Vaishnavism, Shaivism and Minor Religious Systems v2.c13.53.2

v2.c13.53.2

² Now if the Pauṇḍarīkakṣetra was situated on the Bhīmarathī or Bhīmā river, it is certainly not unreasonable to suppose that is was the same as Paṇḍharī which is the alternative name of Paṇḍharpur; and the god in whose vicinity the grant was made must therefore have been Viṭṭhal, or Viṭhobā, here mentioned by his Sanskrit name and not the popular Canarese corruption. In another inscription on stone existing at Paṇḍharpur itself and dated 1192 Śaka, which corresponds to 1270 A. D., Bhānu, the son of Keśava, is represented to have performed an Aptoryāma sacrifice in Pāṇḍuraṅgapura in consequence of which crowds of people and Viṭṭhala together with the gods were greatly gratified¹. Here we have another name of Paṇḍharpur and that was probably given to it because it was the city of Pāṇḍuraṅga. Paṇḍaraṅga, or Pāṇḍuraṅga, is according to Hemacandra a name of Rudra or Śiva². And we have a temple of Śiva at Paṇḍharpur and pilgrims have to visit it first before going to that of Viṭhobā or Viṭṭhal. Pāṇḍuraṅga, which is the same as the Pāṇḍuraṅga of Hemacandra, is however in modern times a popular name for Viṭṭhal. Whether then the city was called Pāṇḍuraṅgapura on account of it containing the temple of Viṣṇu, or Viṭṭhal, or that of Śiva is doubtful.