Rituals and Sacred Space of Pandharpur, India

Abstract

The small town Pandharpur, situated about two hundred kilometres south east of Pune, is one of the most popular sacred places in the state of Maharashtra, India. It is dedicated to the god Vithoba who is considered to be an incarnation of Vishnu in the form of Krishna. Pandharpur and Vithoba plays a very important role in the religious life of the so-called Varakari Sampradaya which goes back to at least the time of Jnadeva or Jnaneshvara in the second half of the 13th century. In fact the religious life of the town is to a great extent dominated by the presence of this Sampradaya, and the great yearly pilgrimage in the bright half of Ashadha (June-July), at which processions from all over Maharashtra join in Pandharpur is one of the most spectacular religious events in the region. Until comparatively recent the knowledge of the history and concept of Pandharpur as a sacred town has been completely dominated by the literature of the Varakari Sampradaya. In this paper I shall, however, be dealing with two Sanskrit mahatmyas, both called Pandurangamahatmya, and the ideas found therein with regard to the rituals and sacred space of Pandharpur.
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationHoly Places & Pilgrimages: Essays on India
Number of pages24
Place of PublicationNew Delhi
PublisherShubhi Publications
Publication date2011
Pages239-262
Chapter9
ISBN (Print)81-8290-228-2
Publication statusPublished - 2011
SeriesPlanes Earth & Cultural Understanding Series
NumberPub. 8

Keywords

  • Faculty of Humanities

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