The Rise of a Folk God: Vitthal of Pandharpur

by R.C. Dhere, Anne Feldhaus (Translator)

Vitthal, also called Vithoba, is the most popular Hindu god in the western Indian state of Maharashtra. He is also among the best-known gods outside India. His temple at Pandharpur attracts one of the largest and most elaborate annual pilgrimages in the world.

This book is the foremost study of the history of Vitthal, his worship, and his worshippers. First published in Marathi in 1984, it remains the most thorough and insightful work on Vitthal and his cult in any language, and provides an exemplary model for understanding the history and morphology of lived Hinduism.

Vitthal exemplifies the synthesis of Vaishnava and Shaiva elements that not only typifies Maharashtrian Hindu religious life but also marks Vitthal’s resemblance to another prominent South Indian god, Venkatesh of Tirupati in Andhra Pradesh.

Dhere's analysis highlights Vitthal’s connection with pastoralist hero cults, and demonstrates the god’s development from a god of shepherds to a god of the majority of the population. In addition, Dhere explores the connections of Vitthal with Buddhist and Jain traditions.

The book’s final chapter presents a culminating stage in the evolution of the worship of Vitthal: the interpretation in spiritual terms of the god, his temple, the town of Pandharpur, and the river that flows past the town.

Genres: Marathi

370 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2003

About the author

Ramchandra Chintaman Dhere has been writing since 1955. His subjects include Saint literature, Folk deities and gods, Bhakti cult, holy places, folk literature, folk culture, folk art are his areas of studies.

Many national-international scholars refer his books to understand the cultural tradition of Maharashtra. Lot of international scholars also often cite his work in various fora and on official research platforms.

He is honoured with the 'Maharashtra Gaurav' award by Maharashtra Government, Lifetime Achievement Award by Maharashtra Foundation, Sahitya Academy Award and various other awards

Reviews

[Rakesh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Vitthal is the god whose Temple is the destination of the Warkari pilgrims. The book discusses how Vitthal went from being a god for farmers who raised livestock to being the god of thousands upon thousands of pilgrims.

[Revanth Ukkalam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! What a fantastic journey! The book might read strange in English but the prose aside, the author knows his sources, places, and people well. Navigating in this ocean of stuff he seeks to find the origin of the cult of Vitthala or Panduranga. In doing that he squares in Venkateswara of Tirumala and look how far he goes - Tillai in Chidambaram even. Well, I do not want to spoil much: 'the subaltern', Vaishnavites, Shaivites, kings and castes, Buddhists and Jains all play their part in this story. The chapter on the Yadava dynasties was a bit fishy though (and gosh, the Hampi bit). This is an inspiring quest and I wish we could find more books like this on deities and cultures. If someone stumbles upon it, grab it!

[Kedar · Rating 5 out of 5]

पंढपूर येथील सुप्रसिद्ध विठ्ठल गोकुळातील श्रीकृष्णच असल्याचा विश्वास समग्र मराठी जनांत आहे आणि संतांनीही त्यांच्या वाङ्मयातून तसे व्यक्त केले आहे. मात्र तरीही विष्णूच्या पुराणप्रसिद्ध २४ अवतारांहूनही वेगळा, सहस्र नामांपासून वेगळा असल्याची जाणीव संतांनाही आहे. त्यामुळे या विठ्ठलाचे मूळ रूप काय आहे आणि त्यातून तो आजच्या उन्नत अवस्थेला कसा पोहोचला याचा शोध घेणे हा पुस्तकाचा उद्देश आहे.
पुस्तकाचा विषय गंभीर असला तरी भाषा मधुर आहे. तरीही वस्तुनिष्ठतेला कुठेही धक्का पोहोचलेला नाही. आपल्या श्रद्धांची आदिम पाळेमुळे पाहून ‘आपलीच ओळख आपल्याला’ अशी भावना ग्रंथ वाचून झाल्यावर रेंगाळते.

See my detailed review here.
http://misalpav.com/node/49152

[अनिकेत · Rating 4 out of 5]

Shree vitthal in a form of vishnu & a most loved deity in maharashtra has been a subject of curiosity & research, how this deity gained a tremendous popularity & attracted almost all poets/saints that there will be hardly any saint in maharashtra who has not written in praise of his deity. The form that has been worshipped is a vaishnava, however the history & research states that it belonged to shaiva sect, is it really belonging to lord shiva? For the answer one should read this exciting book.

[Shruti Barve]

Huge work! Respect for R.C.Dhere.