Ranade (1933) thinks that Pundalik, a Kannada saint, was not only the founder of the Varkari culture but also the first great devotee or first high priest of the Pandharpur temple. Upadhyaya supports the priest theory but declines the Kannada origin theory. Tulpule also accepted the theory that Pundalik was the historical founder of the Varkari sect, though declines to fix a date for him due to "lack of authentic evidence".
Ranade (1933) posits that Pundalik, a Kannada saint, was not only the originator of the Varkari culture but also the first prominent devotee or initial chief priest of the Pandharpur temple. Upadhyaya supports the priest theory but rejects the Kannada origin theory. Tulpule also accepts the theory that Pundalik was the actual founder of the Varkari sect, although declines to fix a date for him due to "lack of authentic evidence".