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Changdev Maharaj, an yogi turned saint lived at Vateshwar, along the banks for Tapti river for 1400 years. Changdev Maharaj has a godly status amongst the followers of Bhakti movement due his association with Dnyaneshwar and Mutkabai. The village where Changdev Maharaj lived is now known as Changdev village. Narayanpur, a village to the south of Pune at the foot hills of Purandar fort happens to be the native village of Sant Changdev. The village was casually referred to as Pur during the Yadava Dynasty rule and was a prosperous town then. It houses a 700 plus year old a famous Narayan temple. The temple which is Hemadpanti style has incriptions on its wall which are similar to preaches of Changdev Maharaj 1 2
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Changdev, an yogi with renowed powers, as per the beliefs is said to have lived for 1400 years in the present day Changdev village . Changdev, an master of yoga is believed to have used Pranayama to elongate his life. 3. An yogi, he would self immolate himself in a samadhi everytime death approached him and would regenerate himself afterwards. Every hundred years he would immerse himself in devout contemplation for 6 months at strech. Whenever he woke up from his contemplation miracles would happen. 4. Changdev had achieved Bhuta Siddhi (Bhuta means living, and the term means control of living being) which enabled him to control various living beings. 5
When the four siblings of Nivritti, Dnyanadev, Sopandev, 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 this gesture and on Nivritti’s ask Dnyaneshwar wrote 65 verses which were the quintessence of Vedanta on it. When the paper reached Changdev Maharaj he had difficulties understanding what was written and then decided to meet the siblings to show them his yogic powers. He decided to show off his powers to them by meeting them in person. For this he chooses to visit them riding on back of a Tiger, wielding a poisonous cobra as a whip. When 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 air. They used an inanimate wall as a vehicle which amazed everyone present there. Changdev realized the greatness of these children and lost his pride. He became one of their disciples and overcame his pride and ego.
Muktai, the sister of Dnyaneshwar, is said to be 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 here on Changdev, took Muktai as his spiritual guide and many references to Muktai can be found in the Abhangs that he wrote.
At the confluence of Tapi and Purva rivers lies the ancient temple of Changdev. The temple is atleast 700 years old and is protected by ASI. The temple is located in the backwater area of Hatnur dam givig it more natural beauty.