Shri Gopalkrishna Temple Gopalpur, Pandharpur, Solapur

There are many scriptures that elucidate the significance of Pandharpur and Panduranga. Panduranga is mentioned in texts such as the Chhandogya Upanishad and the Padma Purana. Discussions between Narada and Adishesha contain references to Pandharpur, Panduranga, and the Bhima River. Sage Narada states that Neera Narsinhapur is equal to Prayag, Korti Vishnupad is equal to Gaya, and Pandharpur is a holy pilgrimage site equal to Kashi. The Skanda Purana declares Pandharpur to be superior to all other pilgrimage sites. The ancient Gopalkrishna Temple in Gopalpur, located near this very Pandharpur, is a place of faith for thousands of devotees. Devotees visit this temple to partake in the ‘Gopalkala’ on the day of the full moon (Purnima) following the four major Ekadashis of the year: Ashadhi, Kartiki, Maghi, and Chaitri.

Scholars believe this temple is contemporary to the Vitthal Temple of Pandharpur, and it is estimated to date back to the thirteenth century. According to legend, Rukmini became uncontrollably angry upon seeing Radha sitting on the Lord’s lap; she left Dwarka and came to reside in the Dindirvan forest of Pandharpur. Lord Krishna, who came in search of her, brought his cows with him. On his way, he danced with the cows at Vishnupad, leaving behind the imprints of his and the cows’ feet. From there, the Lord went to Govardhan Hill in Gopalpur. There, the Lord renounced his Krishna form and assumed the form of Vitthal. Consequently, the idol here displays a confluence of the forms of Vitthal and Krishna, making this temple religiously significant. It was at this very place that Rukmini’s parents came from Kaundinyapur to meet her.

According to another legend, Saint Kabir met Saint Janabai in this temple premises after hearing of her devotion. Janabai lived at the home of Saint Namdev. While performing her chores, she used to come to Gopalpur to make cow dung cakes. When Saint Kabir arrived in Gopalpur on the banks of the Bhima River in search of Janabai, he found a woman arguing with her, accusing her of stealing cow dung cakes. Janabai requested Saint Kabir to mediate. She declared that the cow dung cake from which the sound of “Vitthal, Vitthal” emanated would be hers. When Kabir held the cow dung cakes to his ear, they were indeed resonating with the sound of “Vitthal… Vitthal…” It is said that this incident took place within the temple premises.

The temple is situated on Govardhan Hill in Gopalpur, five kilometers from Pandharpur. A spacious stone-carved staircase leads up to the temple, with iron railings installed on both sides for safety. About ten steps up, there is an idol of Damaji Sheth, the father of Saint Namdev, whom Saint Janabai served. The temple is surrounded by a sturdy fortification wall with windows. One enters the temple courtyard through a large gateway in the fortification. In the courtyard, there are stone lamp pillars (Deepmalas) on both sides of the entrance. The courtyard features covered corridors (ovaris) along all four sides of the fortification. The structure of the Gopalkrishna Temple consists of a Mukhamandap (front hall), Sabhamandap (assembly hall), and a Garbhagriha (sanctum sanctorum). There are five steps from the Mukhamandap to the Sabhamandap, which is elevated above the courtyard. The steps have safety railings on both sides, topped with ornate pillars. The front of the Sabhamandap is open. Inside, there are four rows of four ornate pillars each. All pillars stand on square bases, with capitals, brackets, beams, and the ceiling above.

Further ahead is the entrance to the Garbhagriha. The door frames are adorned with carvings of foliage, flowers, and pillars. An idol of Lord Ganesha is carved on the lintel. The arch above the entrance features carvings of the temple spire. Inside the Garbhagriha, on a diamond-shaped pedestal (Vajrapitha), sits the black stone idol of Vitthal within an ornate shrine (Makhar). This idol, holding a flute, is unique. It is believed that it was here that the Lord laid down his flute, renounced his Krishna form, and assumed the Vitthal form. It was also here that Lord Krishna partook in the ‘Kala’ (offering) with sages, saints, and other devotees. The halo behind the idol is carved with leaves, flowers, birds, and animals. The idol is enshrined in an ornate Makhar. The roof of the Garbhagriha features a five-tiered circular spire, with four niches in each tier facing the four cardinal directions. At the pinnacle of the spire are two Amalakas stacked one above the other, topped by a finial (Kalash) and a flag.

In front of the Gopalkrishna Temple is an open stone pavilion. Devotees reverently accept the ‘Lahya’ (puffed grain) prasad from a brass pot hanging from the ceiling of this pavilion. It is said that after coming to Pandharpur, one does not attain the full merit of the pilgrimage without partaking in the prasad of the ‘Kala’ here. Beside this temple is a Shiva temple with a Nandi pavilion in front of it. There are two black stone idols of Nandi here. The legend associated with this is that one Nandi belongs to Lord Shiva, while the other was offered to Lord Shiva by Rukmini’s parents, King Bhishmaka and Queen Shudhamati. The west-facing Mahadev temple is structured with a Mukhamandapa (entrance hall), Sabhamandapa (assembly hall), and Garbhagriha (sanctum sanctorum). As the temple is situated on a higher level than the courtyard, there are steps to enter the Mukhamandapa. The Sabhamandapa is open from the front, with doorways in the walls on the left and right sides. The Mukhamandapa features two pillars, and the Sabhamandapa has four rows of four pillars each. All pillars stand on square bases, and their shafts are carved into various shapes, including squares, hexagons, octagons, and circles. In the Sabhamandapa, there is an idol of Shani Dev, and in front of it, the Rameshwar Shivalinga. The Garbhagriha houses a west-facing Shivalinga, and against the back wall are brass idols of Rukmini, her father King Bhishmaka, and her mother Shudhamati. It is said that this is the very place where Rukmini and her parents performed the Abhisheka of Mahadev. The ceiling of the Garbhagriha features a four-tiered square Shikhara (spire) with a pillar structure within it. The upper tier of the Shikhara has a dome surrounded by six smaller dome-shaped miniature shikharas. At the pinnacle of the Shikhara are the Amalaka and Kalasha.

Adjacent to the Mahadev temple is the Dattatreya temple. Here, on a Vajrapitha, stands the idol of the Trimurti Dattatreya. Further ahead, in an enclosed chamber, is the ‘Sansar’ (household) of Sant Janabai. Items such as a clay hearth, a stack of earthen pots, cow dung cakes, a slate, and a basket are kept here, and in the adjacent chamber, Janabai’s grinding stone (jate) is placed. Devotees reverently turn this grinding stone. Beyond this, in another chamber, the cradle of Shri Krishna is hung. The Krishna Janmotsav is celebrated on Shravan Vadya Ashtami. In the center of the courtyard, there is an underground chamber. It is believed that when Janabai was upset with the Lord and sat here, the Lord came to this spot to appease her. Here, on a Vajrapitha, are the idols of Sant Janabai and Vitthal. A short distance from the Gopal Krishna temple, in an ancient stone pavilion, is the butter-churning setup. It is said that Sant Janabai used to churn buttermilk here to offer butter to the Lord. Devotees visiting here reverently turn the churning rod.

All Palkhis (palanquins) that arrive between Ashadh Shuddha Dashami and Ashadh Shuddha Chaturdashi stay in Pandharpur. During the stay in Pandharpur, Paduka Pujan is performed every morning, followed by Kirtan in the morning and evening, and Jagran (night vigil) at night. The fast is broken on the morning of Dwadashi, and Khirapat is distributed after the Kirtan at night. Programs like Bhajans and Kirtans continue on Trayodashi and Chaturdashi as well. In the Warkari tradition, all festivals conclude with the Kala ceremony. The Ashadhi Wari is no exception. On the day of the full moon (Purnima), the Palkhis arrive from Pandharpur at Gopalpur for the Kala. The Wari concludes after this Kala. The Kartiki Wari also concludes with the Kala here on Kartik Purnima.

Gokulashtami, Ashadhi Ekadashi, and Kartiki Ekadashi are the main annual festivals celebrated here with great enthusiasm. During these times, lakhs of devotees from states like Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Madhya Pradesh, and Gujarat arrive to seek the Lord’s blessings and fulfill their vows. All festivals and celebrations throughout the year are observed here. There is a large crowd of devotees on every Ekadashi. Devotees can have Darshan daily from 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM. During festival periods, the temple remains open from 4:00 AM until late 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