Why is the deity at Pandharpur who presides the Ashadhi Ekadashi so very popular? Look at the favourite monikers of Lord Vitthala. He is Vithoba for many, but for most, he is Vithu Mauli. Both these nomenclatures indicate an intimacy, a close bond. Mostly, the relationship devotees share with him is familial. He is the mother or the father figure. He is the brother, he is the best friend. The abhanga's often depict him as a family man.
I suppose that is because he is kindness and helpfulness personified. He is indeed very helpful. He does not mind performing the lowest of the low tasks to help out his devotees. He stands by them. Miracles associated with him show this 'common touch'. He is of/from the soil. Despite being the Lord, he has no hassles helping out with the meanest task of the lowest, the socially rejected. No dualities, no distinctions due to age/gender/class or creed/caste matter to him!
His abode is simple, too. Neither is it exotic nor distant. He makes a small town his hometown, and thus makes it the greatest place in the universe. Look at even the flowers he loves. It is the simple, abundant herb, the 'tulshi', the basil plant leaves, which are full of medicinal value, moreover.
Like Devi Saraswati, he, too, carries no weapon. Instead, to slay the worries, the woes, the griefs of the devotees, he advocates the simple, easy 'namsmaran'/remembrance, the 'bhakti'/devotion as the means.
Look at his gestures. He shows through his very posture that the depressing worldly worries can just reach waist wise, and not above/beyond! The other idol/ideal symbols show how he can respect his devotee hugely, be it Bhakt Pundalik or Bhrugu Rishi. In fact, the idol shows a togetherness of the Shaivaite and the Vaishnav traditions as well
Many more are such symbolisms associated with the Lord. What i like the most is the great Bhakti literature associated with him. Sant Dnyaneshwar's devotional literature, for example, is great philosophy, superb theism, and so on. In addition, it is sheer wondrous poetry! I can thus go on and on and on. The only point I would like to conclude with is the fact that he is very human, and hence wholly humane. No wonder, millions abide by him as well so much so that every year they are ready to walk some two hundred miles, whatever and however may be the difficulties which they do not even realize! Forever is thus created sweet memory!
Pratima@ Of/for/by the people is the great symbolism associated with the Lord at Pandharpur, Vithoba, the Vithu mauli!
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