deities and the divine
Who is Vithoba (Vitthal) and why is he central to the Varkari movement of Maharashtra?
Who Vithoba is
Vithoba stands at the centre of the great temple at Pandharpur on the banks of the Bhima river. He is understood as a form of Vishnu, or more closely as Krishna, though his exact identity has been understood in slightly different ways across the tradition. His image is striking and unusual. He stands upright on a brick, arms resting on his hips, eyes forward. He does not sit on a throne or hold weapons. He simply stands and waits.
The story behind the brick
The most well-known story explaining that posture involves a devotee named Pundalik. He was so devoted to caring for his elderly parents that when Vishnu himself came to visit, Pundalik was busy serving them. He tossed a brick for the god to stand on and asked him to wait. The god waited, and kept waiting. This story is central to the tradition. It says something about what Vithoba represents: a god who comes to the devotee, who is patient, and who values sincere love over ritual.
The Varkari movement and its poets
The Varkari tradition grew around Vithoba over many centuries. Varkari means one who makes the vari, the regular pilgrimage. Twice a year, on Ashadhi and Kartiki Ekadashi, hundreds of thousands of people walk to Pandharpur in long processions called dindis, singing abhangas, devotional songs in Marathi. The sant poets of Maharashtra gave this movement its voice. Dnyaneshwar, Namdev, Eknath, and Tukaram each wrote abhangas addressed to Vitthal. Their songs are still sung today on the road to Pandharpur and in homes across Maharashtra. What made their message powerful was its openness. They wrote in Marathi, not Sanskrit, so ordinary people could understand. They said that caste, learning, and wealth meant nothing before Vitthal. Farmers, weavers, and women were among the great sants.
Why people still walk
The Pandharpur pilgrimage is one of the largest in India and remains very much alive. For many Varkaris, the walk itself is the practice. The singing, the company of fellow pilgrims, and the act of moving toward Vitthal together are seen as a form of worship. People from across Maharashtra and beyond take part. The tradition has also spread among the Maharashtrian diaspora, where abhangas are sung in community gatherings far from Pandharpur. The appeal of Vithoba has always been his closeness. He is not distant or fearsome. He stands on a brick and waits.