Shree Pundalik Temple / Lohadandatirth Mahadwar Ghat, Pandharpur, Pandharpur, Solapur

The Aarti of Vitthal mentions, “The Supreme Brahman came to meet Pundalik.” Pundalik had embraced the principle that duty and service to one’s parents are superior to rituals or pilgrimages. Because of his devotion to his mother and father, when the Lord Himself came to grant him darshan, Pundalik offered Him a brick and said, “Stand on this and wait for me.” Bound by Pundalik’s merit, Pandurang has been standing on the brick for twenty-eight yugas. Pundalik’s Samadhi temple is situated on the banks of the Chandrabhaga river near Mahadwar Ghat. Adjacent to the temple, in the riverbed, lies the Lohadandatirtha. Devotees believe that bathing in the Lohadandatirtha washes away sins and that one cannot attain the merit of Pandurang’s darshan without first visiting Pundalik.

It is believed that this temple of Pundalik was built by the great yogi Saint Changdev, which connects the temple to prehistoric times. It is said that the temple underwent changes in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. Records indicate that the Peshwa commander Bhate renovated this temple. Many legends are prevalent regarding the devotee Pundalik. Born in the house of a Brahmin named Jandev in Kundalgaon on the banks of the Chandrabhaga, Pundalik was initially a pleasure-seeking man living a luxurious life. Later, he repented for his actions and, while on his way to Kashi to wash away his sins, he lost his way and reached the ashram of Kukkut Rishi. When Pundalik asked the Rishi for the path to Kashi, the Rishi replied that he did not know the way as he had never been to Kashi. However, Pundalik saw the three holy rivers—Ganga, Yamuna, and Saraswati—sweeping the ashram of a Rishi who had never visited Kashi. When asked the reason, the rivers explained that the merit of the Rishi’s service to his parents was greater than the attainment of Moksha. Thereafter, Pundalik became a devoted son, and Pandurang has been standing on a brick for twenty-eight yugas waiting for him.
Regarding the Lohadandatirtha in front of the Pundalik temple, the legend goes that when Indra’s body was covered with marks after he deceitfully violated Ahalya, the wife of Gautama Rishi, Indra asked the Saptarishis for a remedy. The Rishis gave Indra an iron rod and told him, “Bathe in the holy water where this rod floats, and all your sins will be destroyed, and you will be freed from the curse.” Indra traveled across the earth with the rod, and finally, it floated in this holy water. Hence, this place was named Lohadandatirtha. Another legend states that this Tirtha was created by Mahadev by striking his trident into the ground.

The Pundalik temple is situated on the sands (valvant) on the banks of the Chandrabhaga below Mahadwar Ghat. Among the many temples on the sands, the spire of the Pundalik temple is the tallest. This east-facing temple consists of a Sabha Mandap (assembly hall) and a Garbhagriha (sanctum sanctorum). The Sabha Mandap has entrances on the east, north, and south. One can enter the temple through the north entrance. In front of this entrance, there is a Rangamandap with a tin roof supported by iron pillars. Stainless steel railings have been installed there to manage the darshan queue. The door frames of all three entrances feature vertical carvings, and there are idols of Ganpati on the lintels. The front walls of the temple are adorned with paintings of various saints. In the octagonal sanctum, there is a Shivling on the floor. A brass mask of Pundalik is placed on the Shivling. On both sides of this Linga are brass sculptures of Yakshas.

On the roof of the sanctum, there are four minaret-like pillars at the corners, topped with Amalakas and Kalashas. The niches on all four sides of the pillars contain idols of various deities. The roof features a four-tiered circular spire, with twelve niches in each tier. Each niche is topped with a dome-shaped spire, an Amalaka, and a Kalasha. The main spire is topped with two Amalakas placed one above the other, followed by a Kalasha. The lower half of the spire is made of stone, while the upper part is constructed of bricks. The entire management of this temple is handled by the Koli community. Daily rituals such as Kakada, Abhishek, and Dhuparati are performed here. When the temple is submerged during the monsoon, the brass mask of Pundalik is kept in the temple at Uddhav Ghat, where daily worship continues. Mahashivratri is the main annual festival here, during which special prayers are conducted. Devotees coming to Pandharpur for the darshan of Vitthal invariably visit Pundalik. Consequently, the number of devotees visiting the temple is very high. The Dindis (processions) arriving for the Pandharpur Nagar Pradakshina make it a point to visit Pundalik.

The Lohadandatirtha is located in the Chandrabhaga riverbed next to the Pundalik temple. The stone construction of this Tirtha temple, which has arch-like entrances on three sides, is said to be ancient. There are many platforms of Samadhis around the Tirtha temple. Inside the temple, there is a hole in the tiled floor resembling a borewell, from which the water of the Lohadandatirtha emerges. In a niche on the back wall of the temple, there is a Shivling and Nandi. The roof of the Tirtha temple is flat. Many devotees visiting Pandharpur make it a point to bathe in this Tirtha. Devotees can have darshan of Pundalik in this temple every day from 6 in the morning to 9 at night.

Sacred History & Spiritual Significance

This sacred temple stands as a testament to deep spiritual devotion, ancient architectural grandeur, and rich local cultural traditions.

Temple Sanctum & Architecture

The sanctum sanctorum houses the divine idol consecrated according to ancient Vedic traditions, surrounded by serene courtyards and traditional temple architecture.

Sacred Darshan Gallery