Kanhopatra - Devotee of Panduranga Vittala
One day a group of pilgrims who were going to Pandhari was passing by singing the praise of God. When Kanhopatra saw them she made a namaskar to them and asked them where they were going. The pilgrims then replied to her that they were going to Pandhari to see lord Vitthal. She then asked them to describe his glory to which they said that even Lord Brahma and others were unable to describe his glory and that his beauty exceeds that of Lakshmi a billion-fold. Kanhopatra then asked them if she goes as a suppliant to the lord will he accept her. The saints then told her that he will definitely accept her and she then went home and told her mother that she is going to Pandhari and left with them taking a vina in her hand. She joined the pilgrims in singing the praise of the lord and reached Pandhari. She had the darshan of Vitthal and decided to be in Pandhari. She would always remain in the great door of the temple and sing his praise.
One man who had come from Bedar saw her and went and told the king about her and her beauty. On hearing this, the Mohamedian king sent his guards to go get Kanhopatra from the temple of Pandharpur. The guards arrived at the temple gates and told Kanhopatra the king’s orders and that if she failed to listen to them, they would have to take her forcefully. She then told them that she would visit Vitthal for one last time and come back with them to the king. She went in and prayed to Vitthal and told him that if he abandons her now the whole world will blame him for this. As she pleaded with Vitthal, he removed her soul and united it with him. He took Kanhopatra in his lap and she died on his lap. Vitthal then asked the priest to bury her corpse at the southern gate of the temple. As soon as they buried her a tarati tree sprang up immediately in that place and everyone was surprised. We can to date see this tree in Vitthal Rukmani temple in Pandharpur.
Meanwhile, the king’s guards who were sitting in the main gate of the temple asked the priest what happened to Kanhopatra. They told them that she now got united with Vitthal and is no more. The guards then asked them to show her corpse to which the priest told them that it has changed into a tree. The guards didn't believe what they said and arrested the priest and took him to the king. The priest then offered coconut and bukka from the temple to the king as Prasadam and told him what happened. When the king took the coconut he saw a hair in the coconut and asked the priest how this came in the coconut offered to God. The priest was afraid and confused about how it had come. He then decided to tell the king that it was Vitthal’s hair. King didn't believe this and asked him if it was true. The priest then told him to come to Pandhari and see it for himself and also gave it in writing. The king then decided to come to Pandharpur and visit the deity to check if what they described him was true. He entered the temple paid his respects to the god and went to god’s bed chamber and looked at the god. He then saw god’s brilliant crown, beautiful curly hair, his lotus eyes, his crocodile earrings, and the kaustubha around his neck. The moment the king saw this he became repentant and told the priest that he had seen the Lord just the way they had described him. He then prostrated before the god and embraced his feet and said that Kanhopatra’s fortune is supreme in getting united with Vitthal.
One man who had come from Bedar saw her and went and told the king about her and her beauty. On hearing this, the Mohamedian king sent his guards to go get Kanhopatra from the temple of Pandharpur. The guards arrived at the temple gates and told Kanhopatra the king’s orders and that if she failed to listen to them, they would have to take her forcefully. She then told them that she would visit Vitthal for one last time and come back with them to the king. She went in and prayed to Vitthal and told him that if he abandons her now the whole world will blame him for this. As she pleaded with Vitthal, he removed her soul and united it with him. He took Kanhopatra in his lap and she died on his lap. Vitthal then asked the priest to bury her corpse at the southern gate of the temple. As soon as they buried her a tarati tree sprang up immediately in that place and everyone was surprised. We can to date see this tree in Vitthal Rukmani temple in Pandharpur.
Meanwhile, the king’s guards who were sitting in the main gate of the temple asked the priest what happened to Kanhopatra. They told them that she now got united with Vitthal and is no more. The guards then asked them to show her corpse to which the priest told them that it has changed into a tree. The guards didn't believe what they said and arrested the priest and took him to the king. The priest then offered coconut and bukka from the temple to the king as Prasadam and told him what happened. When the king took the coconut he saw a hair in the coconut and asked the priest how this came in the coconut offered to God. The priest was afraid and confused about how it had come. He then decided to tell the king that it was Vitthal’s hair. King didn't believe this and asked him if it was true. The priest then told him to come to Pandhari and see it for himself and also gave it in writing. The king then decided to come to Pandharpur and visit the deity to check if what they described him was true. He entered the temple paid his respects to the god and went to god’s bed chamber and looked at the god. He then saw god’s brilliant crown, beautiful curly hair, his lotus eyes, his crocodile earrings, and the kaustubha around his neck. The moment the king saw this he became repentant and told the priest that he had seen the Lord just the way they had described him. He then prostrated before the god and embraced his feet and said that Kanhopatra’s fortune is supreme in getting united with Vitthal.
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