LORD PANDURANGA VITHAL OF PANDHARPUR

SAINT BHANUDAS AND HIS DEVOTION

Certain curious, rather semi historic anecdotes also throw light on the glory of the temple. It appears, during the Muslim invasions, the Hindu kings preserved the sanctity of the temple with all their might. An interesting event is woven round the Vijayanagara king Krishnadevaraya. Incidentally it confirms the tradition that the presence of the presiding deity here, was never continuous. And to save it from destruction by the Islamic iconoclasts certain devotees managed to conceal it in their houses. The Vijayanagara king had taken the image to the capital when the temple was closed as a safety measure, and installed it in a grand temple, befitting his imperial status and to its spiritual eminence. Regular worship on a grand scale with unprecedented fanfare was offered there, but here in Pandharpur, the Varkaris finding the absence of Lord Vitthal searched and learnt that it was kidnapped by the king. So, a famous saint by name Bhanudas, the great grand father of Eknath Maharaja started on foot, singing all the way and reached the temple. Holding the holy feet of the Lord, he pleaded for his return, but the Lord consoled him to wait, since he did not like to wound the king, a great devotee in every sense of the term. He resorted to a stretegem demonstration of Krishnaniti. While assuring to follow him, he put his tulasimala round the neck of Bhanudas, craftily adding a diamond necklace along with it. 

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