LORD PANDURANGA VITHAL OF PANDHARPUR

THE TEMPLE

It is fairly a big temple built in the heart of the town, on the bank of Chandrabagha, a tributary of river Krishna. It is surrounded by a wall with eight entrances, adorned with towers. It stands on a high plinth occupying 370 feet east-west and 170 feet north-west. The chief entrance - Mahadwara with a flight of twelve steps faces cast and is called the Namadevgat, named after a great thirteenth century saint, a close friend of the illustrious Jnaneswar. The front part of the first and second steps are covered with brass plates carved with fourteen human figures representing the members of Namdev's family. The first figure holding tambourine in hand is that of Namadev.

The story goes that Namdev attained Samadhi here, and soon after hearing this news, all the fourteen members of the family drowned themselves in the river. Ah! affection thou knoweth no bounds! Could imagination ever touch the marks of demarcation? Visitors offer prayers to the samadhi first. Odd it sounds that Namdev prayed to Vithal to permit him to be at the bottom step to be sanctified by the dust of bhaktas, while entering the temple. Another object of worship at the gate is a niche, housing a two by one and half afoot broad stone, representing Chokha Mela, an outcaste devotee. 

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