Alandi
From Hindupedia, the Hindu Encyclopedia
By Swami Harshananda
A small town of the Maharashtra State, about 23 kms. (15 miles) from the city of Pune (Poona), has acquired the status of a pilgrimage center by its association with the greatest saint of Maharashtra, Sant Jṅāneśvar or Jñāna- deva. The saint was born in 1271 A.D. here. He attained samādhi in 1296 A.D. Thousands of devotees still believe that he lives in his subtle body in the cave where he went into samādhi.
Every year, on the eleventh day of the dark half of Kārttika (November— December), the day on which Jṅāneśvar is said to have attained samādhi, a huge congregation of devotees come here to get his blessings.
References[edit]
- The Concise Encyclopedia of Hinduism, Swami Harshananda, Ram Krishna Math, Bangalore