Wittoba

The name "Wittoba" is believed to derive from the Marathi words "vit" (brick) and "oba" (father), translating to "father on a brick." This refers to the legend of the deity standing on a brick at Pandharpur. The term is specific to the Varkari tradition of Hinduism.

A form of Vishnu. ^loor gives in his Hindu Pantheon the picture of Wittoba crucified in Spcice; and the Rev. Dr. Luudy maintains (Monumental Christianity ) that this engraving is anterior to Christianity and is the cruciiied Krishna, a Saviour, hence a concrete ])rophecy of Christ. (See Isis Unveiled, II., of)?. 558.') Wizard. A wise man. An enchanter, or sorcerer.

Blavatsky's reference to Wittoba, and the curious comparison to a crucified figure, highlights a fascinating intersection of religious iconography and the human yearning for a salvific figure. While the visual comparison to a crucifixion might be a misinterpretation or an attempt to find universal archetypes, the essence of Wittoba as a beloved, accessible deity resonates deeply across spiritual traditions. Mircea Eliade, in his exploration of the sacred and the profane, would likely see in Wittoba the manifestation of the hierophany, the breaking through of the sacred into ordinary space and time. The image of Wittoba, standing resolutely on his brick, is a powerful symbol of divine immanence, a deity not enthroned in distant heavens but present in the dust and devotion of the earth. This accessibility is a recurring theme in mystical traditions, from the Sufi concept of the Beloved being closer than the jugular vein to the Christian mystic's experience of God within. The Varkari saints, through their simple yet profound devotional poetry, embodied this direct relationship, bypassing complex rituals for an unmediated connection. Wittoba, in this context, becomes more than a deity; he is an invitation to recognize the divine not as an abstract concept but as a palpable, ever-present companion in the journey of life. The very posture of Wittoba, with hands on hips, suggests a groundedness, a waiting presence, a divine father who is both powerful and intimately available, much like the archetype of the wise elder or the protective parent found in Jungian psychology. This tangible presence offers a potent antidote to spiritual alienation, reminding the seeker that the divine is not a distant star but a hearth fire.

RELATED_TERMS: Vithoba, Vishnu, Krishna, Varkari, Pandharpur, Hindu devotionalism, Bhakti yoga, divine immanence