In India’s spiritual tradition, many saints and great souls have demonstrated through their lives the importance of devotion, faith in the Guru, and spiritual practice. Among such inspiring saints, the name of Shri Khojiji Maharaj (Chaturdasji) is remembered with great reverence.
This story is based on the life events of Shri Khojiji Maharaj as described in the Bhaktamal scripture. His life is not just a religious account, but a spiritual journey in which his deep longing to understand the Guru’s teachings, the influence of saintly association, and his devotion to the divine name of Hari are clearly reflected.
In this article, an effort has been made to present the key events of his life in a simple and clear manner.
Who was Khojiji Maharaj? Life Introduction and Birth Story
In the Nagaur district of Rajasthan lies the village of Paldi… On that sacred land, a great devotee was born — Shri Khojiji Maharaj.
He was born into a Parik Brahmin family. His original name was Chaturdas, but the world did not know him by that name… everyone lovingly called him “Khojiji.”
From childhood, he was deeply inclined towards renunciation. He had no interest in worldly matters, household work, or practical affairs.
His mind was always absorbed in the remembrance of Hari’s name, in devotional singing, and in the company of saints. Wherever there were talks of God, wherever discourses and kirtans were happening — that was where he found true joy.
Because of this nature, he did not share a close bond with his brothers, and many times they even neglected him. But for Khojiji, all of that was insignificant — because his heart was filled only with God.
The Divine Incident of Father’s Passing During Satsang and the Journey to the Ganga
Once, a group of saints arrived in the village.
For Shri Khojiji, it felt as if he had found the greatest treasure of his life… He began to stay day and night at the feet of the saints. Discourses, bhajans, and satsang became his entire life. He hardly returned home at all.
At the same time, his father’s health was declining…
But for Khojiji, there was only one belief — “God’s will.”
And then, witness the divine play of God…
In the midst of kirtan, amidst the chanting of the Lord’s name, his father peacefully left his body.
A wave of grief spread through the household… his brothers and family members began to mourn deeply…
But Khojiji Maharaj remained calm… steady…
He gently explained to everyone:
“Father’s lifespan had come to an end. This was bound to happen one day…
But how fortunate it is that he left his body in the presence of saints and amidst the chanting of God’s name…
This is a direct path to the divine abode — it is a matter of joy, not sorrow…”
Some ignorant people even said:
“You invited these saints, organized kirtan… and your father passed away!”
Khojiji smiled softly and replied:
“This is not sorrow, this is the grace of saints… One who leaves the body in the company of saints surely attains liberation…”
After the final rites were completed, his brothers said:
“Now we must take father’s ashes to the Ganga for immersion.”
The Ganga was very far…
And as if deliberately, this difficult task was assigned to Khojiji.
With a smile, Khojiji said:
“Wherever devotees remember the name of Hari,
there the Ganga and all holy places manifest themselves…”
But his brothers did not believe him.
They thought, “This is just an excuse to avoid the effort.”
The saints then advised him:
“Do not argue. For the sake of family, do what is needed.”
Finally, Shri Khojiji Maharaj placed his father’s urn upon his head and set out toward the Ganga, chanting the Lord’s name along the way…
On the journey, a miraculous event occurred…
He saw some divine women carrying golden pots in their hands.
They asked:
“O devotee! Where are you going?”
Khojiji humbly replied:
“I am going to immerse my father’s ashes in the Ganga.”
Those divine women smiled and said:
“We ourselves are the Ganga, Yamuna, and other sacred rivers…
We have manifested here for you.
You may perform the immersion here itself and return after taking a holy bath.”
Hearing this, Khojiji’s heart overflowed with devotion… He immersed his father’s ashes there itself and took a sacred bath.
Later, so that his brothers would believe him, he also carried back a pot filled with that holy water.
How Did Chaturdas Get the Name “Khojiji”?
The original name of Shri Khojiji Maharaj was Chaturdas…
But how did he become famous as “Khojiji” — there is a very beautiful and spiritual story behind it…
One day, his Gurudev had gone outside for a natural call.
Chaturdasji, with a spirit of service, stood waiting with water for him…
When Gurudev returned, he began to smile gently…
Chaturdasji humbly asked:
“Gurudev, why are you smiling? Have I made any mistake?”
Gurudev replied:
“Oh! What kind of disciple are you? You do not even understand the feelings of your Guru?
Go… come back only when you understand my inner thought…”
Hearing this command, Chaturdasji immediately bowed at his Guru’s feet and set out…
After receiving this instruction, only one question arose in his heart:
“Why did my Gurudev smile?”
Now, wherever he met saints and sages, he would bow respectfully and ask just one question:
“My Gurudev smiled during that moment — what was the reason?”
But everywhere he received the same reply:
“Ask us about the Gita, Bhagavat, or Vedas…
But how would we know why your Guru smiled?”
Many people even laughed at his question…
But for Chaturdasji, this was not just a question —
it had become the very purpose of his life…
Time passed…
Yet he did not find a satisfactory answer anywhere…
He became deeply restless within…
He felt:
“I could not understand my Guru’s mind…
and because of that, I have been deprived of serving him…”
This thought burned his heart day and night…
Finally, he made a stern resolution…
“If I cannot understand my Guru’s inner feeling,
then what is the use of keeping this body?”
With this determination, he gave up food and water…
and sat in a secluded place, chanting the name given by his Guru…
He became so absorbed that gradually his awareness turned inward…
and he entered deep meditation…
Now, his heart had only one longing —
to realize the Guru’s inner feeling…
At that very moment, during his meditation, he had a divine vision…
The great saint Kabirdasji appeared before him…
At first, Chaturdasji could not recognize him…
But when Kabirdasji introduced himself, he bowed down with reverence…
Kabirdasji lovingly asked:
“My child, why are you sitting here in solitude, having given up food and water?”
Tears flowed from Chaturdasji’s eyes…
He humbly said:
“Maharaj, I asked everyone… but no one could answer my question…
I want to know why my Gurudev smiled…”
Then Kabirdasji explained:
“When your Gurudev was there,
nearby stood a Peepal tree…
Its small fruits, leaves, and seeds
were flowing away in the current…
Seeing this, a deep thought arose in your Guru’s mind…”
“As long as those leaves and fruits were attached to the tree,
they were safe and beautiful…
But the moment they separated,
they began to drift away — moving toward destruction…
The same is true for the soul…
As long as it remains connected with God,
it stays peaceful, happy, and fearless…
But when it turns away from God,
it gets carried away in the flow of the world…
and, in ignorance, considers itself superior…”
“It was this thought that made your Gurudev smile…”
Hearing this, light dawned in Chaturdasji’s heart…
All his inner restlessness disappeared…
Now he understood —
the Guru’s feeling, and the true meaning of life…
Filled with joy, he immediately returned to his Gurudev and narrated everything…
Gurudev was very pleased…
Blessing him, he said:
“You have now understood my inner feeling…
You have truly searched…
From today, you will not be called ‘Chaturdas’,
but ‘Khoji’…”
The Liberation of Khojiji Maharaj’s Guru and the Miraculous Incident of the Bell
Shri Khojiji’s Gurudev was a Mahatma with a very high spirit.
His mind was always absorbed in the contemplation of God…
One day, he realized that his final time had come…
At that moment, he made a special arrangement…
He tied a bell near his body and told his disciples:
“When I attain union with the Lord, this bell will ring on its own… and that will be the sign of my liberation…”
Time passed…
The Guru peacefully left his body…
But to everyone’s surprise…
the bell did not ring…
The disciples became worried…
“Has Gurudev not yet attained liberation?”
Doubts and anxiety started growing in his mind…
At that time, Khojiji Maharaj was away on a journey…
When he returned and saw all the disciples sad, he asked the reason…
They narrated the entire incident to him…
Khojiji calmly asked:
“At which place did Gurudev leave his body?”
The disciples replied:
“Under a mango tree…”
Khojiji Maharaj immediately went there…
and lay down on the same spot…
He looked upwards…
and saw a ripe mango hanging there…
Khojiji immediately took the mango in his hand
and cut it into two pieces…
As soon as he cut it,
a small worm came out from inside…
And right before everyone’s eyes…
that worm disappeared…
At that very moment…
the bell started ringing on its own…
All the disciples were astonished…
Khojiji Maharaj explained the mystery:
“Our Gurudev was already a realized saint…
But at the moment of leaving his body, his eyes fell upon this ripe mango…
For a brief moment, his mind got attached to it…
and because of that, he had to take birth in the form of a worm…”
But Khojiji further explained:
“However, there was also a divine feeling in his mind —
that this ripe fruit should be offered to God…
To fulfill this devotion,
God Himself entered that worm…
And when today that worm’s life ended,
God took it along and united it with Gurudev…
That is why the bell has now rung…”
Hearing this, all the disciples were deeply moved…
They understood —
the state of one’s mind at the final moment has great significance.
But if the feeling is for God, then God Himself fulfills it.
In the life of Shri Khojiji Maharaj,
we see a wonderful union of devotion to saints and deep Guru-bhakti…
He dedicated his entire life
to the service of saints, devotion to his Guru, and the remembrance of God.
Tapobhoomi of Khojiji Maharaj: How Did Khojiji’s Paldi Become Kandawali Paldi?
In the Marwar region of Rajasthan, there were many villages named “Paldi,” and they still exist today. Among them, one village was famous as the sacred land of Shri Khojiji Maharaj, known as “Khojiji Wali Paldi.”
It is said that once, an onion (kanda) grew in the ashram of Khojiji Maharaj, which gradually became very large. Khojiji Maharaj used to go daily for a holy bath at Pushkar, and while returning, he would also bring a pot filled with water.
Seeing the continuous growth of the onion, he felt delighted and began pouring the leftover water onto it. It is said that he would even drink less water himself and offer the remaining water to the onion.
In this way, the onion grew so large that its weight reached about one and a quarter maund (approximately 50 kg).
Later, on the advice of his followers, it was decided to present this huge onion as an offering in the court of Jodhpur, hoping that the king might be pleased and reward them.
When the onion was presented in the royal court, the king was astonished and asked where such a large onion had grown.
The reply was — “In Khojiji Wali Paldi.”
Hearing this, the king ordered that the land be taken under royal control and used for onion cultivation.
After that, large-scale onion farming began there, and excellent yields were produced. Gradually, the place came to be known as “Kandawali Paldi” instead of “Khojiji Wali Paldi.”
Because of this change, the name of Khojiji Maharaj became less associated with the place — which is considered somewhat unfortunate.
A saying also became popular from this incident:
“हाथ बिगाड़े काम सब,किसको दिजे दोष, |
खोजाजी की पालड़ी लिवी प्याज ने कोष ||”
Special Place of Ranabai Among Khojiji Maharaj’s Disciples
Among the disciples of Khojiji Maharaj, the name of Saint Ranabai is taken with great respect, who is also known as the “Second Meera of Rajasthan.”
