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Pundalika
Courtesy:Sri.PP.Ramachandran
*THE STORY OF HOW THE LORD STANDS ON A BRICK AS HIS DEVOTEE ATTENDS TO
HIS PARENTS.*
*The Saga of Pundalik is one of the most important Mahima legends about
Vithoba. How Vithoba came to Pandharpur is a story in which Pundalik is
vital. Pundalik is a devoted son to his parents Janudev and Satyavati, who
lived in a forest called Dandirvan. But after his wedding, Pundalik begins
ill-treating his parents. Tired of their son's misbehavior and ill
treatment, the elderly couple decide to leave for Kashi. Legend holds that
people who die in the city of Kashi
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Varanasi> attain salvation and emancipation
from the cycle of birth and death; so, many pious Hindus in the bygone era
would relocate to Kashi as their end drew near.*
*However, the elderly couple are not destined to escape their suffering so
easily. Upon hearing his parents' plans, Pundalik and his wife decide to
join them on pilgrimage. The ill treatment continues. While the youthful
son and his wife ride on horseback, the frail old couple walk in bad
weather. Pundalik even makes his old parents work to make his own journey
comfortable. Every evening, when the party camps for the night, the son
forces his parents to groom the horses and do other jobs.*
*On the way to Kashi, the group reaches the ashram (hermitage) of a pious
and venerable sage, Kukkutswami. Exhausted, the family decides to spend a
few days there. That night, when all were asleep, Pundalik by chance is
awake and sees a remarkable vision. Just before dawn, a group of beautiful
young women, dressed in soiled clothes, enter the ashram; they clean the
floor, fetch water and wash the venerable sage's clothes. After finishing
their chores, they go to the prayer-room. When they reappear after prayer,
their clothes are spotlessly clean. Then, they vanish as inexplicably as
they had appeared.*
*Pundalik is not moved to raise an alarm, but feels a deep sense of peace
witnessing the scene. It remains on his mind the whole day and he resolves
to remain awake the next night, and confirm it was not merely a dream. This
time, however, Pundalik is very curious. He approaches the beautiful women
and asks details.*
*They reply, they are the Ganga
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ganges_in_Hinduism> (Ganges), Yamuna
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yamuna> and other holy rivers of
India—revered for their holiness. Pilgrims wish to take a dip in their holy
waters to wash away their sins, which in fact are soiling their clothes.*
*Then, the women say: "But O Pundalik, you, with your ill-treatment of your
parents, are the greatest sinner of them all!".*
*Pundalik is utterly shocked and his consciousness transforms. He realizes
his misdeeds, becomes entirely devoted to his parents and ensures their
comfort, even risking his own.*
*Devotion in any form reaches God
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/God> swiftly. Impressed by Pundalik's
devotion to his parents, Lord Vishnu
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Visnu> plans to bless Pundalik
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pundalik> immediately. So, He
leaves Vaikuntha <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vaikuntha> for Pundalik's
ashram.*
*Vishnu knocks at Pundalik's door, when he is busy serving his parents
food. Pundalik does realize God is at his door. But such was his devotion
to his parents, he wants to complete his duties and only then attend the
visitor. Then, Pundalik does something strange but out of real devotion. He
throws a brick outside for God to stand on and wait for him until he
finishes attending to his parents. It is the first day of monsoon so it is
wet and muddy outside. If Lord Vishnu stood on a brick his feet will remain
clean and dry--so thought Pundalika.*
*Seeing this act, Vishnu is extremely impressed and the ever-loving God
waits for his devotee. When Pundalik comes out, he begs for pardon but far
from being displeased, Vishnu is taken over by Pundalik's love for his
parents and grants a boon. Pundalik requests Vishnu to stay back on Earth
and bless all his true devotees. He agrees to take the form of Vithoba, or
God who stood upon a brick, and a temple comes up there. Along with
Vithoba, Rakhumai (Mother Rukmini, the consort of Krishna, one of avatars
of Visnu) is also worshipped here.*
*There are slightly different versions of the same. *
*The second version of the legend depicts Vithoba appearing before Pundalik
as the five-year-old Bala Krishna
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bala_Krishna> (infant Krishna). This version
is found in manuscripts of both Puranas, Prahlada Maharaj, and the
poet-saints, notably Tukaram. *
*In some versions in place of Kukkutswami there is a poor cobbler Rohita
Das, who takes care of his parents.*
Courtesy:Sri.PP.Ramachandran
*THE STORY OF HOW THE LORD STANDS ON A BRICK AS HIS DEVOTEE ATTENDS TO
HIS PARENTS.*
*The Saga of Pundalik is one of the most important Mahima legends about
Vithoba. How Vithoba came to Pandharpur is a story in which Pundalik is
vital. Pundalik is a devoted son to his parents Janudev and Satyavati, who
lived in a forest called Dandirvan. But after his wedding, Pundalik begins
ill-treating his parents. Tired of their son's misbehavior and ill
treatment, the elderly couple decide to leave for Kashi. Legend holds that
people who die in the city of Kashi
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Varanasi> attain salvation and emancipation
from the cycle of birth and death; so, many pious Hindus in the bygone era
would relocate to Kashi as their end drew near.*
*However, the elderly couple are not destined to escape their suffering so
easily. Upon hearing his parents' plans, Pundalik and his wife decide to
join them on pilgrimage. The ill treatment continues. While the youthful
son and his wife ride on horseback, the frail old couple walk in bad
weather. Pundalik even makes his old parents work to make his own journey
comfortable. Every evening, when the party camps for the night, the son
forces his parents to groom the horses and do other jobs.*
*On the way to Kashi, the group reaches the ashram (hermitage) of a pious
and venerable sage, Kukkutswami. Exhausted, the family decides to spend a
few days there. That night, when all were asleep, Pundalik by chance is
awake and sees a remarkable vision. Just before dawn, a group of beautiful
young women, dressed in soiled clothes, enter the ashram; they clean the
floor, fetch water and wash the venerable sage's clothes. After finishing
their chores, they go to the prayer-room. When they reappear after prayer,
their clothes are spotlessly clean. Then, they vanish as inexplicably as
they had appeared.*
*Pundalik is not moved to raise an alarm, but feels a deep sense of peace
witnessing the scene. It remains on his mind the whole day and he resolves
to remain awake the next night, and confirm it was not merely a dream. This
time, however, Pundalik is very curious. He approaches the beautiful women
and asks details.*
*They reply, they are the Ganga
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ganges_in_Hinduism> (Ganges), Yamuna
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yamuna> and other holy rivers of
India—revered for their holiness. Pilgrims wish to take a dip in their holy
waters to wash away their sins, which in fact are soiling their clothes.*
*Then, the women say: "But O Pundalik, you, with your ill-treatment of your
parents, are the greatest sinner of them all!".*
*Pundalik is utterly shocked and his consciousness transforms. He realizes
his misdeeds, becomes entirely devoted to his parents and ensures their
comfort, even risking his own.*
*Devotion in any form reaches God
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/God> swiftly. Impressed by Pundalik's
devotion to his parents, Lord Vishnu
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Visnu> plans to bless Pundalik
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pundalik> immediately. So, He
leaves Vaikuntha <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vaikuntha> for Pundalik's
ashram.*
*Vishnu knocks at Pundalik's door, when he is busy serving his parents
food. Pundalik does realize God is at his door. But such was his devotion
to his parents, he wants to complete his duties and only then attend the
visitor. Then, Pundalik does something strange but out of real devotion. He
throws a brick outside for God to stand on and wait for him until he
finishes attending to his parents. It is the first day of monsoon so it is
wet and muddy outside. If Lord Vishnu stood on a brick his feet will remain
clean and dry--so thought Pundalika.*
*Seeing this act, Vishnu is extremely impressed and the ever-loving God
waits for his devotee. When Pundalik comes out, he begs for pardon but far
from being displeased, Vishnu is taken over by Pundalik's love for his
parents and grants a boon. Pundalik requests Vishnu to stay back on Earth
and bless all his true devotees. He agrees to take the form of Vithoba, or
God who stood upon a brick, and a temple comes up there. Along with
Vithoba, Rakhumai (Mother Rukmini, the consort of Krishna, one of avatars
of Visnu) is also worshipped here.*
*There are slightly different versions of the same. *
*The second version of the legend depicts Vithoba appearing before Pundalik
as the five-year-old Bala Krishna
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bala_Krishna> (infant Krishna). This version
is found in manuscripts of both Puranas, Prahlada Maharaj, and the
poet-saints, notably Tukaram. *
*In some versions in place of Kukkutswami there is a poor cobbler Rohita
Das, who takes care of his parents.*