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{{Infobox Hindu leader
|name= Changdev Maharaj
|image= Dnyaneshwar humbles Changdev.jpg
|caption = The siblings Muktabai, Sopan, Dnyaneshwar and Nivruttinath seated on the moving wall, Changdev seated on a tiger. In the centre, Changdev bows to Dnyaneshwar
| religion = [[Hinduism]]
|honors= ''Maharaj'' in Marathi
}}

'''Changdev Maharaj''' (also commonly referenced in ancient texts as '''Changa Deva''', '''Changadeva''', or simply '''Changa''') was a [[mystical]] [[yogi]] turned saint who is believed to have lived in the village of Vateshwar along the banks of the [[Tapti River]] for 1,400 years.<ref name=Gazetter>{{cite web|url=http://www.maharashtra.gov.in/pdf/gazeetter_reprint/Ahmadnagar/places_p.html#8 |title=Gazetteers Of The Bombay Presidency - Ahmadnagar |publisher=Government Central Press |access-date=2009-01-22}}.</ref> Per popular belief, Changdev Maharaj achieved [[Mahābhūta|Bhuta]] [[Siddhi]] (control over the [[classical elements]]) based on his yogic powers and used these powers to perform various supernatural acts.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://www.scribd.com/doc/6558230/Lives-of-Saints |title=Lives of Saints |access-date=2009-01-22}}.</ref> Even though Changdev Maharaj himself is believed to have had held godly status and followers, his current following is mostly amongst [[Varkari]]s due to his association with [[Dnyaneshwar]] and [[Muktai|Muktabai]].<ref name=gazetteer_Puntamba>{{cite web |url=http://www.ahmednagar.nic.in/gazetteer/places_Puntamba.html |title=The Gazetteers Department - AHMADNAGAR |publisher=Government Central Press |access-date=2009-01-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090410170827/http://www.ahmednagar.nic.in/gazetteer/places_Puntamba.html |archive-date=2009-04-10 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==Present day remains==
Temples dedicated to [[ Changdev ]] are today mostly found in the state of [[Maharashtra]]. References to his yogic and Tantric acts can be found in various literate related to yogic and Tantric streams as well as Buddhist folklore. The word Changa itself means good, and is also the name of a particular Shiva [[Jyotirlinga]] and the deity [[Bhairava]].<ref>{{cite book | last=Schomer | first=Karine | title=The Sants: Studies in a Devotional Tradition of India | page=225 | isbn=978-81-208-0277-3 | year=1987 }}</ref>

In the present day, the village of [[Changdev village|Changdev]] 12 kilometers away from Muktainagar District Jalgaon which is located where River Purna joins river Tapi, where Changdev Maharaj is believed to have lived for 1,400 years, houses an old temple dedicated to him. It is believed that the temple is about 3,000 years old. It is currently an [[Archeological Survey of India|ASI]] protected monument.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://asi.nic.in/asi_monu_alphalist_maharashtra_aurangabad.asp |title=List of Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains of Aurangabad - Archaeological Survey of India |access-date=2009-01-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170905162019/http://asi.nic.in/asi_monu_alphalist_maharashtra_aurangabad.asp |archive-date=2017-09-05 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

The present day [[Puntamba]], a village along the banks of the [[Godavari River]] in [[Maharashtra]], is believed to be the 14th and final resting place for Changdev Maharaj. The village has a mid-17th-century temple which houses the samadhi of Changdev Maharaj.<ref name="gazetteer_Puntamba" />

[[Narayanpur, Pune|Narayanpur]], a village to the south of [[Pune]] at the foothills of [[Purandar fort]] is believed be the native village of Changdev. It is believed that this ancient village, referred to as ''Pur'' during the [[Yadava Dynasty]]'s rule, was a prosperous town. At present, it houses a 700+ year-old [[Narayana|Narayan]] temple. The temple, which is ''Hemadpanti'' style, has inscriptions on its wall which preach teachings of Changdev Maharaj.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JIjmDLardesC|title=Offbeat Tracks in Maharashtra|author=Milind Gunaji|isbn=978-81-7154-669-5|year=2005|author-link=Milind Gunaji}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://bhormunicipalcouncil.com/tourism.html |title=Narayanpur ( Old Temple of Lord Datta ) |publisher=Bhor Municipal Council |access-date=2009-01-22 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090120103923/http://bhormunicipalcouncil.com/tourism.html |archive-date=2009-01-20 }}</ref>

Even though not a temple by itself, the masonry wall used by [[Dnyaneshwar]] as a steed to visit Changdev (see below) is a sacred monument and is worshipped by the Varkaris visiting the holy city of [[Alandi]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.maharashtra.gov.in/pdf/gazeetter_reprint/Poona-III/places_a.html# |title=Gazetteers Of The Bombay Presidency - Poona |publisher=Government Central Press |access-date=2009-01-22}}</ref>

==Dnyanadev and the flying wall==

Changdev is most commonly known today due to his popular first encounter with [[Dnyaneshwar]], also known as Dnyanadev. As the story goes, when the four siblings of [[Nivritti]] − Dnyanadev, [[Sopandev]], and [[Muktai]] − achieved glory, Changdev Maharaj wanted to test them, and hence sent them a blank note. When the siblings received this note, they laughed at the gesture and, on Nivritti’s asking, Dnyaneshwar wrote 65 verses which were the quintessence of Vedanta on it. When the paper reached Changdev Maharaj, he had difficulty understanding what was written, and decided to meet the siblings to show them his yogic powers in person. For this visit he chose to ride on back of a tiger, wielding a poisonous cobra as a whip. When the siblings, then sitting on a masonry wall, saw the procession of Changdev Maharaj and thousands of his devotees walking toward their house, they decided to break his pride by humiliating him. They patted on the wall and it rose up to fly in the air. This use of an inanimate wall as a vehicle amazed everyone present. Changdev realized the greatness of these children. He became one of their disciples and overcame his pride and ego.<ref>{{cite book | author=Mahipati | title=Stories of Indian Saints: Translation of Mahipati's Marathi Bhaktavijaya| isbn=978-81-208-0469-2 |translator-first1=Justin Edwards |translator-last1=Abbott| year=1988}}</ref> These verses sent by Dnyaneshwar later became known as ''Changdev Pasashti'' (Pasast means 65 in Marathi) and are one of the holy scriptures amongst followers of Dnyaneshwar.

==Muktai, the spiritual guide==
[[Muktai]], the sister of [[Dnyaneshwar]], is believed to be the spiritual guide of Changdev Maharaj. As the legend goes, once Muktai and her brothers were sitting in the [[ashram]] when Changdev happened to pass by. Muktai was of course fully clad, but she appeared to Changdev as unclad and at once he turned away. Muktai then told him that he was not perfect as he still had a complex of sex and shame, and did not see God in every being. These words of Muktai had great effect on him and he eradicated this weakness through intense [[sadhana]]. Changdev wished to make Dnyanadev his guru, but Dnyanadev said that Muktai was the right spiritual guru instead of himself. From this point on, Changdev took Muktai as his spiritual guide, and many references to Muktai can be found in the [[Abhang]]s that he wrote.

==Legends associated with Changdev Maharaj==

** Changdev Baba followed the path of Non-Duality in the ''Nath-Panth'' order. He followed ''Lord Adinath'' (who is said to be an incarnation of Lord ''Para Shiva'').
** Changdev Maharaj was a Mahayogi who lived in his mortal coil for 1400 years. He had complete knowledge of and control over all the five elements (water, air, fire, earth, and ether).
** By his yogic powers, he gathered light and formed a real Jyotirlinga which he worshiped as Jyotir Shiva. He was also an occultist and used to worship '''Mahabhairav''' in the Jyotir Shiva Linga manifested by him.
** By his yogic powers, he resurrected many dead people back to life.

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:Marathi-language writers]]
[[Category:Bhakti movement]]
[[Category:Marathi-language poets]]
[[Category:Warkari]]

Changdev Maharaj - Revision history

>JJMC89 bot III at 08:54, 7 March 2021