Pandharpur
Pandharpur
| Pandharpur | |
| — city — | |
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| Coordinates | 17°40′30″N 75°19′36″E / 17.675128°N 75.326772°ECoordinates: 17°40′30″N 75°19′36″E / 17.675128°N 75.326772°E |
| Country | India |
| State | Maharashtra |
| District(s) | Solapur |
| Population | 91,381 (2001[update]) |
| Time zone | IST (UTC+05:30) |
| Area |
• 458 metres (1,503 ft) |
Pandharpur (Marathi: पंढरपूर) is an important pilgrimage city on the Bhimā river in Solāpur district, Maharashtra, India. The Vithoba temple attracts about half a million Hindu pilgrims during the major yātrā (pilgrimage) in the month of Ashadh (June-July).
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Geography
Pandharpur has an average elevation of 458 metres (1502 feet).
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.
Religious importance
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. It is named after a merchant, Pandarika who achieved self-realization there.
Pandharpur, alternately 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 God form of Lord Krishna, who, in turn, is considered as an incarnation of Lord Vishnu. Rakhumāi or Rukmini is Viththal's consort in Hinduism.
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, 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 pilgrimage in the month of Kārtik (October-November) attracts the next largest number of pilgrims.
This has been a great place to visit for devotees all over India. There are some other important holy places around Pandharpur as 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 are located in / near to Solapur District. Devotees from all over Maharashtra and surrounding states visit all these places at least once per year. The famous devi Temple in Pandharpur are Padmavati , Emayi –Tukai, Ambabai, Lakhubai .
Milk and all other cow products for Pooja in Pandharpur temple is supplied from Shri kesavgoshala of Pandharpur belong to Nagoriya Math.
Education
- Shri Vithal Education & Research Institute's, College Of Engineering Pandharpur Established in 1998, is run by the SVERI Trust.
- 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
Transportation
Pandharpur is connected to Kurduvadi railway junction. A train runs from Pandharpur to Mumbai through Pune. Pandharpur is connected to all cities and towns in Maharashtra by bus.
- ^ Pandharpur on Hindupedia, the Hindu Encyclopedia
Further reading
- G.A.Deleury, The cult of Vithoba (Pune: Deccan College, 1960)
- M.S.Mate, Temples and legends of Maharashtra (Bombay: Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, 1988), pp188-220
- D.B.Mokashi, Palkhi: a pilgrimage to Pandharpur (translated from the Marathi)(Albany, NY: State University of New York Press; Hyderabad: Orient Longman, 1990)
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