The Diligent Practice

Sri Adi Shankaracharya, 788-820 CE, presents a five straightforward suggestions on how to perform sadhana, or practices leading to the realization of Atman, the Self. Which is explaining step by step how the mind can be made free of thoughts and how one can reach the meditation status and achieve the goal. These five slokas contain the essence of all the Vedas and purana scriptures. All the five slokas have immense value and the depth as Veda puranas scriptures and reveals the spiritual strength. Study of these slokas with understanding the meaning is absolutely necessary for all ambitious of spiritual growth. Even more all these slokas are useful to attain the practical life's destination. The related story from Skanda Puranam in Nagara -Kandam.

Brahmarshi Vishvamitra (Vishvam - meaning is World - Mitra- meaning is friend so "friend of the world") is one of the 24 Rishis (Sages) Viswamitra's previously he was an efficient kshatriya King. His motivation was very strong he did severe penance and diligent practices on austerities so he became Brahma Rishi. The term was first used by Viswamitra and associated with a range of actions. There was a challenged incident occurred to Viswamitra

Once there was a Solar dynasty king which means Sri Rama's ancestor named Trisangu wished to gods realization with his mortal body; which is odd unusual universal rule. He approached to his ancestry Guru Vasista and told about his desire. Heard his wish guru told him that “O king having realization with the mortal body is not possible change your mind “ the king got so anxiously he went to the Guru's son there also he had the same experience , once again he went to Guru and appealed him again about his earnestly wishful and he urged his Guru to find a way to fulfill his wish. Vasista emerged with anger and cursed him to turn out to be a 'Chandala'. Without any other way the King crowned his son Harichanra and went to a forest. where he met Sage Viswamitra who took 

up the issue as a challenge; the Sage advised that Chandala king should first get rid of the form of a Chandala; hence the sage decided to take him to perform a Holy Pilgrimage. The both of them were set on visiting all holy theerthas and had dip, once they finished visiting all theerthas they met Markadeya according to his advise Viswamitra and the Chandala king had a dip in Pathala Ganga after they finished dip in the precious holy water to a surprise the Chandala became clear all his curse and enhanced as old king Satyavrutha. . The yagnas (rituals) began and with the ascetic powers of the sage, the former King Trishanku started rising to heaven. Upon his arrival in heaven, the Devas were afraid by this unnatural occurrence. Led by Indra, they refused to grant permission Trishanku to enter, and throw him out. Trishanku began falling back to earth. The furious Vishwamitra would not accept defeat at the hands of Indra. The sage used his powers and stopped Trishanku fall, causing the latter to be hold-up in mid-air upside-down manner.

Trishanku pleaded Vishwamitra for help and the sage once again used his powers, and created of a parallel heaven in a portion of the southern sky. As the new heaven was built, the sage raised Trishanku to it and restored him to his former state as a king of new heaven. Vishwamitra then began establishing Trishanku as the Indra of the new heaven that he had created. This alarmed the Devas who then appeared in front of the sage and tried to console him and withdraw him from his act. They explained to Vishwamithra, their actions and they wished to prevent the unnatural act of someone with a mortal body entering the heaven.

Vishwamitra was gradually convinced but now he faced the complication of having to break his promise to the king Trishanku about sending him to heaven. Vishwamitra reached a compromise with the Devas to let the King populate the new heaven that was created for him. The new heaven is called Trishanku heaven and from now on the king should reside in this heaven. Indra should not replace or command of ruling on the king's own heaven. Yet he ensured that, the king will reside upside down in his heaven.

Message:-

Viswamitra's severe, diligent practice and repeated efforts led to his achievement-related to something difficult and hard task. Non stop practice lead to win. Desires, interests of driven force behind all the humans actions. However a man's needs and desires both should have a strong resolution in his mind to reach of destination. To achieve that point one has to have diligent practice. The diligent practice is based on ones motivation, training, self interests and enthusiasm; all these are like inter links. ones interests is differs and which may different forms like adventures, constitutional, physiological, and spiritual achievement etc; whatever it may be the interests and motivation should be strong on particular field and diligent practices only will lead to achieve related the boundary. However one should not have any negative forms of motivation and short-cuts they will never and ever to reach the goal. Diligent practice is definite need for success of the attainment or gods realization. This is what Sri Acharya Swamy emphasizing in 'Sadhana Panchagam'.

Astronomers View:-

The astronomers finding the 'Trisangu Swarga' in the sky is identified with the constellation Centaurus; and Trishanku is probably Alpha-Centauri or Rigel Kent, a triple star system in this constellation. The other star in this triplet is the Proximal-Centauri, (explanation is ,a faint red dwarf star associated with the bright binary star Alpha Centauri. It is the closest known star to the solar system (distance 4.24 light years). the closest star to Earth next to the Sun.

“Sage Viswamitra is honored as the earliest Indian astronomer . He is credited with for cataloguing the Stars visible in the Southern sky. Viswamitra is also identified another prominent constellation in the southern sky.”

“Interestingly, the next set of nearest stars to Earth after the Proximal-Centaur, (Sirius etc.) are at least twice the distance of Proximal-Centauri this observation allows an interpretation that trisanku or Alpha-Centaur triplet is ‘midway’ to Earth and the ‘rest of the skies’, a literal meaning for ‘Trisanku Swarga‘ to be hung in the middle.  Because it is possible to know from naked eye-sightings (without telescopes etc.) to decipher which star is closer to Earth, as a reasonable guess. Viswamitra, the astronomer, could have done it.”

Sadhana Panchagam Translation:-
1) Study the Vedas daily. Perform diligently the duties (karmas) ordained by them. Dedicate all those actions (karmas) as worship unto the Lord. Renounce all desires in the mind. Wash away the hoards of sins in the bosom.Recognise that the pleasures of sense-objects (samsar) are riddled with pain. Seek the Self with consistent endeavor. Escape from the bondage of ‘home’.

2) Seek companionship with Men of Wisdom. Be established in firm devotion to the Lord. Cultivate the virtues such as Shanti  etc., Eschew all desire-ridden actions. Take shelter at a Perfect Master (Sat-Guru). Everyday serve His Lotus feet. Worship “Om” the Immutable. Listen in depth, the Upanishads declarations.

3) Reflect ever upon the meaning of the Upanishads commandments, and take refuge in the Truth of Brahman. Avoid perverse arguments but follow the discriminating rationale of the Shruti (Upanishads). Always be absorbed in the attitude (bhava) – “I am Brahman "renounce pride. Give up the illusory misconception – “I am the body”.Give up totally the tendency to argue with wise men.

4) In hunger diseases get treated. Daily take the medicine of Bhiksha-food. Beg no delicious food. Live contentedly upon whatever comes to your lot as ordained by Him. Endure all the pairs of opposites: heat and cold, and the like. Avoid wasteful talks. Be indifferent. Save yourself from the meshes of other peoples’ kindness.

5) In solitude live joyously. Quieten your mind in the Supreme Lord. Realize and see the All-pervading Self every where. Recognize that the finite Universe is a projection of the Self. Conquer the effects of the deeds done in earlier lives by the present right action. Through wisdom become detached from future actions (Agami).Experience and exhaust “Prarabdha” the fruits of past actions. Thereafter, live absorbed in the bhav - “I am Brahman” ! ( Translated by Charles Johnston)

The slokam

vedo nitya­mad­hīy­atāṁ tadu­di­taṁ karma svanuṣṭhīy­atāṁ
 teneśasya vid­hīy­atāma­pac­i­tiḥ kāmye matistya­jy­atām |
pāpaughaḥ parid­hūy­atāṁ bhava­sukhe dośo’nusandhīyatāṁ
 ātmec­chā vyavasīy­atāṁ nijagṛhāt­tūrṇaṁ vinirgamy­atām ||1||

saṅ­gaḥ satsu vid­hīy­atāṁ bha­ga­vato bhaktirdṛḍhā”dhīyatāṁ
 śān­tyādiḥ par­icīy­atāṁ dṛḍhataraṁ kar­māśu santya­jy­atām |
sad­vid­vānu­pasṛpy­atāṁ pra­tid­i­naṁ tat­pā­dukā sevy­atāṁ
 brah­maikākṣara­marthy­atāṁ śru­tiśirovākyaṁ samākarṇy­atām ||2||

vākyārthaśca vicāry­atāṁ śru­tiśi­raḥ pakṣaḥ samāśrīy­atāṁ
  dus­tarkāt­su­vi­ramy­atāṁ śrutimatastarko’nusandhīyatām |
brah­mās­mīti vib­hāvy­atāma­hara­har­gar­vaḥ par­itya­jy­atāṁ
  dehe’haṁmatirujhyatāṁ bud­ha­janairvā­daḥ par­itya­jy­atām ||3||

kṣud­vyād­hiśca cik­it­sy­atāṁ pra­tid­i­naṁ bhikṣauṣad­haṁ bhu­jy­atāṁ
  svād­van­naṁ na tu yācy­atāṁ vid­hivaśāt­prāptena san­tuṣy­atām |
śītoṣṇādi viṣahy­atāṁ na tu vṛthā vākyaṁ samuc­cāry­atāṁ
  audāsīnyam­ab­hīp­sy­atāṁ janakṛpā­naiṣṭhurya­mut­sṛjy­atām ||4||

ekānte sukhamāsy­atāṁ paratare cetaḥ samād­hīy­atāṁ
  pūrṇātmā susamīkṣy­atāṁ jaga­di­daṁ tad­vād­hi­taṁ dṛśy­atām |
prākkarma prav­ilāpy­atāṁ citibalān­nāpyut­taraiḥ śliṣy­atāṁ
  prārab­d­haṁ tviha bhu­jy­atā­matha parabrah­māt­manā sthīy­atām ||5||

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The Art of Hospitality

The Yajur Veda, is confirming the remarkable reverence for a guest equal to mother,father, and teacher, . The Sanskrit word for guest is Atithi. Atithi Devo Bhava regards a procedure of the host-guest relationship. Taittiriya Upanishad, Shikshavalli I.20 says: matrudevo bhava, pitrudevo bhava, acharyadevo bhava, atithidevo bhava. It literally means "be one for whom the Mother is God, be one for whom the Father is God, be one for whom the Teacher is God, be one for whom the guest is God." matrudevah, pitrudevah, acharyadevah, atithidevah are one word each, and each one is a Bahuvrihi samasta-pada. (Meaning : Bahuvrhi - beware, samastha- whole, pada -foot-step or verse or line ). Tithi in Sanskrit denotes a calendric date. In ancient times, the communication were limited hence it was not possible for guests to expect their date of arrival, Atithi which literally means "without a fixed calendric time" the visiting person who had no fixed date of arrival or departure.

The ancient Tamil scripture, Thirukkural, says, மோப்பக் குழையும் அனிச்சம் முகந்திரிந்து நோக்கக் குழையும் விருந்து. meaning is the Anicham flower fades in smelling, so the host should invite gusts with the smiling face other wise the guest will be offended.இருந்தோம்பி இல்வாழ்வ தெல்லாம் விருந்தோம்பி வேளாண்மை செய்தற் பொருட்டு. meaning is "The whole purpose of earning wealth and maintaining a home is to provide hospitality to guests.

All our ancient puranas also emphasizing about the hospitality to the guests. Here is a related story from 'Markandeya Puranam'.

There was a mountain called Brahmagiri, there was a cruel hunter living in the mountaintop. He was killing sages and saints other than his usual trait of killing birds and animals. Once he hunted immense of birds and animals and collect all things put them in his cages. he spent long time in the forest and also it became night and also started to rain, the hunter lost his way. Thinking all he climbed on a tree and decided to stay that night. yet his mind and thought on his wife and children at home. In the mean time there was a pigeon family living happily in the same treetop. Both of the pigeon-parents went to their pray. The father pigeon returned to the nest but the mother pigeon was missing, so the father was worrying about his wife. At that time he heard a feeble-voiced female bird and searched all over the tree. The female said that I am in the cage of the hunter. The father pigeon look at him so he said to his wife “ see this hunter is sleeping so I just relive you from the cage” the female said that “No don't do that , we living beings should respect to our guest now he is our guest so treating him and giving hospitality is our duty so I be his food so you look after other things”. Male pigeon said that “Yes darling you are right I forgot my sense of righteous way we serve our guest so we both give our lives to him that is our hospitality to our guest.” the rain is stopped so bring some dry leaves and light them up so we immolate in the fire ourselves and he can take our bodies as his food. The male did as the female said the both of them immolated in the fire. The hunter heard the entire conversation and wondered about pigeons selfless action and he saw that there were a sky-mount arrived for the birds to carry them to kailash . He saw the all amazement scenes and asked the two birds “ Mahatma “how I prevent all my sins,? And what kind of penance I should do please tell me the way. The birds said no need to do any penance "Go to Goutami, Ganga and take a dip continuously for fifteen days," your sins will be vanished” The hunter did as the birds advise. The place where the pigeons immolated themselves became a holy tirtham known as kapota-tirtha, the word kapota means pigeon. (For information Kapota-theerthas is under river Godavari. Another Teertha is called Kapothaka-theertha is under the river Sabarmati and the third one is called Kapoteeswara-theertha which is under Sri parvatham these all associated with the bird pigeon 

Message:-

Based on a casual scrutiny of cordial reception from the historical date for centuries' with in the two types of society between the wealthy and poor; the wealthy who entertained lavishly to their own status but the poor people could celebrate as their best within their own family structures and they only have wide developing the art of hospitality.

                                                        

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The Spiritual Sight

India is a land of spiritual traditions and produced immense of sages, and saints. Their huge number of hymns and songs compositions with vast meaning and deep observances even today people are following and also all the songs are very familiar to the world.

Saint Surdas is among one of them. The saint was a poet and musician. His famous of devotional songs dedicated to Lord Krishna. Saint Surtas had spiritual sight but he cannot see the material world. He lived in 15th century. It is said Saint has composed a hundred thousand songs including his magnum composition the 'Sur Sagar' (Ocean of Melody), out of which only about 8,000 are surviving. he is considered a virtues (saguna bhakti) devotee and poet. The name Surdas literally meaning is the "servant of melody". His most famous work was charan Kamal bando hari rai. All his compositions are in Hindi Language.

Surdas is a important personality in Indian history. However his life history is unknown. He is a great legendary saint. Although some authentic life history of Surdas, it is said that he was born in 1478/79 in the village of Runakta,Mathura. Surdas was born blind so he was abandoned by his family; he left his home at the age of six. He lived in Bhraj near Mathura. Surdas developed Sri Krishna Bhakthi and composed jaunty rhythm and fine melody poetic music with deep devotion on Sri Krishna attracted much in praise. He became famous and his fame spread country wide.

The philosophy of Surdas' work is a reflection of the times. He was very much immersed in the Bhakti movement that was sweeping India. His spiritual empowered movement was very strong with massive groups. There was an incident which is said once Surdas fall in the well and he called Sri Krishna for his protection, Sri Krishna rescued him safely and brought him out of the well.

Saint Surdas’s greatest work the Sur Sagar and also he composed Sur-Saravali (which is based on the theory of origin and the festival of Holi), and Sahitya-Lahiri, devotional lyrics dedicated to the Supreme Absolute. In some other occasion Surtas composition about Sri Krishna Leela it is said that he was so pleading to Sri Krishna for his blessings so he could see personally and composed; it is lifted height the literary value of the Hindi language, and which is translated in many Indian languages.

Another legendary account says that Once he was singing devotedly With concern on Sri Krishna “O Mere sham this unlucky blind not able to see you” Sri Krishna showing his Dharshan and said “O Surdas I bestowed vision see me” soon he heard the Lord's voice raise his head and saw the Lord Sri Krishna as his descriptions in all his compositions he overwhelmed had his darshan from head to toe again and again many times did pradhakshanam many times and said “O prabo no one is describable in this world about your merciful nature, you bestowed me a vision to see you, Yes I have fulfilled of your darshan I drank completely and satisfied, after I had your sampoorna dharshan I do not wish to see anything more please take back the vision” God said that “O Surdas you perambulated me which is equal to have perambulate the earth many time, live more as your wish saying The Spiritual Sight

India is a land of spiritual traditions and produced immense of sages, and saints. Their huge number of hymns and songs compositions with vast meaning and deep observances even today people are following and also all the songs are very familiar to the world.

Saint Surdas is among one of them. The saint was a poet and musician. His famous of devotional songs dedicated to Lord Krishna. Saint Surtas had spiritual sight but he cannot see the material world. He lived in 15th century. It is said Saint has composed a hundred thousand songs including his magnum composition the 'Sur Sagar' (Ocean of Melody), out of which only about 8,000 are surviving. he is considered a virtues (saguna bhakti) devotee and poet. The name Surdas literally meaning is the "servant of melody". His most famous work was Charan Kamal bando hari rai. All his compositions are in Hindi Language.

Surdas is a important personality in Indian history. However his life history is unknown. He is a great legendary saint. Although some authentic life history of Surdas, it is said that he was born in 1478/79 in the village of Runakta,Mathura. Surdas was born blind so he was abandoned by his family; he left his home at the age of six. He lived in Bhraj near Mathura. Surdas developed Sri Krishna Bhakthi and composed jaunty rhythm and fine melody poetic music with deep devotion on Sri Krishna attracted much in praise. He became famous and his fame spread country wide.

The philosophy of Surdas' work is a reflection of the times. He was very much immersed in the Bhakti movement that was sweeping India. His spiritual empowered movement was very strong with massive groups. There was an incident which is said once Surdas fall in the well and he called Sri Krishna for his protection, Sri Krishna rescued him safely and brought him out of the well.

Saint Surdas’s greatest work the Sur Sagar and also he composed Sur-Saravali (which is based on the theory of origin and the festival of Holi), and Sahitya-Lahiri, devotional lyrics dedicated to the Supreme Absolute. In some other occasion Surtas composition about Sri Krishna Leela it is said that he was so pleading to Sri Krishna for his blessings so he could see personally and composed; it is lifted height the literary value of the Hindi language, and which is translated in many Indian languages.

Another legendary account says that Once he was singing devotedly With concern on Sri Krishna “O Mere sham this unlucky blind not able to see you” Sri Krishna showing his Dharshan and said “O Surdas I bestowed vision see me” soon he heard the Lord's voice raise his head and saw the Lord Sri Krishna as his descriptions in all his compositions he overwhelmed had his darshan from head to toe again and again many times did pradhakshanam many times and said “O prabo no one is describable in this world about your merciful nature, you bestowed me a vision to see you, Yes I have fulfilled of your darshan I drank completely and satisfied, after I had your sampoorna dharshan I do not wish to see anything more please take back the vision” God said that “O Surdas you perambulated me which is equal to have perambulate the earth many time, live more as your wish saying this he disappeared. Surdas lived some more years and composed 'Sahitya-Lahari' on Lord. His religious tutelage was under the great sage Vallabhacharya. He learnt all the great philosophies from him. After his training he followed the life that was typical religious man. He led pure bachelor life and lived on charity donations that were given as he sung bhajans and lectured on religious subjects and attained god realization in CE 1584

Message:-

Indian land produced many saints from Purandara dasa to till then Surdas is one of the men of virtues saint; he did not have the physical sight but he had the pure and spiritual sight. This saint's parents neglected because he was sightless but almighty of Lord loved and compassionately cuddled him, Lord given him nice and virtues knowledge so he showered his compositions like heavy rain fall. It is said when he sing songs Lord Sri Krishna sit close to him listened his great compositions. Saint Surdas life is a commemoration to all mankind.

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The Cave Temples

The Badami cave temples are composed of four caves all carved out of the soft Badami sandstone on a hill ledge in the late 6th to 7th centuries. The planning of four the entrance is called mukha mandapam with stone pillars having a special quality of attraction. These caves are leading to a pillared corridors to take towards a main huge hall and it leads to a small squarely shaped a sanctum, which  is located in deep into the cave. The Cave temples are connected by stepped path with midway terraces that offer awesome views across the town and lake. This is a very suitable place to panoramic shots.

The cave temples are dated it is said that back to 600 and 700 CE. The architecture structures built in Nagara style, and constructed pallava Dravidian Elegance. However it is developed in northern India in 5th-6th Centuries. It is said this cave temples are one of the wonders of India.

Entrance to Cave 1portrays Lord Nataraja.  Nataraja  has 18 arms holding trident, axe serpent drum fire etc. as a beautiful dance postures. Lord Siva has Vinayagar and Nandi by his side. They are in beautiful carvings. Lord Siva, Vinayaka, and Muruga are riding on a peacock is a best sculpture on the walls of the adjoining to Nataraja; devi Mahishasura Mardhini too  carved close to Siva.

The entrance corridor is with four pillars are very beautifully sculpted with incredible images of Lord Siva in different dancing positions with goddesses Parvati.   Also one can see carved sculptures of Harihara holding an axe and a serpent in his hand and Ardhanarishvara sculpted on the end of the walls. All the carved sculptures have beautifully ornamented, apart from deities’ animals, birds also can be seen. There is also an image of the Vidyadhara couple on the ceiling, is a beautiful. Swords and the coiling serpent are also carved on the walls. There are sections in the cave which are orthogonally designed and decorated with jewelry and garlands.  There is a division in the back side of the cave and it leads to a formation of a sanctuary carvings.  

Cave 2 is formed in late 6th century AD its layout and dimensions are consecrated to Vishnu who is shown here as Trivikrama. Varaha and Krishna sculptures also can be seen.  .

This cave flights 64 steps from the first cave. The entrance of the cave has dwarapalakas holding flowers. The outer verandah walls the both the sides till end engaged completely sculpted panels. The pilasters hold the deva-asura battle scenes, the churning of milky ocean, Gajalakshmi, Brahma, Vishnu’s reclining on AdiShesha, and also explains about Krishna’s birth, his youth with gopis,  and cows. The ceiling shows a wheel with sixteen fish rods in a square frame along with swastikas and Gandarvas. The end inlets have a flying couple and Vishnu on Garuda. This cave is dedicated for Lord Vishnu. Trivikrama, Shankaranarayana, Anantasayana, Paravasudeva, Bhuvaraha, Harihara and Narasimha are the best and gigantic figures are making a splendid appearance, and all these statues are engraved in a robust style. Another record full creation is the Chalukya King Mangalesha in 578 CE was on throne from 597 to 609 AD. This ancient cave temple is projected to give assurance with the inscriptions on the rock in this cave.

Cave 3 is 60 steps away from the cave 2. The temple with its gigantic frontage of 21 m wide is bejeweled of six heavy pillars row is installed. Below the columns there is a decoration of smaller batches about thirty numbers is placed. This cave has awesome accompaniments are covered in the entire cave, including paintings on ceiling. Brahma is the focal point of the murals. This is an art lovers point.

Cave 4 is for Jain, which was the last construction among all the other caves. It occupies only jain monument of early chalukya period in Badami town in late 6th-7th century. It is a beautiful and rich ornamented.  It is located higher than other caves. It has five entrances with square pilasters which is giving more attractive at the base. The end of walls have Bhadavan Parshvanath embodied metal covered head  with  cobra hoods with his lower legs surrounded by snakes. His two sisters Brahmi and sundari are also with him.

A steep steps climb up one can see some a cleft between Cave 2 and 3 leads to the southern part of Badami Fort which was Tippu sultan’s   warehouse.

This cave complex of temples located at Badami, a town in the Bagalkot District in the north part of Karnataka. They are considered an example of Indian rock-cut architecture, especially Badami  Chalukya Architecture. This was capital of the Early Chalukyas, who ruled  Karnataka from middle of 6th till the middle of 8th centuries is situated on the west bank of artificial lake filed with greenish water, dammed by an earthen wall facing with stone steps. Badami is surrounded in the north and south by forts built in later times. Badami caves are located on hill top flight about 2000 steps. This is right opposite of Badami fort.  Visit and have a pleasant time. 

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Panduranga

Pandharpuram is one of the most prominent pilgrimage places in Maharashtra. It is located on the banks of the Bhīma River, also called river Chandrabhaga because it is half-moon shaped river. The city is named after a great devotee Pundalik, who achieved self-realization in padharpuram.

The worship of Vitthala in the Pandharpuram temple is based mainly on the contents of the puranas and the contributions of the Vaishnav saints of Maharashtra and Karnataka during the 13th through the 17th centuries.

The name of saints are Dnyaneshwar, Namadever, Gora Kumbhar, Janubai Chokhamela, Eknath, Tukaram, Purandara Dasa, Vijaya Dasa, Gopala Dasa, and Jagannatha Dasa.

The Pandharpuram temple covers a large area and has six gates. The eastern gate is known as the "Namadever Gate."

Pandharpuram throng pilgrimages of devotees in four seasons. They are the month of Ashada (June–July) this time the largest number of pilgrims—around 500,000 to 700,000 people. The months of Kartheega  (October–November), Magha  (January–February) and Sravana  (July–August) attract the second, third and fourth largest numbers of pilgrims respectively.

The legend says the most important explanation and how Vitoba came to Pandharpuram. Pundalik is a devoted son to his parents Janudev and Satyavati, who lived in a forest called Dandirvanam. But after his wedding, Pundalik begins ill-treating his parents. Vexed   with their son’s misbehavior and ill treatment, the elderly   couple   decides to leave for Kasi.  Upon hearing his parents' plans, Pundalik and his wife decide to join them on pilgrimage. The ill treatment continues. While the youthful son and his wife rode on horseback, the weak old couple walked in bad weather. Pundalik to be made his old parents to work for his own journey comfortable. On the way to Kasi, they reached a hermitage of a pious and revered sage, Kukkutswami.  The family was too tired so decided to spend a few days in the hermitage. That night, when all were asleep, Pundalik by chance awoke and saw a remarkable vision. There were a group of beautiful young women to  looks ugly  dressed up in muddy and stained clothes , enter the ashram; they clean the floor, fetch water and wash the sage’s clothes. After finishing their responsibilities, they go to the prayer-room. After prayer they appeared beautiful and their clothes ware spotlessly clean. Then, they vanished.  Pundalik with amazement was stunned.  It remains on his mind the whole day and he resolves to remain awoke the next night, and confirmed it was not a dream. Pundalik curiously approached the beautiful women and asked the facts. They reply that they are the Ganga (Ganges), Yamuna and Saraswathi the holy rivers revered for their holiness. Pilgrims wish to take a dip in their holy waters to wash away their sins, which in fact are soiling their clothes and become ugly. Then, the women said  " O Pundalik, you, with your ill-treatment of your parents, you are the greatest sinner of all, you don’t come near”. Heard this Pundalik is utterly shocked and his consciousness transforms. He realized his misdeeds, became entirely devotee to his parents and ensures their comfort. Devotion in any 

form reaches to God quickly. Impressed by Pundalik's devotion to his parents, Lord Vishnu thought to bless Pundalik immediately. So, He left Vaikuntham (His abode) and entered for Pundalik’s ashram and Vishnu knocked at Pundalik’s hermitage door, when he is busy serving food to  his parents so he does not  realize God is at his door however  he wished to complete his duties and only then attend the visitor, saying that Pundalik gave the Lord a brick to stand on and asked Lord to wait until his duty is  completed. The Lord was so pleased with his devotion that the Lord waited placing his hands on his hip    for him. When Pundalik came out, he asked God's forgiveness for neglecting Him, but the Lord happily told him to ask a boon and it would be fulfilled. What more could a devotee ask when his Lord was standing right in front of him? Pundalik asked that He should remain here as you waited  and bless all his devotees. His wish was granted and the Lord remained behind and is known as Vithoba or the Lord who stands on a brick. This form of the Lord is Swayambhu which means self existence. He is accompanied by His consort Rakhumai or Rukmini and bestowing to his devotees 

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