THE APPEARANCE DAY OF LORD VITTHAL AND GODDESS RAGUMAYI

 THE STORY OF LORD VITTHAL 

Lord Vitthal and Goddess Ragumayi's darshan 
on Aashadhi Ekadasi

• Do you know why Lord Vitthal stood on a brick????
• Have you ever thought that why is He called Lord Vitthal??
• Why Aashadhi Ekadasi is devoted for Lord Vitthal and celebrated with a great pomp???

To answer these questions, let us know the story of Lord Vitthal!

STORY OF PUNDALIKA MAHARAJ

Once there lived a devotee named Pundalik along with his parents Satyavati and janudev in forest called Dindirvan. He was formerly arrogant to his parents and not treated them well. After his marriage, he illtreated his parents so much. In order to escape from that misery, his parents planned to go to Kashi, Uttar Pradesh. When Pundalik's wife came to know this, she also wanted to go to the pilgrimage. Hence, Pundalik, his wife and their parents joined to go on a pilgrimage to Kashi. They travelled from Dindirvan to Kashi with horseback. Pundalik and his wife set on the horseback while the parents were walking on the road. Every night Pundalik used to force the old parents to groom the horse as well as to do other works. Pitiful old parents cursed the day where they planned to go on a pilgrimage.

           They reached Guru Kukkut's Ashram and decided to stay for a couple of days. Pundalik asked the Swamiji about the pathway to go Kashi. Kukkutswami told that he did not know the route. Pundalik with arrogance immediately made fun of Kukkutswami that he did not know this even though he is nearby the pilgrimage. Swamiji kept silent inspite of Pundalik's words. As they were all tired, they fall asleep except Pundalik. At the time of early morning, he saw three charming young women entering the Ashram with dirty dress cleaning the floor and washing Guru Kukkut's clothes. And then they entered another room in the Ashram and came up with beautiful dress and vanished from the place. Pundalik was so astonished. The next day, Pundalik got down to their feet and requested to reveal themselves. The three charming women replied, "O Pundalik, we are the River Ganges, River Yamuna and River Saraswathy. Our clothes became dirty because of the peoples' sins of bathing pilgrimage. You are the great sinner because, you are always illtreating your parents". This incident was a turning point for him that made to devote his parents much. The wife and son walked while the old parents rode the horse to return back to Dindirvan. 

     One day Lord Krishna in Dwaraka was recollecting His past memories in Mathura, Vrindavan and Gokula. He also remembered of Shri Shri Radharani, His internal potency. Through His extraordinary power, Shri Shri Radharani came back and sat with Him. When Rukmini saw Krishna with Radharani, She was dejected and left Dwaraka as Radharani didn't pay respect to Her. Lord Krishna along with His friends searched Rukmini in Gokula, Vrindavan, Mathura and all over Dwaraka but She was not there. Rukmini hid Herself in the forest of Dindirvan. When Krishna reached river Chandrabhaga, He left His associates and found where Rukmini was actually present. He convinced Rukmini with pleasing words. 

          Suddenly Krishna ran so fast from the place and reached Pundalik's house! The Supreme Lord went Pundalik's house as He was pleased by Pundalik's devotional service to his parents. On seeing that Lord Krishna out of love called Pundalik, "O Pundalik! I'm much pleased by devotional service to your parents!". Pundalik asked, "May I know who is this?". Lord Krishna replied, "O Pundalik! I'm Krishna! I came here to see you!". Pundalik said, "O Krishna! I'm now serving my parents. I'm unable to come right now. I will offer you bricks to stand on the floor. Please wait until I until my duty to take care of my parents, O Krishna!". So, Lord Krishna was standing on the bricks and was waiting patiently for Pundalik outside the door! After finishing the service to his old parents, Pundalik cried and embraced the lotus feet of Lord Krishna that He made the Supreme Controller to wait outside the door. Lord Krishna not bothered how long He was waiting as He was much pleased by the service to his old parents. Lord Krishna asked Pundalik to ask for a boon. Pundalik uttered, "O Krishna! What else is needed when I saw Your beautiful form! What else is needed when the Supreme Lord Himself waited patiently for His devotee! O Krishna! my respectful obeisances unto You! I request you to remain here to please Your devotees!". Lord Krishna with His charming smile was pleased by Pundalik's devotion and reminded on the bricks.

Lord Vitthal stood on the brick

He is now called as Lord Vitthal or Vitthoba.  'Vit' means brick and 'thal' means on the floor. So 'Vitthal' refers to Lord Krishna standing on brick on the floor! He is lovingly called as Vitthal, Vitthoba, Pandrinatha, Panduranga, Pandariraayaa, Vitthu Mouli, Vitthai, Vitthalagururao, etc by His devotees. So, He is Swayambhu in Pandharpur. His form of Vitthal came into existence on Lord's own form!

SIGNIFICANCE OF AASHADHI EKADASI

The day when Lord Vitthal stood on the bricks was the month of Aashada. This month falls between june to july. This Ekadasi is also known as Shayani Ekadasi, Maha Ekadasi, Prathama Ekadasi and Padma Ekadasi. In this Aashadhi Ekadasi, the Vaishnava devotees used to spend the whole night by singing Kirtans and chanting the Holy name of the Lord. It is also believed that Lord Vishnu resting on Ananta(Adhisesha) in the milky ocean used to sleep on the eleventh day of lunar day and wakes on Prabhodini Ekadasi. The Lord's devotees used to take vows and fast on these four months to please the Supreme Lord. One should avoid eating non-veg, onion, garlic, beans, corn, grains and other foods from shop during Aashadhi Ekadasi.

"BOLO JAY JAY VITTHALA JAY HARI VITTHALA!"

Lord Vitthal's abundant love!