A Piece of the Moon

Pandharipur is situated on the banks of the Bhima river. The Bhima is also called the Bhivara. Nearing Pandharipur, the Bhima takes a crescent shaped turn. Hence this stretch of the river that washes the shores of Pandharipur is known as "Chandrabhaga" or "a Piece of the moon." Another story is that The Moon God (Chandra) bathed here to shake off a curse thus giving this piece of the river the name "Chandrabhaga." As in most of Hindu mythology and lore, there is no certainty in anything except in the belief that a bathe in the Chandrabhaga will wash away all one's sins.

The temple of the great devotee Pundalik stands in the midst of the Chandrabhaga River. Pundalik was the Emperor Muchkund in his earlier birth. By the blessings of Lord Sri Krishna, he was born again as the great devotee Pundalik. Lord Sree Krishna came to Pundalik's house near Pandharipur. Pundalik was serving his parents and therefore requested the Lord to wait! He placed a stone brick for Sree Krishna to stand on while waiting! And there the Lord stands to this day waiting for his devotees; to embrace them in his all-encompassing love; hands on hips and a mischeivous smile on his lips! You can see Pundalik's temple in the middle of the Chandrabhaga River in the photo.

Although we couldn't bathe in the Chandrabhaga (The river was in full flow and the current was dangerous), we sprinkled the water on our heads from the river in an act of symbolic purification.