About Changdeva Temple
Changdeva Temple is an ancient Hemadpanthi-style Hindu temple located at the confluence of the Tapi and Purna rivers in Changdev village, Jalgaon district, Maharashtra. Dedicated to the 12th-century yogi saint Changdev Maharaj, it is a protected monument under the Archaeological Survey of India. The site features intricate stone carvings, excavated idols, and significant religious importance within the Warkari tradition, attracting pilgrims and tourists for its spiritual heritage and architectural value.
Visitors guide
Visitors can expect to see an ancient stone temple built in the Hemadpanthi style with intricate carvings of Apsaras and deities on its exterior walls. The sanctum houses an idol of Saint Changdev Maharaj covered in vermilion. Excavated artifacts including Ganpati and Vishnu idols are displayed in the open air near the temple. The site offers views of the Tapi-Purna river confluence, which remains water-filled year-round due to the Hatnur Dam. Adjacent Mahadeva and Shani Dev temples are also accessible within the complex.
Key highlights
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Ancient Hemadpanthi architecture constructed using dove-tailed black rock without lime
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Located at the sacred confluence of Tapi and Purna rivers
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Protected monument under the Archaeological Survey of India
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Intricate stone carvings of Apsaras and celestial figures on exterior walls
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ASI-excavated idols of Ganpati, Vishnu, and Hanuman displayed on-site
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Major annual fair held during Mahashivaratri attracting thousands of devotees
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Associated with 12th-century yogi saint Changdev Maharaj and Warkari tradition
History of Changdeva Temple
The temple dates to the 11th-12th century and is attributed to Govindraja, a feudatory of Yadava king Seuna of Devagiri. It was declared a protected national heritage monument on April 3, 1916. ASI excavations in 2008 revealed foundations of ancient temples, a garbhagriha, and a large Shiva linga. The original shikhara collapsed in the 1837 floods and was later reconstructed with bricks. Historical references include mentions by Abul Fazl as 'jiggerteerut' and documentation by Henry Cousens in 1931.
Culture & Context
Changdeva Temple is a major pilgrimage site for the Warkari sampradaya, associated with saint Changdev Maharaj who is believed to have lived 1,400 years and was a contemporary of Sant Dnyaneshwar. The famous 'Changdev Pasashti' scripture was written by Dnyaneshwar in response to Changdev. An annual fair during Mahashivaratri draws hundreds of thousands of devotees from North Maharashtra. The site's location at the Tapi-Purna sangam holds ritual significance, with historical accounts describing a spring considered equivalent to the Ganges.