sant Kavi) lives at Pandharpur. He has born in Shake 1672 or in 1620 A.D. in the hereditary priestly family of God Vithoba at Pandharpur. He was from Shukla Yujurvedi branch of Deshasths Brahaman having Kanva sub branch with Kashyapa Gotra & Katyayan Sutra. He was an affectionate person. Raghav was his preceptor. (Guru) He perform Kirtan very well & his apprentice (shishya) Gopal & Sadashiv sings with him at Kirtan. After the death of Shivaji Maharaj, who was a founder of Maratha kingdom; Mongol empire Aurangzeb comes at Maharashtra from Mongol Capital Agra with intent to destroy Maratha dynasty. At that time he intended to burst the idol of God Vithoba at Pandharpur. In this difficult situation to avoid the destruction of God Vithoba the idol was consealed by Pralhad Maharaj Badave in his house; & hence his name is added in the list of saints in Maharashtrian Varakari Sampraday. After the death of Aurangzeb the idol of God Vithoba was re established at temple which is still firm at the Pandharpur temple. Prior to this the idol of Vithoba was remove due to avaod the destruction at many times like the attack of Afazalkhan; the Sardar of Ali Adilshaha, the King of Vijapur. It was said that God Vithoba (Pandurang) was talking with him. It was also said that God attend the Bhagwat Katha of Pralhad Maharaj & discuss with him. As well as a poet he was a snyasi-sadhu. He was invited at the time of coronation of Shivaji Maharaj at Raighad. We can understand his command on the Sanskrit & Marathi language when we see his various literature in Marathi & Sanskrit. He translates the Marathi Amrutanubhava a philosophical book written by saint Dnyaneshwar into Sanskrit language because of the request of Gagabhatt. (Coronation priest of Shivaji Maharaj) (Mr. B. P. Bahirat a scoller of Varakari Sampradaya write a well known English book named as Philosophy of Jnyanadeva on the same Amrutanubhava.) Pralhad maharaj also write down various Marathi literature which is available for us 1) Ahalyodhar 2) Sita swayanwar 3) Pandurang Mahatmya 4) Pramad lakshan & various Arati, Abhanga, Stotre. His poetry is blessingly (Prasadik) In shake 1640 or 1718 AD he undergone in (Samadhi) self-immolation at his age of 98 years, on Magh Krishna 11 (Ekadashi). At a Sabha Mandap in Vithal Mandir a Vriandavan is erected at the place where he underdone self-immolation after the addressing on Bhagavata. He have a special place in the Sanmanimala, the well known book of life story of the various saints written by Moropant. A learned Sanskrit scholar, Baba Padhye daily take darshan of his Samadhi. His grandson Anant Ramaji Badave & great grandson Ramchandra Anant Badave also write various Abhang & other literature like him, hence they are also get place in the history of Marathi literature. His descendants are living at Pandharpur now.

External links

• http://santeknath.org/purveitihas.html
• PANDHARPUR by Gazetteer's Dept
• Shri Keshavgoshala