Long long ago, in the Southern part of India, there was a person by the name Pundareekan.

One evening he went to an 'upanyasam' (Religious Discourse). In the course of the lecture, he heard thus, " Anyone who is born as a Hindu should certainly go to Kashi (Banaras) at least once and take bath atleast once in the Holy Ganges". On hearing thus, an intense urge to go to Kashi started lurking in the Pundareekan's mind. Pundareekan lived with his aged parents, his wife and children. He went home that night and told them of his intention to go to Kashi. But his parents urged him not to leave them alone; his wife was also averse to the idea of going to Kashi leaving her and the children alone. Pundareekan was caught in a dilemma, as he just could not think of dropping his plan to go to Kashi. In those days, going to and returning from Kashi was not easy. Yet, he finally decided that he would take the whole family along with him to Kashi, and he started on this long and tiring journey by foot.

At times he would carry his old mother; at times his aged father; sometimes his frail wife; and other times his young children. Thus, he travelled for days and nights through forests and villages, bearing heat and cold and finally reached the banks of the river Chandrabagha (a river in the State of Maharastra, about hundred miles from the present city of Pune)where a great sage by the name Kukkooda Maharshi lived in a hermitage (Ashram).

When Pundareekan reached the hermitage with his family, the sage enquired of his welfare and on coming to know of his intention to go to Kashi, he was touched. With love and mercy told him, "Such a journey to Kashi, at the expense of your parent's discomfort is not required. Serve your parents with faith and earnestness. That indeed is quite sufficient. In fact there isn't any other work which can fetch more blessings than earnest service to your parents." On hearing thus, Pundareekan immediately dismissed the thought of going to Kashi, made a small house on the banks of Chandrabagha, and started serving his parents with love and affection.

This was the time when Bhagawan Sri Krishna was the king of Dwaraka (A city on the coast of the present Gujarat State). Sage Narada once came to see Sri Krishna. On seeing the sage, Bhagawan told him that he had an unfulfilled desire in his life.
Sage Narada asked Bhagawan, "What unfulfilled desire can Bhagawan have?"
Bhagawan replied,"I could not do any service to my parents -Devaki and Vasudevar, and this is my only grievance."
He went on ask,"Is there anybody who is serving his/her parents with faith and earnestness?"
Naradar replied," Yes, the disciple of Sage Kukkooda Maharshi, by the name Pundareekan is serving his parents like nobody else can..."

On hearing thus, Bhagavan immediately proceeded with Sri Rukmini Devi, sage Naradar and his other devotees to see him. They reached Pundareekan's home and stood at his doorstep. Pundareekan was doing his routine service to his parents. On seeing Bhagawan and Rukmini Devi at his doorstep he was overwhelmed and he wanted to extend his heartful invitation to them. His humble home had only a few bricks. He gave a couple of bricks as a "seat" to Bhagawan and Rukmini Devi and he carried on with his service to his parents. On completing his service, he rushed towards Bhagawan and extended a formal welcome to him and the entourage. He apologised for the delay in welcoming Bhagawan. Bhagawan, with his sweet smile, looked fondly at Pundareekan and said,"We all came here just to see you doing service to your parents. We all are very happy on seeing your faithful and earnest service to your parents. If you wish a boon, you may ask."

Pundareekan replied,"I pray unto you to stay here forever to let the world know- as long as it exists, that because of my service to my parents as per my Guru's advice, you had showered affection and love on me and came all the way from Dwaraka to see me." From the Bhagawan's and Sri Rukmini's body two Archavatharams ("Divine Idol incarnations") came forth. Bhagawan and Rukmini were intently watching Pundareekan's service to his parents, with their hands on their hips. The Idols which came forth were also with hands on their hips. Then Bhagawan and his devotees proceeded to Dwaraka.

Sri Pandu Rangan

To this day, Bhagawan, just like the way he showed himself to Pundareekan, is standing on the brick with Sri Rukmini Devi, on the banks of Chandrabagha river, as Pandurangan and Rukmini in Pandarpur.

Thus we see pandurangan and rakuma devi standing for the past 28 chaturyugas
[1 chaturyuga=krita, threta, dwapara and kaliyugas]

Bhagawan was pleased with Pundareekan not only for his service to his parents; In fact Bhagawan gave his Darshan to Pundareekan because he had taken on his Master's words with such faith and earnestness and had lived according to his Master's advice.