When Deccan was not highly populated there formed a forest along the banks of River Bhima called Dandirvan. The forest took the name from a demon called Dandir who is supposed to have lived here once. In the middle of this forest was village called Pandharpur and it stood in the banks of the River Bhima where it took a curve called Chandrabhaga. This particular spot was a sacred spot because it is believed that the Moon God had taken bath in particular spot. Moon God took bath because he wanted to get rid of the black marks which Gautama had imprinted on his face for helping Lord Indra while he was carrying of Ahalya.
In Pandharpur there lived a Brahman called Janudeva and he lived with his wife Satyavati. They had a son called Pundalik and he was a sweet little boy who was obedient to his parent till the age of 16. Pundalik got married to Janudeva when he was 16 and she was the daughter of one their neighbour’s. The marriage turned out to be a curse for Janudev and Satyavati because Pundalik under the wife’s influence started ill-treating them. Pundalik forced the old couple to work hard and they were forced to grind corn, sweep and clean the floors, wash clothes and fetch water. Pundalik and wife did not do any work and spend the day idling in the house when the parents worked hard.
Once a group of pilgrims who were on the way to Benares passed through Pandharpur and Janudeva and Satyavati decided to join them to their trip to Benares. Pundalik hearing this also joined the pilgrims along with his wife but they hired horses and overtook the pilgrims who were on their foot. Every evening Pundalik and his wife stopped in some place and made the old parents groom their horses and attend to them before they went off to sleep. Janudeva and Satyavati realised that they have taken a wrong step by going for the pilgrimage because it was nothing better than what was happening at home.
One night the pilgrims could not reach the appointed place before darkness and had to stay with a sage called Kukutswami. The sage was staying in a hermitage which was in the woods away from the main road. Kukutswami was happy to welcome the pilgrims and provided place to sleep. As all of them were tired they all went off to sleep very fast except Pundalik who was tossing on his bed. Pundalik suddenly saw some beautiful women in soiled clothes entering the room. The women were busy doing work like sweeping and cleaning the room, fetching water and some of them were washing Kukutaswami’s clothes. The whole activity was done so silently that none of pilgrims even woke up. After finishing their work the women went inside the sage’s room and came back immediately but when they came back their clothes were clean and white.
The women vanished into darkness and next morning when the pilgrims woke up Kukutaswami insisted that they stay back in his hut for one more night. The pilgrims were so happy and they accepted Kukutaswami’s offer as the hermitage was situated in a cool and beautiful place. The next day again the pilgrims went off to sleep soon and Pundalik was lying sleepless and the activities of the previous night of the women coming into hermitage were repeated. The women came in soiled clothes and finished their work and were going back and Pundalik suddenly fell on the feet and asked them who they were. The tallest and fairest of the women replied that she was Ganga and rest of the other were Krishna, Yamuna, Godavari, Bhima and other sacred rivers in which the pilgrims wash their sins off. She said that the stains of their wickedness make their clothes soiled. She said that by working for doing homage to Kukutaswami their clothes lose the stains and become white as before.
The beautiful Ganga then continued and said that there is nothing as wicked as ingratitude of a son to his parents. There is nothing equal to wickedness he is doing to his parents. Pundalik realised the mistakes he has been doing to beloved parents and these words threw light on him. Pundalik’s heart changed before the Ganga and her companions disappeared into darkness and he became the most devoted son overnight. Pundalik waited for the night to end and when his parents woke up he prostrated on their feet and asked for forgiveness. Janudeva and Satyavati were so surprised and happy to see the sudden change in their son. Pundalik begged and somehow managed to persuade his parents to go back to Pandharpur. Pundalik and his wife walked back to Pandharpur and Janudeva and Satyavati were travelling back on the horses which Pundalik and his wife were using. After reaching Pandharpur, Janudeva and Satyavati were better served than before by Pundalik and his wife.
Once, Lord Krishna came in disguise as a king to Pundalik’s house. Pundalik was attending to his parents and even the news of the arrival of king did not distract him from his duty. He did not lose concentration is what he was doing but still threw a brick for the visitor to stand upon. The king understood the heart of Pundalik and was so happy to find someone who was honouring his parents. Pundalik after finishing off his duty went outside and prostrated in front Krishna who was standing on the brick thrown by Pundalik. Krishna blessed and told that he will be worshipped in the name Vithoba or him who stood on a brick and Pundalik listened to God and built a temple where the images of Krishna and Rukmani dwelt side by side is worshipped even today.
