SHRISAILEELA - JULY-AUGUEST-2005 English Section
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SHRISAILEELA - JULY-AUGUEST-2005 English Section “Vithu-mauli, Sai-mauli” : Mrs. Mugdha Diwadkar Shree Dattatreya Sahasra Nama : Prof. Dr. K. J. Ajabia Shri Pant Maharaj as a Teacher : Naresh Dharwadkar In Sai’s Proximity : Mrs. Mugdha Diwadkar Is Baba Living & Helping now : Jyoti Ranjan SHREE SAI BABA SANSTHAN TRUST (SHIRDI) Management Committee Shri Jayant Murlidhar Sasane Shri Shankararao Genuji Kolhe Shri Bhausaheb Rajaram Wakchaure Chairman Vice-chairman Executive Officer This site is developed and maintained by Shri Saibaba Sansthan Trust. © Shri Saibaba Sansthan Trust, Shirdi. Homepage SHRISAILEELA - JULY-AUGUST-2005 Vithu-mauli, Sai-mauli Shree Dattatreya Sahasra Nama Shri Pant Maharaj as a Teacher In Sai’s Proximity Is Baba Living & Helping now “YOU ARE VITHU-MAULI*, YOU ARE SAI-MAULI !” — Mrs. Mugdha Diwadkar Preamble Pandurang of Pandharpur town is the Deity dear to many, not only from Maharashtra and Karnatak but also for several people from outside Maharashtra ! The heartfelt love of Vitthal pulls the devotees to Pandharpur - forgetting the differences in religions and castes. Due to this congregation, Pandharpur has become a regional cultural center. Many devotees fervently believe that Pandurang or Vitthal of Pandhari is Lord Shrikrishna. This Deity is a beautiful statue carved out of black stone. Actually, the complexion of Pandurang (Pandurang Kanti) is supposed to be fair and that’s why He is called ‘Pandu-rang’. However, at the time of Amrut Manthan, the poison ‘Halahal’ came out of the seven seas and Lord Shankar digested it. Therefore, Lord Shankar (and in turn Lord Vishnu) acquired a dark complexion. Similarly, Lord Vishnu took ‘Amrut’ and hence, Lord Shankar became fair like camphor (Karpoor Gaur). Thus, the birth of Vitthal personifies Origin of the name ‘Vitthal’ Many Saints have mentioned that Vitthal is a Form of no one else but Vishnu. The Kannada word ‘Vitthal’ is originated from ‘Vishnu’. Actually, the word ‘Vishnu’ got corrupted into ‘Vithu’ and its full form became ‘Vitthal’. It is also said that word ‘Vitthal’ is made up from Vit = Brick and Thela = Kept. According to some, the name ‘Vitthal’ contains ‘Vid’ (Sanskrit) which means ‘knowing’. Thus, ‘Vitthal’ is the one Who gives experience of unity of knowledge. He is very much loved by the Saints. Vitthal has a conch shell (Shankha) in one hand and a destroyer wheel (Chakra) in another. These are symbols of war. He has a cap over His head. It is believed that it is symbolic of Shivling. Vari and Varkaris For past more than 700 years, the devotees of this sect (Sampraday) have been undertaking annual pilgrimage trip to Pandharpur. This vow is known as Vari or trip and the devotees are known as Varkaris. The Varkaris believe that performing Pooja of Sagun - Sakar Vitthal and His statue is equivalent to performing Pooja of Brahma. They are convinced that Varkari Panth is the only sect showing the easiest path for transformation from Sagun to Nirgun. Varkari Panth is also referred to as Vaishnav Panth. The origins of this sect of devotion are very ancient. Pinnacle of the Saints - Saint Dnyaneshwar - embraced this sect. And after his doing so, the common men believed that Parabrahma itself is residing at Shri Kshetra Pandharpur in the Form of Vithoba. Various Saints and Pandhari Pandharpur was dear to Saint Eknath for two reasons. For one, he believed that it is his Maher (parent’s abode). ‘‘Know that, that is this Pandharpur is the Maher1 of all Gods and the Nij - Mandir2 of all Saints’’ Secondly, he loved it because there was a congregation of Gods (Hari Har Sangam) at the place. He said that Pandhari is a mine of endless blessings. ‘‘There, where Karpoorgaur3 is standing constantly with Vishnu.’’ ‘‘Pandhari is my Maher and it is on the bank of Bhivar. Vitthal - Rakhumai are my father and mother. Pundalik, staying at Pandharpur, is my brother. What I tell you about his fame ! Chandrabhaga is my sister. She destroys the sin. Eknath surrenders at the Feet of Janardan. He recollects the memories of Maher.’’ Saint Tukaram Maharaj was also fond of Pandhari as his Maher. He has referred to Pandhari several times in his Gatha. ‘‘Sajani4, Pandhari is my Maher. This is the soothing religious order, way to Maher.’’ ‘‘Tuka says, my all happiness is this only. I will see the Face of Shri with love. ’’ ‘‘Tuka says, whatever you say, it suits to Vitthal.’’ Saint Namdeo referred to Varkari Panth as the Panth of Vithoba. He has bestowed great honour on Pandhari. ‘‘This whole Pandhari is the happiness of Mandus5.’’ ‘‘All the people of Pandhari are blessed.’’ ‘‘There are so many holy places on the earth; but no one is greater than Pandhari.’’ ‘‘At the Pandhari Maher, there is Mother Vitthal.’’ ‘‘O Hari ! Do not send us to Vaikunth. Let us reside in Pandhari all the time.’’ ‘‘Nama says, the Form in the homunculuses of eyes became spread all over the world.’’ Till his body could cope up, Saint Ramdas Swamy did not miss his annual pilgrimage ‘Vari’ to Pandhari. He is overcome with emotions while honoring Vitthal. It is worth noting that Ramdas Swamy had established his own Ramdasi Panth. However, at heart he always remained a Varkari. ‘‘We saw Vithoba standing on the brick happily. There is good-looking Rukmini in the state of crowdedness of visible. Ramdas says, he is blessed who recognizes her.’’ Saint Dnyaneshwar has also sung praises of Vithu Raya. ‘‘O Mother ! I will go to Your Pandharpur and meet our Maher.’’ Saint Niloba has described Pandhari as Vaikunth on the earth. ‘‘Nila says, This is the sacred spot of Pandhari Vaikuntha on the earth.’’ ‘‘Maher of Devotion and Liberation established Pandharpur.’’ Pandharpur In the earlier times, Kshetra Pandharpur was also known as Pundalik-Pur, Loh-Dand-Kshetra, Pandurang-Palli Pandari. It appears that, with usage, these names got corrupted and, in the later period, the names Pandharpur or Pandhari have got established. It is difficult to state, when the Vitthal of Pandharpur and the Varkari Sampraday originated. However, according to scholars and researchers, these have been established at least in the third or fourth centuries. A Copper Plate of that time (year 516) has been found, where reference has been made to these. Similarly, references to Pandhari have been also found in Padma – Puran, Skand – Puran, Shrikar – Bhashya, the Stotras of Adi Shankaracharya. The Temple The Vitthal Temple was first built on a high spot on the banks of river Bhima. Over the period, it was expanded. In one of the Stone Plates found at Pandharpur, it has been mentioned that the Temple was built in the year 1188-89. Vitthal and His devotees The relation of Lord Vitthal with His devotees is that of a mother and her children. Vitthal is the divine mother of all, symbol of purity and well-being. He loves those who lay down their body, mind and wealth at His Feet. His Darshan and His Blessings are sufficient to burn all the sins of His devotees and they attain Moksha. The Vitthal, Who is so fond of His devotees, unifies with them. ‘‘Dedicate the wife, the race, the house, the breath to the God. This is the whole Bhagvad religion. Bhajan is the name to it by means.’’ From time to time, for the sake of His devotees, Lord Vitthal comes to the earth in different Avatars. His devotees do not part from Him in any birth. ‘‘Hearts united and exchanged love one another.’’ Devotees believe that, for the welfare of the world, Parabrahma has appeared in the mortal form of Shri Sai Baba. They look upon Shri Sai Baba as Vitthal and the pilgrimage town of Shirdi as Pandharpur. Saint Dnyaneshwar wrote a critique on Shrimad Bhagvad Geeta. He impressed Eknath, who in turn wrote Eknathi Bhagwat. Sai Baba advocated the philosophy of Advait propagated by Eknath. Sai Baba Himself adhered to each and every principle of the philosophy and also tried His best to see that His devotees also did the same. His devotees believe that, 300 years after Ramdas Swamy, in the rich lineage of Maharashtrian Saints, Sai Baba made His appearance for the welfare of the world. Gauli-buva There was a time when Baba was known only within the precinct of Shirdi. There was a pious and respected person called ‘Gauli-buva’ who took annual pilgrimage trip to Pandhari and on his way, he passed through Shirdi. He had crossed 95 years of his age and still he had never missed this annual ritual. Along with him, there used to be his disciple and a donkey. On his lips, there used to be a perpetual chanting of “Shri Ram Krishna Hari”. During the four months of Chaturmas, he used to camp on the banks of Ganga and during the remaining eight months he used to stay in Pandharpur itself. He used to look at Baba with loving eyes and say, “He is Pandharinath personified ! Can one become a Saint by wearing a silk dhoti ? For that, you must spend your blood like water and turn your bones into beads. Can any one become God without deserving ? He is the Pandharinath in reality ! You fools, keep this feeling in your heart and it will be beneficial to you.” Gauli-buva, who did pilgrimage trips to Pandharpur and Shirdi every year, was blessed with a unique experience. The God is everywhere. No Deity is different than the other. But, some devotees, in their lack of wisdom, think that, each Deity is different than the other. However, Saint Dnyaneshwar has clarified that, saying - Many devotees do not realize the real Swaroop of the God.