The Sacred Names of Pandharpur: Symbolism and Spiritual Significance Nestled in the heart of Maharashtra, Pandharpur stands as one of India's most revered pilgrimage destinations, drawing millions of devotees annually to seek the blessings of Lord Vithoba. This ancient town, situated in the Solapur district, carries profound spiritual significance through its very names, each reflecting deep religious symbolism and historical heritage rooted in Hindu scriptures and traditions. The Primary Name: Pandharpur and Its Divine Significance The name "Pandharpur" itself carries multiple layers of spiritual meaning. The word "Pandhar" in Marathi signifies "white" or "pure," symbolizing the divine purity and sanctity of the place. The suffix "pur" means city or town, thus making Pandharpur the "City of Purity" or "White City." This nomenclature is deeply connected to the spiritual concept of purity in Hindu philosophy, w...

Ashadi Ekadashi, or Ashada Devshayani Ekadashi, is observed during the Shukla Paksha (waxing phase of moon) in Ashada Month (June – July). Ashadi Ekadashi 2027 date is July 14.  Pandharpur Yatra culminates on Ashadi Ekadashi and is of great importance in Maharashtra . The day is of a great significance at the Bhagwan  Vitthal Temple in Pandharpur. Things Done On Ashadi Ekadashi A fast is observed on the day. Various spiritual organizations conduct satsangs, food donation drives, medical camps, cleanliness drives, and other social service activities . Schools organize programs and activities based on the theme of Pandharpur Yatra , such as devotional songs, bhajans, and cultural performances. Devotees visit Vitthal-Rukmini temples and offer prayers. Devotees participate in bhajans, kirtans, and devotional singing during the celebrations. Dindi processions and other devotional activities are organized in several places. Some devotees undertake pilgrimages and walk in gro...

The annual Pandarpur Yatra (Wari) to the famous Vithoba Temple at Pandharpur in Maharashtra from Dehu and Alandi attracts thousands of people and pilgrims known as warkaris. Pandharpur Yatra 2027 date on Ashadi Ekadashi is on July 14. As per 2027 schedule, the date of commencement of Tukaram Maharaj Palkhi from Dehu is June 26. Sant Dnyaneshwar Palkhi from Alandi begins on June 27, 2027. Pilgrims follow the Shri Tukaram Maharaj Palkhi from Dehu and Sant Dnyaneshwar Palkhi from Alandi, which is a 21-day travel by foot to Pandharpur. The Wari will have complete stay in Pune on June 29, 2027. The Pandarpur Yatra is a pilgrimage to the Vithoba Temple , also known as Vitthal Rukmini Temple , which is dedicated to Lord Krishna. Pandharpur Ashadhi Ekadasi Wari Yatra has been taking place for more than 700 years. The main Pandarpur Yatra starts from the Sant Tukaram Temple at Dehu in Pune District. The warkaris or pilgrims follow the Tukaram...

The term ‘Warkari’ means a person who performs wari, an annual pilgrimage to Pandharpur in Maharashtra, where the temple of Sri Vitthal is located on the banks of Bhima River, a tributary of Krishna. It is the most important shrine of the Warkari sect; members visit it every year. There four sub-sects among Warkaris – or four different groups Chaitanya Svarupa Ananda Prakasha They are based on the difference of mantra which they chant. In the Chaitanya sub-sect, there are two groups – one whose mantra is ‘Ramakrishna Hari’, and the other, ‘Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya’. Sant Tukaram and his disciple Nilobarai belonged to the Chaitanya sub-sect. From Tukaram’s abhangas it becomes clear that the mantra was given to him in his dream by Raghav Chaitanya and Keshava Chaitanya and also by Babaji. Sant Dnyaneshwar also seems to have belonged to this sub-sect. This sub-sect is the most popular, as most Warkaris belong to it. Svarupa sub-sect of Warkaris have’ Sri Rama Jaya Rama J...

Pandharpur Kartik Ekadasi Yatra to Lord Vitthal Temple in Pandharpur takes place on the Ekadasi day during the Shukla Paksha (waxing phase of moon) in Kartik Month (October – November) as per traditional Hindu calendar followed in Maharashtra . Pandharpur Kartik Ekadasi Yatra 2026 is on November 21. Pandharpur Yatra on Prabodhini Ekadasi is undertaken by staunch Lord Vitthal devotees and is the second most popular Yatra after the Ashadi Ekadasi Pandharpur Yatra (June – July). Pandharpur Yatra in Kartik Month begins on the first day of Marathi Kartik month and ends on the Purnima or full moon day in Kartik Mahina. The most important day during the period is the Prabodhini Ekadasi day. Pandharpur Kartik Ekadasi Yatra and the famous Ashadi Ekadasi Wari Yatra are interconnected through the famous Chatur Maas – the cosmic sleep of Lord Vishnu.  It is believed that after Ashadi Ekadasi Wari Yatra Lord Vitthal (Lord Vishnu) goes into his cosmic slumber and wak...

Vithoba – Pandurang – Vitthal are the various names used by devotees to address the form of Bhagavan Sri Krishna worshipped at Pandharpur in Maharashtra. It is believed that Bhagavan Krishna along with Rukmini Devi gave darshan to a devotee named Panduranga at Pandharpur standing on a brick. Bhavishyottara Purana states that the famous Pandharpur Vitthal temple is located exactly on the spot where Sri Krishna and Rukmini gave darshan to Panduranga. The place was also known as Poundarikapuram, on account of this divine incident having taken place there. The name of Panduranga is a Sanskritized form of Pandarga (Pandarge) which was the old name of Pandharpur. Vithoba is a contracted form of the Marathi expression 'vitkar ubaa rahaa' meaning 'be standing on the brick'. The term 'Vitthala' is derived as vidaa = joaanena (by knowledge), thaan = shoonyaan (dispirited, ignorant), laati = rakshati (protects). He receives those without knowledge to bestow His grace...

Panduranga Ashtakam is a popular prayer dedicated to Bhagavan Vitthal or Vithoba who is worshipped at Pandharpur in Maharashtra. Below is the link to the Panduranga ashtakam prayer in English with meaning. The text is in pdf format. Link – Panduranga Ashtakam Transliteration With Meaning The prayer is chanted for achieving peace and prosperity. It can be chanted in the morning or evening. It is believed that the chanting the prayer on Thursday morning and evening will help in a devotee to achieve desire fulfillment. It is chanted for those wishing to achieve spiritual success and moksha or liberation.

Palkis, or Palanquins, are the indispensable part of Pandarpur Yatra . Footprints or Sandals of saints of a particular region are carried in the Palki. There is no exact count regarding the number of palkis taking place in the annual Pandarpur Yatra from Dehu and Alandi in Pune to Pandharpur. The most important palkis are those of Sant Dnyaneshwar Maharaj from Alandi and Sant Tukaram Maharaj from Dehu . Here are some of the important Palkis that undertake Pandarpur Yatra: Sant Dnyaneshwar Maharaj from Alandi near Pune. Sant Tukaram Maharaj from Dehu. Muktabai from Mehun near Bhusawal in Jalgaon District Nrusimha-Saraswati from Mehkar in Buldhana District Swarupananda from Dhanegaon in District Buldhana Seshanarayana from Amaravati Shankara Maharaj from Mahuli in Amravati District Rukmini;s Palki from Kondapur Bhuteshwara from Nagpur Ekanatha Palki from Marathwada Jnanobha Maharaj from Tuljapur Nivruttinath from Trimbakeshwar near N...

Varkaris are followers of Bhagavan Vitthal of Pandharpur. They are spread across Maharashtra and parts of Karnataka, Telangana and Madhya Pradesh. Here is a look at the important rules and codes of a Varkari. The Varkari philosophy advises devotees to face miseries and hindrances with courage and firmness of mind and rise above samsara. No work is futile. We get our share of work because God wishes it to be so. We should work keeping in mind that it is our pious duty to do so and that we are answerable to God. The rosary keeps the Varkaris alert about their ideals right up to the end of their lives. Sandalwood paste (gopi-chandan) and black-powder (bukka) marks on the forehead, and the saffron flag carried on the shoulder are the other important components of their insignia.  Codes And Conduct Of Varkaris There are certain moral and ethical precepts that every Varkari is to follow: Adherence to truth. Treating all women other than one;s own wife as Rakhumai (Moth...

There is a deep connection between Tulsi and Pandharpur Vitthal Devotees. All varkaris wear a tulsi mala and they also carry a tulsi plant to Pandharpur, Aland, Dehu and other holy places associated with Vitthal and Varkari Saints. Wearing a rosary of tulsi beads is of utmost importance to the Varkaris. Vitthala is the child (balasvarupa) Krishna. The tulsi plant is dear to Krishna. So a Varikara must wear a rosary containing a 108 tulsi beads as a pious observance. If the thread of the rosary happens to snap, the staunch Varikara would not have food until the rosary is repaired. There is a touching story about tulsi among the Kunbis (an agricultural community) in Maharashtra. It goes like this: Tulsi was the daughter of a poor brahmana. She had a dark complexion and a brahmana husband was not in her fate. Due to poverty, her hapless father deserted her. The gavali (cowherd) Vithoba offered refuge to orphaned Tulsi. But Rukmini was not happy with Vitthala's overture...

Bhakta Pundalik was a devotee of Lord Vitthal. He is revered as a great devotee in the Varkari tradition. Little information, however, is available about him or his personal life. Legend has it that once, when Pundalik was engaged in serving his parents, Vithal (Lord Krishna) came to his and stood outside. Ad Pundalik did not want to leave his ministrations, he threw a brick towards Vithal and asked him to wait. The Lord stood on that brick waiting for him. Vitthala was pleased with this devotion to parents, so he granted a boon to Pundalik. Pundalik asked Vithal that he should stand there on the brick for ages for giving darshan to the devotees. Accordingly, even now Vitthala stands on that brick in the temple at Pandharpur. Besides this tale told by Sant Namdev, there are several others narrated by Eknath, Bahinabai, Sridhar and Mahipati. None of these, however, tells us about the exact place and time of Pundalik, or his family background. According to one account...

At the world famous Pandharpur Temple, Bhagavan Vitthal is worshipped along with Rukmini. Here is the story of Vitthal Rukmini of Pandharpur. Krishna is usually worshipped along with Radha; but it is his consort Rukmini, who is worshipped in Pandharpur. Legend has it that once Rukmini had a fight with Sri Krishna. She left her abode in Dwarka and reached Pandharpur. Here she started meditating on the banks of Chandrabhaga River. Soon Sri Krishna reached the spot to mollify Rukmini. While talking with Rukmini and trying to pacify his wife, Sri Krishna remembered about his devotee Pundalik and decided to give him darshan. When Sri Krishna reached the house of Pundalik he was taking care of his old parents and without looking who is at the door, Pundalik pushed a brick asked the guest to sit on Veet (brick). Krishna who was moved by the parental devotion of Pundalik stood on the brick waiting for his devotee to finish his duties. Mata Rukmini also came and stood near Sri...

Ringan is a breathtaking ritual and visual delight performed during the annual Pandharpur Yatra. It is also known as Gol Ringan. Horses play an important role during the Ringan performed during Pandharpur Ashadi Waari. Ringan is performed a couple of times during the 250 km Pandharpur Yatra. Thousands of pilgrims or warkharis that participate in the Pandharpur Yatra form a cirucular formation. A path is created inside the circular formation and horses run through the path. The horses pay obeisance to the Padukas of the Saints.   No one knows the exact reason why this visual spectacle is performed. Majority of the people are of the view that it is performed as a recreation to the Warkharis who have been walking for several days. 

If one passes through Maharashtra – especially through Pune to Pandharpur – one might come across a group of people walking with saffron flags and women carrying Tulsi sapling on their head. This group is known as a Dindi – a unit of warkaris. Warkaris are followers of Lord Vithal, who travel from various parts of Maharashtra, Karnataka, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and other parts of India to the Pandharpur Temple. A Dindi might consist of a few devotees or even thousands. Each Dindi is led by a Veenakari – one who has the Veena. Others in the group play Veena, cymbals and Pakhwaj. Women in the group hold a Tulsi sapling on the head. A Dindi travels from native village to Dehu, Alandi and Pandharpur. During the annual Pandharpur Yatra thousands of Dindi follow the various Palkhis. Dindi also goes to Dehu, Alandi and Pandharpur in Magh, Ashada and Kartik months as per traditional Hindu lunar calendar followed in Maharashtra. It must be noted here that Dindi...

Waari is the term used to refer holy pilgrimage in Maharashtra and the word is synonymous with Pandharpur Yatra to the famous Lord Vitthal Temple . Waari is undertaken annually by Varkaris in the Maharashtrian month of Ashadha and it culminates on the Ekadashi during the waxing phase of moon in the month. It is a three week long pilgrimage from Dehu and Alandi near Pune to Pandharpur, which is around 450 km away. But who were the first warkaris and when did the Pandharpur Wari Tradition begin. The followers of Sanatana Dharma (Hinduism) never bothered about dates and why would they bother, when their sole aim is to understand Brahman – the timeless – and merge with it. Same is the case with the Pandharpur Wari tradition and no one knows exactly when the first Pandharpur Yatra took place so many people roughly say it is thousand years old. Some believe it was the parents of Sant Dnyaneshwar who undertook the first pilgrimage in the 13th century. Sant Dnyaneshwar to...

Horses are an indispensable part of the annual Pandarpur Yatra in Maharashtra . The Yatra which begins at Dehu and Alandi near Pune goes to the Pandharpur Temple to have darshan of Shri Vithal – a manifestation of Sri Krishna. The entire procession of Pandharpur Yatra which is followed by nearly 500,000 pilgrims is led by a horseman holding a banner. The horse routinely dances in a rhythmic manner. The first horseman is followed by a white horse which is not ridden. No one rides it. The belief is that the horse is mounted by Saint Jnaneshwar. The horseman also plays a vital role in the famous ringan ceremony (gol ringan) performed by Warkaris (pilgrims) on a particular day. The two horses move round in circles in the ringan ceremony. 

The annual Pandharpur Yatra carrying Dnyaneshwar Palkhi from Alandi, near Pune, to Pandharpur Vithoba Temple is attended by millions of devotees. In 2027, the date of Sri Dnyaneshwar Palkhi Sohala Prasthan from Alandi is on June 27. Ashadi Ekadasi is on July 14, 2027. The schedule of Palki in Pune is given below. Considered to be one of the world’s largest pilgrimages, the varkaris (Pilgrims) from Alandi follow the palanquin carrying the silver images of the Padukas (Sandals) of Saint Dnyaneshwar. The pilgrimage known as Waari in Marathi ends on the Ashadi Ekadasi. Sant Dnyaneshwar, also known as Jnanadev or Jnaneshwar revolutionized Marathi bhakti literature and at the age of fifteen wrote Jnaneswari – a commentary on the Bhagavad Gita which has been a household text in Maharashtrian homes for centuries. Lord Vithoba is an incarnation of Lord Vishnu and is worshipped mainly in Maharashtra and in some parts of Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. The most important shrine of ...

The annual Pandarpur Yatra to the Pandharpur Vithoba Temple starts with the Shri Tukaram Maharaj Palkhi Prasthan from Dehu in Pune District of Maharashtra. In 2027, the date of the beginning of Sant Tukaram Maharaj Palkhi from Dehu is June 26. Pandharpur Yatra ends on Ashadi Ekadasi on July 14, 2027. Warkaris (pilgrims) follow the Palki of Sant Tukaram to the Vithoba Temple . This is one of the most popular pilgrimages in Marathi culture and people from all walks of life participate in the Yatra. The Palkhi or Palanquin contains the Padukas or foot prints of Sant Tukaram. In Spite of visiting Varanasi, Gaya and Dwaraka none may surpass the reverence created by Pandharpur. (Sant Tukaram) On the second day of the yatra, the palki of Tukaram Maharaj arrives at Akurdi Vitthal temple and halts there for the night. On the third day of the yatra, the palki halts at Nivdungya Vithoba temple at Nana Peth, Pune. On the fourth day, the palki stays in the Pune city. Complet...

Lord Vitthal, or Panduranga Vittala, is an incarnation of Lord Vishnu and is worshipped in the world famous Pandharpur Rukmini Vitthal Temple at Pandharpur in Maharashtra . There is an interesting story that explains about the incarnation of Lord Vitthal at Pandharpur. Once a devotee named Pundalik was traveling to Kashi and reached the Ashram of Saint Kukkut. He asked the sage the way to Kashi. Kukkut Rishi said that he did not know the way to Kashi and he had never been there. Pundalik made fun of Kukkut Rishi for not knowing the way to Kashi and said that a holy man like him should have already visited Kashi. Kukkut Rishi kept quiet and did not bother to answer Pundalik. During the course of the night Pundalik heard the voice of women in the ashram.  He came to out to look what was happening and saw that three women were sprinkling water on the Ashram and cleaning it. On enquiry, Pundalik found out that the three women were Ganga , Yamuna a...

A facebook dindi app created by Swapnil and Mangesh More, Akshay Joshi, Amit Kulkarni and Suraj Dighe will help devotees have real time information of Pandharpur Yatra. The app is is available on the Android platform. The app will provide constant updates on the position of palkhi processions, their camping locations and the time and place where activities like ringan and bharud are happening. Times of India reports The GPS kit provided free-of-cost by IT firm Intellinet Datasys will help the app users track the wari on Google Maps. "The app will be an asset for the security agencies and emergency help providers like fire brigade. It will help them plan and coordinate their work better," he added.   Swarali Patne, who has been following the 'virtual dindi' since its inception, sees the attempt as a fantastic way to know about culture and traditions. "I can upload my photographs of the palkhi procession and also share those posted by others. We communicate o...