| Temples & Legends Of
Maharastra |
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| Temples & Legends Of
India |
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PANDHARPUR - VITTHAL |
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| All this temple
service is most elaborately organised at Pandharpur. Very few other shrines of Maharashtra
display such a developed organisation. There are several cadres of the temple servants
whose rights and duties have been fixed by custom and regulation for a long time now. At
the apex of the order are the Badavas, who are the custodians and superinten- dents of the
temple-property and worship. The jewels of the deity and other belongings of the deity are
in their custody and it is for them to see that all the things required for the daily
rituals are pro vided for. All the offerings to the god, whether in cash or kind, belong
to the Badavas. Every night, a divaskar, or a priest for the day' is chosen for the next
twenty-four hours from amongst themselves by the Badavas. He is to collect all the
offerings and to provide the oil, sweets, panchamrit etc. necessary for the worship. Next
to the Badavas are the 'Pujaris' who are in charge of the actual worship rituals. They
undress the image, bathe it, put flowers and garlands around it and wave the lights at the
time of the aratis. These tasks are performed by none else than the Pujaris. |
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