History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v5.c74.t8.8

v5.c74.t8.8

The Bombay Gazetteer (vol. 20 p. 431, note 2) states that the image of Vithobā was removed to various places at different times to save it from sacrilege by fanatic Moslem invaders and rulers. About 500 yards east of Vithobā's temple in the bed of the Bhīmā river is the temple of Puṇḍlīk, one of the most favourite places of worship in Pandharpur. This last temple is not that of a god. It only marks the spot where Puṇḍlīk, a great devotee of Vitthal, spent his last days and died. Puṇḍlīk was probably a brāhmaṇa from Pandharpur, originally an undutiful son who ill-treated his parents, but who later repented on seeing the dutiful cobbler Rohidās, changed his ways and became a very dutiful son, so much so that tradition says that god Viṭhobā came to visit him. Vithobā and Puṇḍlīk have become so much coupled together that all pilgrims before beginning to dine and on other occasions shout the cry 'Puṇḍalīka varade Hari Vitthal'¹⁶²⁹. The Bom. G. vol 20 (pp. 432-434) describes the temple of Puṇḍlīk and narrates the traditional story about him Pages 434-468 of Bom. G. vol. 20 describe the several temples and shrines at Pandharpur such as those of Viṣṇupāda, Trimbakeśvara, Candrabhāgā, Janābai's cell, which are all passed over here. The river Bhīmā is styled Candrabhāgā within Pandharpur limits and its water is believed to possess sin-purifying power.