LORD PANDURANGA VITHAL OF PANDHARPUR

ANTIQUITY

The glory of this kshetra owes its origin to one great devotee of Vittal. His life is a standing testimony to the power of filial piety which brought down God and made Him wait at the portal. Many literary works embody the life history of this Pundarik. Among them Panduranga Mahatmya takes precedent over others. It runs - there lived in the past a brahmin couple in this kshetra, and were called Jnanadev and Muktabai. They had a son called Pundarik, who although acquired proficiency in the sacred lore, never cared to realise the place given to the parents due to his infatuation for his charming wife. He turned self centred, immoral and brutal. Besides, he developed sadistic pleasure in ill treating his parents. In their ripe old age at it. Neither did he provide decent food and dress to them, nor took pity at their failing health. To add to this, he saw them over-worked, attending to domestic chores to making his wife enjoy a life of luxury, wrapped up in unethical grace. Certain legends attribute this prodigal life to his attachment to a courtesan, whose glossy exterior and honied words, blinded him to the extent of emptying all his treasure to her. 

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