PANDHARPUR

town, southern Maharashtra state, western India. It lies along the Bhima River, west of Sholapur city. Easily reached by road and rail, it is a religious town visited throughout the year by thousands of Hindu pilgrims. Four major annual festivals are held in the town in honour of the deities Vithoba, an incarnation of Vishnu, and his consort, Rukmini. The main temple was built in the 12th century by the Yadavas of Devagiri. The town is also associated with the Maharashtra poet-saints devoted to the Bhakti cult. Pop. (1981) 64,380.