The
Padmapurana contains a section of 'Panduranga- Mahatmya' pertaining to Pandharpur and its
deity Vitthal. The Panduranga-Mahatmya narrates the mythological legend regarding how and
why Vitthal came to the kshetra. One evening Vishnu was moving about in the gardens of his
mansion when he noticed a lady approaching. When she came nearer he recognised her as none
else than Shachi, the wife of Indra, the Lord of the Heavens. He wondered what business
that fair lady had. Her coming all alone, without her usual regal paraphernalia was
strange. While he was thus trying to make things out, Shachi was standing near him. The
expression in her eyes startled Vishnu, but he collected himself and welcomed her. The
fair lady was impatient of all small talk, brushed aside all formalities and without much
ado came out with her real intention. She had found that the charms of the Lord of
Vaikunth were irresistible. A good and loyal wife as she was, she had tried to check the
rebellious thoughts. But the temptation had proved too much for her and there she was!
This was an extremely embarrassing situation. Vishnu could not, even out of considerations
of policy, hope to elope with Indra's wife and get away with it. He rejected her advances
but told her that her desire would be fulfilled in the next birth, Vishnu would become
Krishna and Shachi would become Radha. Thus would her lust be satisfied. Shachi
accordingly became Radha, and Vishnu as Krishna entertained her. The scene now shifts to
Dwaraka. Their meetings were frequent although surreptitious. The game was not quite safe
and soon the worst befell the two lovers. Rukmini once saw the two of them together. She
had of course heard of Radha and the days of childhood that Krishna had spent with her in
Mathura, but she had no idea that Krishna was still attached to her and so she was
extremely furious and greatly disappointed. Instead of making a fuss over the incident she
decided to punish him in a silent but more effective manner. Without notifying anybody she
left Dwarka and travelled to Dindirvana. Here she undertook a severe penance with the
object of winning Krishna back to her. But it was not at all necessary. Her absence was
noted soon enough and the repentant husband at once instituted a search for the deserter.
He went to various places but found no trace of her. When his search in the northern
regions proved fruitless, he turned towards the south. Soon he came upon Dindirvana and
found his wife seated in an isolated spot in the thick of the jungles. Her eyes were
closed in meditation and she never noticed anybody approaching her. Krishna went near her
and tried to woo her favour back, She did not recognise him and when he waxed more
eloquent administered him a sharp rebuff. The god thereupon decided to launch a
counter-tapa and stood before her with his arms resting on the hips, eyes looking straight
in front. He is standing there for twenty-eight, ‘yugas' or ages. And the two of them
would have stood there for longer also but for the intervention, albeit unintentional, of
one Pundalik. |
