Vithoba Temple, Hindu temple in Pandharpur, Maharashtra, India
The Vithoba Temple is a Hindu place of worship in Pandharpur, Maharashtra, housing a standing black stone deity resting on a brick with both hands placed on the hips. The inner sanctum lies within several courtyards, surrounded by colonnades and subsidiary shrines dedicated to different saints and gods.
The core of the temple emerged under Yadava dynasty rule during the 13th century, when Pandharpur was already an established pilgrimage center. Later rulers from the Bahmani and Maratha kingdoms expanded the complex, adding gateways, walls, and additional structures that remain standing today.
The two main pilgrimages fall on the eleventh lunar day in the month of Ashadha (June–July) and in Kartika (October–November), when pilgrims from across Maharashtra arrive on foot. Many wear yellow clothing and sing abhangas, devotional songs passed down from saints like Tukaram and Namdev over centuries.
Entry is possible through several gates, with the main entrance on the eastern side leading into the large inner courtyards. Opening times begin early in the morning and continue late into the evening, though waiting times can extend significantly during festival days.
Inside the complex stands a set of 56 stone pillars that produce different tones when tapped, creating a kind of natural percussion instrument. This acoustic feature shows the skill of stonemasons who achieved precise resonant frequencies without modern tools.
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