Vittala Panduranga and Narahari Sonar

Vittala Panduranga and Narahari Sonar

Narahari Sonar was a great Shiva Bhakta who lived in Pandharpur. He worshipped Mallikarjuna Shiva temple near Vittal Temple, but never wished to  look at Vithoba's temple even once. Narahari Sonar was a gold Smith who was excellent in his work. 

One day a merchant who was childless offered to donate a gold kavacham to Panduranga if he is blessed with a child. His prayer was answered and merchant visited Narahari Sonar, and requested him to make kavach. But Narahari Sonar a being a Shiva Bhaktha denied this. Merchant pleaded that he will bring measurements of Panduranga so that Narahari need not come to temple. 

Narahari agreed to make the jewel and made jewel with measurement provided, when it was offered to Panduranga it turned out to be very small. Measurement was taken again but this time too big. The temple priests asked to bring Narahari Sonar to take measurements. Narahari Sonar refused first,  but tieing eyes he was brought to the temple. Narahari touched the Vigraham and he felt like touching Paramashiva. He felt tigerskin, trishul, damaru & rudraksha. 

He quickly untied the cloth but saw Panduranga before him. Thus he realized that Hari and Hara are same. Later Narahari Sonar composed many devotional hymns for Vithoba becoming his devotee. 

Hari Vittala