A/N: After a long time, I'm back with a new story! Without wasting your much time let's start!

--

There was a devotee of Sri Hari Vishnu named 'Pundalik'. He was an excellent son. Alas after marriage, he started misbehaving with his parents. To escape this misery, his parents decided to go on 'Tirtha Yatra' to the land of 'Shri Vishwanatha', Kashi.

But see destiny, Pundalik and his wife also decided to go and joined the same group of pilgrims riding on horseback.

While Pundalik and his wife rode the horse, his parents walked. Pundalik used to force his parents to look after his horses. After traveling for some days, they reached the Aashrama of Rishi 'Kukkutswami' and decided to stay some time there.

In the evening, Pundalik saw a group of beautiful women dressed in dirty clothes, entering the Aashrama, cleaning the floor, fetching water, and washing Rishi Kukkutswami's clothes. Then, they entered a room inside the Aashrama and came out in beautifully clean clothes. After all this, they vanished.

The very next night, the same happened; leaving Pundalik in a state of shock. He begged and fell to the feet of those divine women asking them for their identity. They said they were Ganga, Yamuna, Saraswati, Saryu, and all the other holy rivers of 'Aaryavarta' in which, the pilgrims, bathed and washed off their sins. Their clothes became dirty washing the sins of the pilgrims. They used to come there to wash off the dirt.

"And because of how ill you treat your parents, you're the greatest sinner whose heart didn't make a change even after coming here," they said.

This was a turning point in the life of Pundalik. Now, he became a devoted son again.

They decided to head back to their home. Now, parents rode the horses and they both walked.

To bless Pundalik, for his good deeds, Maa Rukmini went. Krishna also went in search of Rukmini as wherever there's Rukmini, there is Krishna. Rukmini and Krishna met again near the Chandrabhaga River.

On the way, Maa Rukmini slayed a demon who killed devotees; she was a great warrior as well!

Devi Rukmini reached where Pundalik lived, and Krishna accompanied her. On asking Pundalik to have a meet with them he said he was serving his parents so he cannot come at the moment as he requested them to wait.

However, he threw two bricks for Shri Krishna and Devi Rukmini to stand upon, till he completes his duty.

The brick he threw for Mata Rukmini fell quite far yet she accepted it seeing how devoted he was.

They stood on the brick, waiting for Pundalik, they turned into statues.

When Pundalik finally came to meet them, he saw Shri Hari Vishnu and Mahalakshmi themselves standing on those thrown bricks. Pundalik ran to them and apologized.

Shri Krishna stood there giving no reaction.

Fully devoted, Pundalik called Devi Rukmini "Rakhumai!" and both of them blessed him!

As Krishna and Rukmini were standing on the brick, they are called the name "Vitthal" and "Vitthai".

When Devi Rukmini's reflection falls on Shri Krishna, he shines brightly in golden color, thus, he is also called 'Panduranga'. Seeing Pundalik completely devoted to his parents, Krishna told Pundalik to ask for a boon. Pundalik asked them to always reside there.

So, till now, both Rakhumai and Vitthal are present in Pandharpur, Maharashtra blessing their devotees!

(Artwork not mine)

_________________

Jay Shri Rakhumai Vitthal!