||VARI||
VARI means regular visiting of
particular (religious) place. Vari of Pandharpur means to walk from one’s own house to
Pandharpur for Lord and return back to house. The person who goes on this type of vari
pilgrimage of pilgrim Pandharpur is called a Varkari (the follower of the pilgrimage).
The Varkari goes on this vari for several times in a year Varkari follows particular
spiritual and moral code of conduct which is way of a life for him.
He remains satisfied in whatever life condition he is in believing that the
Lord has chosen that for him. He keeps his low level of consumption
believing that Lord is taking care of him. He rather looks after others
who are really needy in terms of food, shelter, thirst and cloths believing
that he is serving Lord’s purpose. Any woman around is treated as a mother of his own,
no hatred of any living being is carried because he believes that all are the different
forms of the one Lord only. Varkari always follows the erudite and spiritual companion
of saints so that he can get guidance of peaceful life; he also follows the regular
recitation of Shrimadbhagavdagita for spiritual progression. He always remembers
the Lord during all his activities and follows a disciplined family life so that
he can achieve spiritual emancipation. In addition to this he remains a lifetime
devotee of Lord Vitthal. This is how the life of any Varkari is defined.
अनेक
The conglomeration of many Varkari is conventionally called Dindi.
They make group to go on Vari in which they enjoy music and dance to express
the feeling of devotion to Lord Vitthal.
In the Marathi month of Ashadh shukla ekadashi many such Dindis come from almost every village,
town and city of the Maharashtra to Pandharpur to visit the Lord Pandurang and express their
devotion to him. Dindis strictly follow the pattern of walking only to come to meet
the Lord in Pandharpur that is why they take fifteen to twenty days to reach in Pandharpur.
It becomes a kind of spiritual celebration all over Maharashtra.
This tradition of Vari and Dindi is quite old.
Father of Saint Dnyaneshvar used to go on Vari pilgrimage.
In ancient time public transport system was not available,
so groups of people used to go to Pandharpur by walking.
However, a proper disciplining of Vari pilgrimage was brought about by Haibatbaba Araphalkar,
a knight of Shinde dynasty of Gwalior.
He started the tradition of taking the paduka (sleepers) of Saint Dnyaneshvar to
Pandharpur along with Dindi. Saint Tukaram was also a Varkari.
His son is known to have started the tradition of taking paduka of
Saint Dnyaneshwar and Tukaram to Pandharpur in Dindi around AD 1685.
These are two major traditions of Vari and Dindi.
मुMain four Seasons of pilgrimage (vari)
1)
1) Chaitri Yatra
1) Chaitra is the first month of Hindu calendar.
Chaitra shudha ekadashi (eleventh day in month) is called as kamda ekadashi.
On this day the first pilgrimage in the year is held at Pandharpur.
Many varkari devotees gather in Pandharpur to take darshan of Lord Vitthal.
2) Ashadhi Yatra
;
2) another season of pilgrimage is widely known as Ashadhi Ekadashi.
This pilgrimage is of supreme importance for devotees. On this time biggest numbers
of varkari gather in Pandharpur. This ekadhashi is known as Devashayani Ekadashi.
It is believed that the Lord Vitthal starts His sleep from this day.
The holy period of Chaturmas begins from this day.
During this period devotees spend as much time as possiable in worshipping Lord Vitthal. 2) There is verse in marathi.
"Ashadhi kartiki visaru naka maja / sangatase guja pandurang ॥ "
2) During the period of Aashadhi and Kartiki the temple remains open to all devotees for twenty four hours of the day.
The Dindi of Saint Dnyaneshvar and Saint Tukarm along with thousands of other Dindis come to Pandharpur
followed by millions of devotees. All Dindis from all over Maharashtra come together in Santanagar in Village Vakhari.
All these Dindis meet each other on the day of Ashadh Shudha Dashami, in the evening of the same day
all devotees and their respective Dindis slowly moves towards Pandharpur. After reaching there they
take holy bath in river Chandrabhaga and finish the Pradakshina(a holy peripheral walk of town Pandharpur).
;
2) ‘Pundalika varda harivitthal’ and jaya jaya ramkrishna hari’
reverberate all over Pandharpur. In the afternoon of the Ekadashi the procession of
idols of the Lord Vitthal and Rukmini with Shri Radharani starts in a specially designed
chariot. This procession goes by the rout of pradakshina marg, this entire celebration
comes to an end on the day of Ashad Shudh Paurnima (full moon day) which is also known
as Gopalkala. There is a place known as Gopalpura in
Pandharpur where all Dindis come together once again and distributed among all attendees.
3) Kartiki Ytra
;
3) Kartik Yatra is celebrated on Shudha Ekadhashi of month Kartik.
It is believed Lord Vitthal gets up from His sleep on this day. As a part of the celebration
there are Kirtan and Bhajan all the places on the shores of the river Chandrabhaga.
Devotees crowd there on previous day and stay awake whole night.
Again the pilgrimages disburse after Gopalkala at Gopalpur on the day of fulmoonlight (Purnima).
4) Maghi Yatra
;
4)This Yatra is held in Shudh Ekadashi of month of Magh.
This Ekashashi is known as Jaya Ekadashi. Entire atmosphere of the
Pandharpur Dissolved into devotional mood on this day also like other days.
