Uday Mohole's video: Prashant Damle - Ya Vithucha Gajar Gajaar - - Dindi

Vithoba is known by many names, including: Vitthala, Panduranga, Pandharinath, Hari and Narayan. There are several theories about the origins and meanings of these names. Varkari tradition suggests that the name Vitthala (also spelled as Vitthal, Viththal, Vittala and Vithal) is composed of two Sanskrit-Marathi words: viṭ, which means 'brick'; and thal, which may have originated from the Sanskrit sthala, meaning 'standing'. Thus, Vitthala would mean 'one standing on a brick. Varkari (Marathi: वारकरी - meaning "a pilgrim") is a Vaishnava religious movement (sampraday) within the bhakti spiritual tradition of Hinduism, geographically associated with the Indian states of Maharashtra and northern Karnataka. Varkaris worship Vithoba (also known as Vitthal), the presiding deity of Pandharpur, regarded as a form of Krishna, an avatar (incarnation) of Vishnu. Teachers associated with the movement include Dnyaneshwar, Namdev, Tukaram, Chokhamela and Eknath, all of whom are accorded the title of Sant. The Varkari movement includes the worship of Krishna in the form of Vithoba and a duty-based approach towards life emphasising, moral behavior and strict avoidance of alcohol and tobacco, vegetarian diet on Tuesdays and Thursdays and fasting on Ekadashi day (twice a month), self-restraint (brahmacharya) during student life, equality and humanity for all rejecting discrimination based on caste or wealth, the reading of holy books by all castes, the reading of the Haripath every day and regular bhajan and kirtan. The Varkari tradition affected the life of the common people of Maharashtra for six hundred years (from 13th century to 18th century). Varkaris looked upon God as the Ultimate Truth and ascertained grades of values in social life but accepted ultimate equality among men. Varkaris prostrated in front of each other because "everybody is Brahma" and stressed individual sacrifice, forgiveness, simplicity, overcoming passions, peaceful co-existence, compassion, non-violence, love and humility in social life. Every year Varkari walk hundreds of miles to the holy town of Pandharpur, gathering there on ekadashi (the 11th day) of the Hindu lunar calendar month of Aashaadha (which falls sometime in July). Varkaris making the pilgrimage to Pandharpur carry the palkhis (palanquins) of the sants from their places of samadhi (enlightenment or "spiritual birth"). According to historians Vitthal devotees were holding pilgrimages prior to the 13th century. गजर / Gajaar - Journey of the Soul.