JNANESWAR MAHARAJ OF ALANDI 

Another sixteen - pillared mandap built in the Hamadpanth style consecrated by the beautiful image of Ganesh on a high pedestal is visit worthy. Visitors miss not this Elephant-headed god, for they are aware of his august office - vighna nasak - remover of obstacles. Offering prayers, they move towards the famous Bhint - a wall that has an odd story. This inanimate object humbled the pride of a certain yogi called Changdev - a contemporary of Jnaneswar. Though a highly evolved soul, he was not free from egoism. He was a Siddupurusha, and fond of displaying his yogic powers. Once, desiring to demonstrate his super human powers came to Alandi to see Jnaneswar riding a living tiger using a live cobra as whip. To teach him a lesson on humility, Jnaneswar sitting on a dilapidated old wall along with his brothers - Nivrithi, Sopan and Sister Muktabai ordered it move to meet Changdev on the way, in the street. It did Changdev's pride bit the dust in the presence of astonished onlookers in their thousands. The same wall is now preserved and visitors offer obeisance for helping Jnaneswar Maharaj to exhibit the power of his soul. In the campus there are many mandaps, like Vithal Rukhmini, Muktabai that are enshrining divinities. Praying at each brings merit. Meditating sitting in the campus any where has an elevating experience and the devotees normally sit in silence for a few minutes invariably on their visits. The Golden pipal tree lying near Mahadwar has another story to tell. It is said that Jnaneswar's mother was blessed with four children glorious only after perambulating this after taking vows. It is an ancient one with miraculous powers. Hence the craze for the visitors to offer special poojas to it. There are many more objects outside the campus, like the Pundalika temple built on the bank of the river Indrayani that lure and confer beatitude to the visitors.

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