153
PANDURANG WAS NONE OTHER THAN BUDDHA
While unveiling an image of Buddha in a newly constructed Buddha Vihar at Dehu Road near Poona, on 25th December
1954, Dr. B. R. Ambedkar told his audience* that the image of the God Vithoba at Pandharpur was in reality the image of the Buddha. He said further that the name of the God Pandurang was derived from Pundalik. Pundalik meant lotus and lotus was called Pandurang in Pali. So Pandurang was none other than Buddha. According to him, Buddhism disappeared from India because of the wavering attitude of the laity which worshipped many other Gods and Goddesses set up by Brahmins to destroy Buddhism. [1]
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- : About 4,000 attended the function : Source material Vol. I, P. 423.
1 : Kuber, Ambedkar—A Crital Study, P. 94.