Natha
Sampradaya - The Yoga Order
The Sanskrit word nāthá or नाथ, is the proper name of a siddha initiatory tradition and the word
itself literally means "lord, protector, refuge". The related
Sanskrit term Adi Natha means first or original Lord, and is
therefore a synonym for Shiva,
Mahadeva, or Maheshvara, and beyond these supramental concepts, the Supreme
Absolute Reality, Parama Brahman, as the basis supporting all aspects and
manifestations of consciousness.
The Natha
Sampradaya tradition and lineage is a heterodox siddha tradition containing
many sub-lineage. It was founded by Master Matsyendranatha Ji and further
developed by Master Gorakshanatha Babaji. These two individuals are also
revered in Tibetan Buddhism as Mahasiddhas (great adepts) and are credited with
great powers and perfected spiritual attainment. The Nath has been known to
lead like a Mother.
Amongst the
variety of the numerous ascetic traditions existing in India
Indian alchemy
(known as Rasayana) and the ritual, spiritual and medicinal usage of mercury,
cinnabar and other minerals and crystal preparations and elixirs was a practice
of Natha Siddhas. The primary aim of the ancient Natha Siddhas was to achieve
liberation or jivan-mukti during their current lifespan.
Foto: Sri
Mahavatar Goraksha Natha - Nagaraja Kriya Babaji
Adhinatha
Sampradaya
The Sanskrit term
Adi Natha means "first" or "original Lord," and is
therefore a synonym for Shiva, Mahadeva, or Maheshvara, and beyond these mental
concepts, the Supreme Reality as the originator of all things. G.W. Briggs
noted that, "although Adinath may have been a yogi preceding
Matsyendranatha, he is now identified with Shiva, and the name is used to trace
the origin of the (Nath) sect to the greatest of yogis, the god Shiva.
The same
"Adi Nath" word is used by Sri Vidya Upasakas, and one of the tradition
is Uttara Kaula under the greater ambit of Sri Vidya Upasana. However, the
tradition still survives and the sampradaya still exists, although confined to
few and those few not willing to share the details in the public domain as the
sampradaya is kept always in secret. There was never any Indian Natha Order as
such since this has been living tradition transcending lands, still surviving
in Tibetan, Nepal and other
part of South Asia .
The International
Natha Order should be classified under Neo Tantra ideology, however the true
tantra still remains in the hand of few ones in India
The Adinath
Sampradaya was a sadhu sub-lineage of the greater Natha Tradition. Followers of
this tradition were given Sannyasa Diksha (Initiation), thus renouncing
householder life, and thereafter lived as naked sadhus. Believing that sadhus
should live alone until they had attained the goal, they lived in caves, huts,
ruined buildings, or empty houses, and always away from towns and villages.
Reference to the Adinath Sampradaya is pointed out by Rajmohan Nath (1964) who
lists them among the twelve traditional sub-lineage of the Nath Sampradaya. The
Adinatha Sampradaya is also listed among the sub-divisions of Natha Lineages in
the Census Report, Punjab , 1891, p. 114.
The last sadhu
holding authentic Guru status in the Adinatha Sampradaya was Shri Gurudev
Mahendranatha, who attained Mahasamadhi in 1991. Though he created, and gave Diksha into, a western householder variant of
the Natha Tradition, he intentionally terminated the Adinath Sampradaya by
refusing to bestow Sannyasa Diksha, an initiation required for succession. This
intent is clear from Shri Gurudev's writings. In The Magick Path of Tantra, he
wrote: "I had decided not to initiate anyone of Indian origin into the
Uttara Kaula or the Adinatha Sampradayas. As sannyasi or sadhu, there was the
danger that after I had entered Mahasamadhi and was unable to deny, that
someone might claim that they had been given Sannyasa Diksha, and claim
authority as guru by succession."
Also, in The
Phantastikos: "I myself have been an initiate and the final Guru of the
Adi Nathas, one of the many sublineages of the Great Natha stream and ancient
tradition. With the birth of the International Nath Order, the Indian Adinatha
Lineage became defunct, and I myself retired from public life." Thus,
while the flame of the Natha Tradition was passed to the West, the sadhu
tradition of the Adi Nathas was laid to rest with Shri Gurudev Mahendranath.
But many in India and Nepal
Nandhinatha
Sampradaya
Nandinatha Sampradaya (नन्दिनाथ सम्प्रदाय) is a denomination of Vedic Hinduism that places great
importance on the practice of yoga, mysticism and spirituality. It is related to the broader Natha Sampradaya. The Nandinaatha Sampradaya
traces its beginning to at least 200 BCE or even 2000 BCE. Its founder and
first known spiritual preceptor was the Great Sage MahaRishi Nandinatha.
Shree Nandinatha Rishi is said to have initiated eight
disciples (Sanatkumara, Sanakar, Sanadanar, Sanantanar, Shivayogamuni,
Patanjali, Vyaghrapada, and Tirumular) and sent them to various places to
spread the teachings of Advaita Shaivism (non-dualistic Shaivism). Though some
of these disciples were sent as far as China
Patanjali Rishi
is remembered as the author of the Yoga Sutras. This crucial text is one of the
most widely quoted and respected texts on the practice of Yoga. Its
translations are studied today in Yoga Centers throughout the world. Most of
the mystical, Sanskrit vocabulary of Yoga teachings are first codified in this
text. The aShThanga (eight-limbed) process of Yoga comes from this text. The
text contains a spiritual blueprint for using the physical body to yoke
consciousness to the Divine source.
Tirumular
authored the Tirumantiram, which is a well known Tamil text. The Tirumantiram
is still chanted in Tamil Nadu. It covers a wide variety of topics and
illuminates much of the esoteric mystical insight of this Sampradaya. It
illustrates the life style and moral conduct advocated by this tradition. It
provides much insight into the mystical meditations and tantras (techniques)
valued by the Nandinatha Sampradaya. It places great emphasis on repetition of
the panchakshara (or five lettered) mantra: "Om
namah Shivaaya".
The teachings of
the Nandinatha Sampradaya, value highly the necessity of a living perceptor to
carry the unseen, energetic essence of these teaching to devotees. The
Nandinatha Sampradaya is a Siddha Yoga Tradition ("Siddha" means
literally attainment), and its Gurus have often demonstrated great mystical
abilities and wisdom. It is said that these teachers have realized their
oneness with the Supreme God (they call "Shiva") and have merged as
completely as humanly possible with this Divine source of all. With such
realization, it is said, comes limitless bliss and direct command of every
power in the universe.
There are many
accounts of miraculous powers demonstrated by the Teachers of this lineage. It
is taught that the aid of such a highly realized Siddha can greatly quicken
spiritual practice. Some even say that without the diksha (initiation) of such
teachers, the human instincts will always fail to lead to this highest
Realization.
The Nandinatha
Sampradaya is maintained today by several groups stemming from MahaRishi
Nandinatha's eight disciples. The Kailasa Parampara is based out of Kauai , Hawaii ,
U.S.A. Himilayan Academy
Natha
Appearance
As all other
Shaiva ascetics, Nāthas wear saffron colored closes, or go around half-naked,
after besmearing body with ash from their sacred fires. Many of them keep their
hair matted, some are clean-shaven. The most striking detail of the Natha
appearance, which makes them very easily distinguished from the ascetics of all
others lineages of India
The Natha Yogis
believe that the two important nadies (subtle channels) are become cut in the
process, what becomes helpful for the permanent rising of Kundalini. Another
purpose of this custom is to demonstrate the faith and determination of an
adept, to follow the path once selected by him. The procedure of the splitting
ears by itself is very painful, and traditionally no medicines were applied to keep
the pain in control. After earrings, another important distinctive mark of
Nathas is their sacred thread called janeū, worn around the neck. It consists
from six dark brown threads with pavitri (pāvitrī ring), rudrākṣa and siṅgnād (whistle) attached to it. Janeū is given to an adept at time of entering into the
order, along with new name ending on Natha and Guru Mantra.
This is first
stage of initiation into the order, after which yogi becomes known as aughaṛ. For aughaṛ, his janeu is the only mark of his belonging to the Natha Sampradaya Lineage, without which he
would not be recognized as its member. The fully initiated Nathas, who have
accomplished the task of splitting their ears and inserting earrings, called
Darshani (darśanī). Darshni yogis have much more respect then aughars, and
considered to be full pledged members of the lineage, while second are still
looked on as ‘candidates’ for the complete initiation.
Natha
Sampradaya
The Natha
Sampradaya (Devanagari:नाथ संप्रदाय), is a
development of the earlier Siddha or Avadhuta
Sampradaya, an ancient lineage of spiritual masters. Its founding is
traditionally ascribed as an ideal reflected by the life and spiritual
attainments of the Guru Dattatreya, who was considered by many to have been a
human incarnation of Lord Vishnu born to Rishi Atri and Anasuya Mata. Shiva God
is the Lord of all Nathas means Yogis and Yoginis. The establishment of the
Nathas as a distinct historical lineage purportedly began around the 8th or 9th
century with a simple fisherman, Matsyendranatha, sometimes called Minanath,
who may be identified with or called the father of Matsyendranatha in some
sources.
One story of the
origin of the Natha Sampradaya teachings is that Matsyendranatha was swallowed
by a fish and while inside the fish overheard the teachings given by Shiva to
his wife Parvati. According to legend, the reason behind Shiva imparting a
teaching at the bottom of the ocean was in order to avoid being overheard by
others. In the form of a fish, Matsyendranatha exerted his hearing in the
manner required to overhear and absorb the teachings of Shiva God. After being
rescued from the fish by another fisherman, Matsyendranatha took initiation as
a sannyasin from Siddha Carpati. It was Matsyendranatha who became known as the
founder of the specific stream of yogis known as the Nath Sampradaya.
Matysendranatha's
two most important disciples were Cauranginatha and Gorakshanatha. The latter
came to eclipse his Master in importance in many of the branches and
sub-lineages of the Natha Sampradaya Order. Even today, Shree Gorakshanatha is
considered by many to have been the most influential of the ancient Nathas. He
is also reputed to have written the first books dealing with Laya Yoga and the
raising of the Kundalini-Shakti.
There are several
sites, ashrams and temples in India Gorakhnath
Temple in Gorakhpur Maharashtra , India
Sampradaya of Mahayogi
Gorakshanatha is an ancient authentic Yoga tradition. Guru Gorakshanatha has
founded this tradition. In India
It was
Gorakshanatha that developed the Hatha-yoga which are known as well as
kaya-sadhana, pinda-sadhana, etc. He also is known as great master of Tantra
and miracle-worker. There are many legends about him. Practices of Nathas
include the internal alchemy leading to immortality. During many centuries
Natha-cult transferred knowledge through lineage from Guru to disciple,
therefore the tradition was kept to our time; during this period various
spiritual systems of India
Yoga
Spreading
The wide spread
influence of the Natha lineage presently can be traced all over India Gujarat
are the stronghold of Nathas and having the biggest number of their
establishments and followers. The Southern and Eastern parts of the country are
less frequently visited by the Nātha yogis and have relatively few ashrams of
the lineage. The reasons for this are the language barrier and the poor density
of places to stay. There are also some Nātha ashrams in the Nepal
The twelve
traditional Natha Panthas
The Natha
Sampradaya is traditionally divided into twelve streams or Panths. According to
David Gordon White, these panthas were not really a subdivision of a monolithic
order, but rather an amalgamation of separate groups descended from either
Matsyendranath, Gorakshanath or one of their students. According to the Shri
Amrit Nath Ashram website, the twelve Natha Panthi are as follows:
Satya natha
Dharam natha
Daria natha
Ayi Panthia
Vairaga kea
Rama ke
Kapilani
Mannathi
Rawal ke
Paava panth
Paagala panthi
However, there
have always been many more Natha sects than will conveniently fit into the
twelve formal panths. Thus less populous sannyasin sub-sects such as the
Adinath Sampradaya or Nandinatha Sampradaya are typically either ignored or
amalgamated into one or another of the formal panths. Reference to the Adinath
Sampradaya is pointed out by Rajmohan Nath (1964) in the following list of the
twelve sub-lineages:
Machhindranatha
Adinatha
Minanatha
Gorakhnatha
Khaparnatha
Satnatha
Balaknatha
Golaknatha
Birupakshanatha
Bhatriharinatha
Ainatha
Khecharanatha
Ramachandranatha
The Order
Names
There exist many
different names associated with the lineage, amongst them Nāthas, Gorakshnathi,
Yogis, Siddha Sampradaya, Kanphata Yogis’ are most popular. Each of these names
has its own unique significance, reflecting some distinctive aspects assigned to
it. ‘Nātha Saṁpradāya’ (the Lineage of Nathas),
‘Nātha yogis’, ‘Nātha panth (i)’or simply ‘Nāthas’ are most commonly used names
of the order. Reasons about the origin of starting using this word, best of all
explained in commentary of Brahmaananda on Hatha Yoga
Pradipica called Jyotsna:
ādināthaḥ sarveṣāṁ nāthanāṁ prathamaḥ tato nāthasampradāyaḥ pravṛtta iti nāthasampradāyino vadanti|
Adi Nath is the
‘first from all Nathas’, from him Natha Sampradaya has arisen, duty this reason
it is spoken about as Nātha Saṁpradāya.
Nathas believe
that the Great God Siva (Shiva Mahadeva) himself was founder of their order.
Then he is known as Adi Natha, the one of the Nine Great Nathas, ‘the First
Nath’, ‘the Primeval Master’, unanimously accepted by Yogis as the Adi Guru
(the First Guru) and patron deity of the lineage. Shiva is also know as
Yogeśvara (the Lord of Yoga), the ideal of ascetic per se, the Lord of
detachment, austerity and penance. In more wide sense, the Adi Natha also can
be translated as ‘the First Lord’ of the entire creation, one without begging.
The
Original of word ‘Nātah’
Translated from
Sanskrit, the word Natha means: a protector, patron, possessor, owner, lord,
master and husband. Presently the word became strongly associated with the
Nātha Order of Yogis, and became its unique recognition symbol amongst the
other ascetic traditions of the India
Natha
Sampradaya historical
The name Siddha
Sampradaya, illustrates that Nathas are descendants of the tradition of
Mahasiddhas, which has reached its peak around 7th-9th centuries. Guru Goraksha
Natha has created the Natha Sampradaya by assimilated into it many ascetics
from the contemporary Shaiva lineages, such as Lakulīśa, Kāpālikas and
Pāśupatas along with Buddhist Vajrayāna Siddhas. The Siddha movement was
started as the rebellion against the formalism and hypocrisy existed in the contemporary
traditions, it rejected all double standards and superstitions, and emphasized
the direct practice of Yoga as the only way to salvation. Amongst other reforms
carried on by Mahāsiddhas, one was starting to use simple regional languages
instead of traditional Sanskrit, as for worship, as well as for propaganda of
their doctrines. Sansktit is much more for mantras and philosophical
terms.
Although the
Natha Sampradaya was formed on the base of the unorganized movements of its
forerunners, it was designed to be much different from them. The Nātha yogis
closely resembled Kāpālikas in their outer appearance, they were half-naked,
besmeared with ash and keeping long mated hair, but it was only the external
similarity. Not like its predecessors, the new order was well organized,
disciplined and was having the simple and systematical teaching, which could be
easily understood by people. The complex system introduced by the Guru Goraksha
Nātha, was based on the correct knowledge of the subtle structures existing in
human body and the Cosmic Laws of the Universe. It was emphasizing the practice
of Hatha Yoga and the power of austerity (tapa), and was almost totally denying
the learning of scriptures as means of liberation.
Master Goraksha
Natha put the end to the practiced by Kapalikas custom to carry female consort
with them and condemned it as ridiculous and hypocritical. To avoid the further
confusion, he discontinued the authority of all previously existed
philosophical traditions (not spiritual) and Tantras, and instead started the
practice of passing knowledge from Guru to disciple in the line of direct
transmissions. The esoteric part of the teaching was put in the form of short
couplets called Mantras, which were easy to remember and were learnt by heart.
Each of those couplets contained some elements of knowledge on particular
topic, and was passed only from Guru to disciple. The other part of teaching
addressed to wider public was included in Ārati - the songs of praise and
prayer to Deity, singed daily as part of the morning and in the evening
worship.
The
Followers of Shree Goraksha Nātha
Amongst their
other names Nāthas also known as ‘Gorakṣnāthi’ or
followers of Guru Goraksha Natha. Although they revere Goraksha Natha as the
actual founder of their order, the names of Matsyendra
Nātha along with Jalandhara Natha precede him in the paramparā (the lineage of
succession) of the great masters of the order. Matsyendra Nātha is also known
as Dādā (Guru) Matsyendra Nātha, or ‘the grand-father guru’ of all Nāthas.
Foto: Mahayogi
Shree Mahavatar Goraksha Natha Babaji
The
Personality of Goraksha Nātha Babaji
Goraksha Natha
Babaji is himself shown in the supreme samadhi sitting as Nagaraja upon a Yogic
throne under which the Nine Nagas, Vasuki, Ananta, Takshaka, Varuna, Padmaka,
Sankhpala, Kulika, Mahapadma, and Karkotaka. This Lord of karma and destiny,
Shiva Goraksha Nagaraja sat upon his throne of nagas for 12 years to withhold
the rain and create a drought to give the people of Nepal
The name of Guru
Goraksha Nātha can be easily recognized, amongst the other remarkable
personalities of India
As historical
personage, Goraksha Natha was widely famous all over India India
There exist
numerous books attributed to the authorship of Shree Goraksha Natha, some of
which became milestones for the further development of the Yoga tradition.
Amongst them, few are in Sanskrit and few are in the medieval form of the
different local dialects of India Nepal , Assam , Punjab, Gujarat, Karnataka, Uttar
Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Maharashtra
are usually mentioned in the legends about him.
In accordance
with the opinions expressed by different researchers, he lived no earlier than
7th century and not later than 12th century A.D. and probably had very long
yogic life, may be more than 300 years. Earliest date based on the accepting as
fact that he lived at the same time with the king of Nepal Narendra Deva, who
ascended to the throne in about 640 A.D. and ruled till his death in 683 A.D.…
The latest date based on the biography of the Saint Jṣāneśvar, in accordance with which Goraksha Natha lived not long
time before him.
The Natha Yogis
believe that Goraksha Natha was more then human Guru nad living Spiritual
Master, and insist on his miraculous non-human birth and immortality. It is
told that he lived even before the creation has taken place, and through all
four Yugas like Shiva God or one of His close disciples, and presented here
even now, being invisible. Various accounts are showing him as meeting with the
different people, who lived at the periods so far remote from each other that
makes it impossible for the ordinary human being. He is described as unseen
background and inspiriting power behind the manifestation of many saints at the
different periods of history.
Kabir, Guru
Nanak, Guga Pir, Raja Bhartrihari and many others are traditionally connected
with his personality. In accordance with some legends about him, he was not
bound to one physical body, and was able easily leave own body and enter into
other bodies, or to create one or few of them by his will and as such, he is an
immortal. The Nāthas believe that he is still alive and appears at different
places, at the time when it is most relevant to protect Dharma. One of his
latest manifestations regarded by Nāthas, has happened about three hundreds
years ago, when he walked in India
Gorakshanatha has
written about fifty texts on philosophy, metaphysical aspects of yoga and
various methods of Yoga-sadhana. He has founded the order of Kanphata Yogis.
The Kanphata yogis' distinctive attribute is big ear-rings in the ears, that
symbolizes solar and lunar energy. Natha Yogis have another characteristic
feature, some of thise is Nadi (ritual whistle), which yogis carry on a black
woolen string (Janeo). and This symbol is related to Nada-anusandhana practice,
which intend for work with sound vibration. The Janeo string is connected with
IdaPingala channels. A few treatises about Yoga and Tantra which are
traditionally attributed to Mahayogi Gorakhshanatha and his followers are given
below:
Hatha-yoga
Pradipika, Gheranda Samhita, Shiva Samhita, Svara Tantra, Siddha Siddhanta
Paddhati, Goraksha Vacana Sangraha, Amanaska Yoga, Goraksha Siddhanta Paddhati,
Viveka Martanda, Goraksha Upanishada, Yoga Siddhanta Paddhati, Yoga-bija,
Goraksha Paddhati, Goraksha Samhita, Goraksha Shataka, Yoga Chintamani, Yoga
Martanda , Jnyanamrita, Jnyana-sankalini, Amaraugha Prabodha, Yoga Mahima,
Goraksha Gita, Yoga Siddhanta Paddhati, Atmabodha, Goraksha-sahasranama,
Kulananda Tantra, Matsyendra-samhita, Akulavira Tantra, Jnyana Karika,
Natha-sutra, etc.
Hatha-yoga of
Natha-sampradaya accentuates on the Kundalini-jagaran (sadhana, which trace to
Tantric doctrines) as distinct from the Hatha-yoga of Maharishi Patanjali. Guru
Gorakshanatha has founded 12 panthas or branches of Yoga-sampradaya. The
spiritual culture of India India
Gorakshanatha is
known throughout the India
People know him
by many names, and yet he is called the Nameless One. He broods over the infant
humanities from eternity to eternity. Heaven and earth shall pass away, but he
shall be in the here now, eternally to stay. The limited vision of sages,
siddhas, philosophers and yogis cannot pierce his transcendental star. His
spiritual stature is inconceivable. He is the collective Dewas, Gods, Elohim,
the spiritual essence of the nine Natha Lords combined. He is the great
sacrifice who in a countless supernovae explosion infused every atom of
creation with his spirit of livingness, wisdom and truth to redeem not only
humankind but all life and matter to their pristine state of consciousness.
Shree Shiva
Goraksha Babaji is regarded as a manifestation of Lord Shiva himself. He has
bestowed upon humanity the practices to evolve human consciousness, in particular,
the divine alchemy of Shiva Shakti (Kundalini or Kriya Yoga), which exercises a
double action to hasten the evolution of the self soul. This expands the self
consciousness and burns away past evil karma. Shiva Goraksha Babaji is the
founder of the Natha Sampradaya Tradition. He reveals himself to only a few he
chooses and usually remains invisible, guiding humanity through his disciples.
He has revived the ancient science of Shiva God realization in modern times.
His mission continues to manifest through the work of his disciples.
Babaji Mahavatar
is ever the same. He was never born and therefore can never die. They call him
aja (the unborn). But from time to time this compassionate Lord of irradiant
splendor does manifest for humanity to do what needs to be done. Pulling the
veil of Maya by his own will he takes a form of Lightless light to incarnate
amongst the haunts of men. He guards, guides and enlightens their consciousness
as per their evolutionary blueprint. There is a great mystery and a sacrifice
to the ninth level of Divine Awareness which is self born. This is the state of
Brahma Nirvana from which the ineffable Shiva Goraksha Babaji descends to
redeem humanity yet maintains his state. How this is possible is known only to
Him.
He is the collective
consciousness of the seven primordial sages of the fire mist born at the
beginning of Time. His deathless body of lightness light may take
any form through which he can express and show himself to the faithful from age
to age. He took the form of Adi Natha Shiva Yogi himself, and of Rudra of
the Ancient of Days. He came recently in 500 B.C. as Kala Agni Natha, then as
Dakshina Murti when he initiated many isciples. Then he manifested as Gorksha
Natha in 70 B.C. at the time of King Shalivahan and Chowrangee Nath. In the
same ever present immortal body he manifests as Shiva Goraksha Babaji in the
ninth century A.D. during the time of Guga Natha, whom he empowered to have
complete mastery over the Nagas and ultimately be worshipped as a Naga God.
Then the Lord of
compassion Shiva Goraksha arose from beneath the dirt and mire of our earth to
cleanse and free the earth and its people from the same dirt and dung which
covers their souls. To give us the radiant love and nectar of the Divine
through Kriya Yoga Meditation.
Yogic
Pantheon
Nāthas are
adherents of Śaivism, as such, they are devotes of the Great God Śiva Mahādeva
and his consort Goddess Pārvati in all their different manifestations. In
Shaivita, the Shiva is looked upon as the Primeval Lord of Universe, the One
from whom all started, who responsible for creation, maintenance and
destruction. The worship of fireplace (dhuna) plays important role in the daily
lives of yogis, they believe that fire represents the mother Goddess. All of
Nathas adore Goraksha Natha as their Guru, they also worship the Nine Great
Nathas, the 84 Mahāsiddhas and some later Siddha yogis. Approximately all gods
of the Hindu pantheon some how integrated into the Natha Tradition, and valued
by yogis. There is said that id 144 000 spiritual enghlighment Masters, Saints
and Awataras in this Earth.
The
Philosophical base
Foto: Shree
Mahavatar Goraksha Natha Babaji
Goraksha
Natha is not only Philosopher
As good yoga
teacher, Goraksha Natha always emphasized the practical aspect of yoga and
always was against of creating any kind of sophisticated philosophical
doctrines around it. Instead of indulging in creating one, he formed the Nātha
Paṇth as the medium to present within itself the living body of his
teaching. By example of his life, he practically realized the essence of his
doctrines, and became the living example of a Great yogi.
The Siddha yogis
consider any attempts to grasp and express the Absolute Reality - Brahman by
the power of words, or by mind as a waste of time. Even the most philosophical
book of Goraksha Nātha, the Siddha Siddhānta Paddhati, counted by the modern
researchers as being only the semi-philosophical work. This is not matter of
big wonder, because Goraksha Nātha himself stating in the beginning of this
work, that it is impossibly to express the Absolute Truth (Parama Satyam) by
the written words, yet with purpose to bring the ideas of Enlightened Siddha
Yogis in front of masses, he still makes an attempt to express them.
nāsti
satyavicāre'sminnutpattiścāṇḍapiṇḍayoḥ | tathāpi lokavṛttyarthaṁ vakṣye satsampradāyataḥ SSP 1|| 2 ||
In such way, he
steps away from all possible future disputes, by accepting that from the point
of view of the Absolute truth (Parama Sathyah), all what he going to narrate,
are only relative truth and only one of many points of view. It is through the
practical implementation of the described methods and the teaching into life,
that one acquires the experience of the Absolute truth as the direct personal
experience.
The Main
Natha Conceptions
The Human
Body as Microcosm
One of the
fundamental conceptions of the Siddha Yogis is that human body is the
Microcosm, which contains in itself all what exist in the Macrocosm or the
Universe (Brahmanda). On the high stage of realization, the Yogi, particularly
Laya Yogi perceiving himself as being one with the universe and as being in
ultimate harmony and peace with it, and the aim of Nāthas is to reach this
stage.
Shiva and
Shakti
From the point of
view of the enlightened Siddhas, this entire world is nothing else but the
cosmic play of Shiva (God) and Shakti (Goddess). In all diversity chaotic
realities of the material world, Yogi sees unity and the manifestation of the
one Divine Will, and the one Divine Plan. At the certain stage of sadhana, yogi
has to realize his ātmatattva (the true nature of the soul, higher self) as
Shivatattva, when he experienced himself as Shiva being the master of universe
and of his personal Shakti (power). However, this is not the ultimate end of
Nathas, because Shiva and Shakti taking care of their creation much better then
any human could ever dream to do.
Yogi have to
transcendent even this state and to reach the state of Turyātīta, which means
‘Turyā as past’. The highest ideal of Nāthas is to realize themselves not as
the Shiva, who is consort of the Goddess, but rather as Goraksha Natha, who
known as Parvati putra ‘the son of the Mother Goddess’, in reality probably one
of reborning son or son-disciple. Goraksha Natha is also known as bāla ‘a
child’, and as Jatī. Jatī is the state of innocent child, who is bellow 10
years age, who does not have any idea about sexuality. As Jatī, he harmoniously
unites opposite principles, and being in their midst, does not become affected
by their play. Then he is called Shree, Shambhu, Yati (Śrī Śambū Jatī) Guru
Gorakṣa Nātha, where Shree is the name of the
Goddess of wealth and fortune Lakshmi, Shambhu (Beneficial) is the one of
Shiva’s names. In other words, Śrī Śambū Jatī is name for the Great Cosmic
Trinity of Mother, Father and Son. Yati is the Holy Man, Godman.
Adhikara -
The Ultimate Destination
The Ultimate State
bastī na sunyaṁ sunyaṁ na bastī agam agocar aisā |gagan
siṣar maṁhi bālak bolai tākā nāṁa dharahuge kaisā | Goraksh Bani ||1||
The city full of
life appears as merely illusion, at the same time, the life there is going on
by its own laws, such are the realities of that State, which cannot be reached
or described. ‘My head is touching the sky’, boy has said, ‘But how I can name
this?’
Yogis believe
that every spiritual aspirant has to face the same realities as any one else,
there are limited individual self and Eternal Divine Self, Jīvātma and
Paramātma, Soul and Spirit. The Soul identifies itself with the mind and body
with its senses, and missing the Spirit, which is its Higher Self, again and
again. Yoga in its true sense is about how to realize the union of both or
their essential oneness. In the process of transformation, it is limited, which
must be sacrificed to Unlimited, by going through fire of purification (tapa)
and merging. The Ultimate end of the Yoga is always the same, only different
traditions call it by different names.
rāja-yogaḥ samādhiśca unmanī ca manonmanī |amaratvaṁ layastattvaṁ śūnyāśūnyaṁ paraṁ padam 4|| 3||amanaskaṁ tathādvaitaṁ nirālambaṁ niraṣjanam |jīvanmuktiśca sahajā turyā cetyeka-vācakāḥHaṭha Yoga Pradīpicā 4|| 4||
Rāja-yoga,
Samādhi, Unmanī, Manonmanī, Amaratva, Laya-tattva, śūnya-aśūnya, Paraṁ Pada, Amanaska, Advaita, Nirālamba, Niraṣjana, Jīvanmukti, Sahajā and Turyā all these are different words
to express the same State. HYP 4.3-4
The Chief
aims: to get sight, to be established
Siddha yogis say
that the ultimate aim of Nāthas is not to have merely sight of the Divine State Union with Higher Self (Yoga) at all
aspects of his life, without undertaking any efforts for it. He becomes
established in this state so firmly that he goes beyond of the three normal
states of consciousness: sleep, dreaming and awakened states, and even beyond
of the fourth state of Turyā. He transcends the ideas of the time and space,
and goes beyond of all other physical laws guiding the universe.
yogayukto
viśuddhātmā vijitātmā jitendriyaḥsarvabhūtātmabhūtātmā
kurvann api na lipyateBhagavad-gītā 5|7
Established in
permanent state of Yoga (union with Higher Self, the Soul, Atman) yogi whose
soul became purified, who subjugated his senses, who realizes himself as Self
of every living being, although (appearing as) acting, in reality never get
attached to what he is doing.
The
Ultimate Ends of the Life and of the Yoga are the same
The idea that the
purpose of all transmigrations of the individual soul is its evolution to the
higher spiritual ideals, was widely presented in the Indian spiritual horizon
trough the ages. In accordance with it, the Soul or Atman (self), passes
through the different kinds of lives and bodies, which called 84 laks of yonis
(wombs) of all possible forms of life. By its nature the soul is immortal and
free, it is neither male, neither female, but by identifying itself with the
different kinds of bodies it abides in, it becomes affected by the experiences
they are getting. In the process of these transmigrations, this individual soul
receives the different kinds of experiences, as result of which it has the
potential to evolve to the higher realms of life. The side effect of this
constant movement is that it is full of sorrows and never ends. From all forms
of life, it is only human body which allows attaining the emancipation from the
circle of births and deaths.
In accordance
with Guru Goraksha Nath , the final emancipation is not merely ceasing of
existence, in reality it is transformation into purely new form of life and
reaping ultimate goal of the final beatitude of existence. This process roughly
can be compared with the evolving of caterpillar into butterfly. The same
awareness, first perceives itself as caterpillar, with all its peculiarities,
then as butterfly, with the different set of qualities and the way of life. The
same observer acts in the both situations as the different living entity, but
what a difference is there, caterpillar can crawl on the earth only, but
butterfly can walk in the sky!
The Magical
powers: Siddhis
The accruing of
Siddhis or the magical powers is not the aim of the Nātha Yogis, achieving the
State of Siddha
Sādhanā
(Practices)
Diksha -
Initiation
The Natha
Sampradaya is an initiatory Guru-shishya tradition. Membership in the
Sampradaya is always conferred by initiation (diksha) by a Diksha-guru — either
the lineage-holder or another member of the Sampradaya whose ability to
initiate has been recognized by his diksha-guru. The Natha initiation itself is
conducted inside a formal ceremony in which some portion of the awareness and
spiritual energy (shakti) of the Guru is transmitted to the shishya (student).
The neophyte, now a Natha, is also given a new name with which to support their
new identity. This transmission or "touch" of the Guru is
symbolically fixed by the application of ash to several parts of the body.
Bhakti -
The Devotion to Guru
There exists
waist body of the different yogic and tantric practices, which are
traditionally associated with the Nātha lineage. Above all of them is the Path
of the Devotion to Guru, established by the examples of lives of Goraksha Natha
and his Guru Matsyendra Nātha. When one attempts to come in the direct touch
with Divine (Daivam), all attempts of cheating and negotiation are of no use.
The total surrender oneself to it is the only alternative and the only method.
To get everything, one has to give up everything, all personal attachments,
aspirations and ambitions. Ishwara-prani-dhana (īśvarapraṇidhānā) can be translated as, “Offering the life to God”. On
practice, this means total surrendering to the Divine will and dedication own
life for the God's sake. Maharishi Patanjali has emphasized this
important aspect of Yoga in his Yoga Sutra:
Samādhi-siddhir-īśvarapraṇidhānāt | YS.2 || 45||
The Ultimate State
In this short
aphorism, were reflected both: the essence and the ultimate end of Yoga. It is
one of the fundamental conceptions of all religions and spiritual lineages
existing in the India that Guru should by looked on as the embodiment of
Divine. When the devoted spiritual seekers become ready for his spiritual
journey, God Himself accepts the form of Guru to guide them. It is trough Guru
that God reveals Himself to an adept and guide him on the path of yoga. In one
famous mantra, Guru saluted as to be same with the main Gods of Hindu pantheon:
Brahmā, Viṣṇu, Rudra, Ishvara, Sadashiva, Maheśvara (Śiva) or Mahadeva and
as the embodiment of the Eternal Lord.
gururbrahmā
gururviṣṇurgururdevo maheśvaraḥ |guruḥ sākṣāt paraṁ brahma tasmai śrīguruve namaḥ ||
The Sadhana of
Nāthas centered around the unshakable faith and devotion towards Shree Guru.
‘My commitment is ability of Sri Guru’, says famous aphorism of the Nāthas.
Some practices can be useful in bringing about the glimpses of the Divine State
daivī hy eṣā guṇa-mayī mama māyā duratyayāmām eva ye prapadyante māyām etāṁ taranti te | BG 7.14
daivī hy eṣā guṇa-mayī mama māyā duratyayāmām eva ye prapadyante māyām etāṁ taranti te | BG 7.14
It is almost
impossible to transcend my Divine illusion (Māyā) consisting of the three modes
of ignorance (Gunās). Only those who have totally surrendered themselves to Me
can cross over it.
In the lesson
five of the Siddha Siddhānta Paddhati, Sri Guru Goraksha Natha after mentioning
the huge list of all possible yogic practices, all kinds of worship and
meditation, make a concluding statement that the state of Parama Pada can not
be attained through them.
nānantopayayatnebhyaḥ prāpyate parama padam 5 || 59 ||
He adds that all
of those practices are centered around the conception of the body, and give
advice to forsake them as means to be established in the true Yoga state:
etāni sādhanāni
sarvāṇi daihikāni parityajya paramapade'daihike sthīyate siddhapuruṣairiti SSP 5 || 60 ||
In order to attain
the Ultimate State
Goraksha Nātha
says that it is only through compassion of the Shree Guru that one can attain
liberation and be established in this state:
gurudṛkpātanāt prāyo dṛḍhānāṁ satyavādināṁ sā sthitirjāyate SSP 5 || 61 ||
Establishment in
that State can be achieved by patient and sincere disciple only through the
grace of the Guru. 5.61
kathanācchaktipāta
dvāyadvāpadavalokanāt | prasādātsvaguroḥ samyak
prāpyate paramaṁ padam | SSP 5 || 62 ||
By obtaining
Shaktipata, (the awakening of his personal Divine power), trough the
supervision and favor of own Guru, Param Pada can be obtained. SSP 5.62
ataeva śivenoktam
|na guroradhikaṁ na guroradhikaṁ na guroradhikaṁ na guroradhikaṁ śivaśāsanataḥ śivaśāsanataḥ śivaśāsanataḥ śivaśāsanataḥ| SSP 5 || 63 ||
This is the
saying of Shiva:‘Nothing and nobody are greater then Guru, more then Guru,
higher then Guru and bigger then Guru. This is order of Śiva, order of Śiva,
order of Śiva’. SSP 5.63
The Guru
Mantra
At the first
stage of the initiation into the Siddha tradition, the Guru Mantra (magical
spell) is given to yogi by his Guru. It is compulsory for disciples who decided
to follow ascetic path, and can be given to lay disciples as well. This custom
is not peculiarity of the Nātha sect alone, but common amongst all other
ascetic traditions of India
Nāthas and
Tantra
The Natha Yogis
does not adopt any written work having word Tantra in its name, as the
canonical or officially accepted by their lineage; they are not followers of
any of written Tantras. However, it does not mean that they totally disregard
practices, which can be classified as Tantric. In accordance with the Monier
Williams Sanskrit dictionary, another name for Tantra is Kundalika (Kuṇḍalikā)-Math. If we accept definition of word tantra in this
light, then Nathas can be qualified as Tantric adepts per se, because the conception of the rising Kundalini
plays prominent role in their teaching.
Shaktipata
(Śaktipāta)
sā kuṇḍalinī prabuddhā aprabuddhā ceti dvidhā | aprabuddheti tatra piṇḍa cetanā rūpā svabhāvena nānā cintā vyāpārodyama prapaṣcarūpā kuṭila svabhāvā kuṇḍalinī ravyātā saiva yogināṁ tattadvilasita
vikārāṇāṁ nivāraṇodyamasva rūpā kuṇḍalinyūrdhvagāminī
prasiddhā bhavati SSP 4|| 14 ||
In accordance
with Śri Guru Gorakṣa Nātha, the Divine Power exists in
her two states, one is dormant (as sleeping) and other is awakened. When she
remains asleep, she appears as coiled serpent who sleeps at the Mūlādhāra chakra situated at base of the spine. After she became
awakened by the yogic techniques, she moves up through the middle channel
Sushumna (Suṣumṇa) to the Sahasrāra chakra, which
is her final destination. In the process of her journey, she is passing through
chakras and becoming united with her consort Shiva on the each
level of her journey.
When she is not
awakened, she appears in all her glory as the Power of illusion or Māyā, which
having the nature of three Gunās, by which all this complex reality comes into
existence. She is the power responsible for the appearance of this world as
real, with all its phenomena, cosmic and physical laws and countless objects.
Without her, this world would not exist, but as side effect of her activity,
she keeps people in ignorance of their own true nature.
After she becomes
awakened, she turns into her own opposite, from Māyā, the power of illusion
pushing into ignorance, she becomes Yoga Māyā, the power of yogic
transformation delivering from it. Then she is known as the Great Goddess
Kundalini, who takes yogi beyond of all his limitations. Once she became
awakened, she makes her appearance to yogi, and takes care of his salvation,
taking him by so-called ‘the Short path’ also known as Śaktipāta.
Yogi, who has
offered his limited personality for the sake of Divine part of self, has to
pass trough the fire of purification, when all his impurities and limitations
mercilessly cut off. It is Goddess, who creates situations and temptations in
the mind of yogi, and it is she, who mercifully delivers him from them. She
sees far ahead in the future, and knows better what is beneficial for him. In
his turn, the yogi should always obey the Divine orders (Adesh) and be sincere
on the Path he once selected.
The Kuṇḍalinī is not only the flawless Goddess
of Yoga, but also the zealous protector of the occult knowledge, and those who
are try to enter into the ‘Temple of God’ as thief, or insincere are get hurt.
It is should be mentioned that the path of Śaktipāta as it is very extreme, and
the practices resulting in the complete awakening of Kundalini (Himavanti) must
not be attempted by any one without proper Natha Guru.
The Role of
the Nātha Yogis in the Propagation of Yoga
The phenomenon of
the Nātha tradition is much more complex than can be described in this short
article. Since the time of its foundation by Guru Gorakṣa Nātha until now, the Yoga Lineage of Nāthas has exercised
enormous influence on the spiritual life of India and beyond of its borders.
The Nātha yogis played prominent role in propaganda of
Shaivism all over India India
Yogis of the
Natha Lineage have developed complex system, which later became known as Haṭha Yoga. Those practices of Haṭha Yoga, which
were purposed for the maintenance health of human body, proved itself as very
effective alternative medicine. In today’s world, the millions of people are
implementing the principles of Yoga in their lives and
practicing the basic Haṭha Yoga exercises as the way to
maintain good health and to get enlightened. The ideas and practices introduced
by the Guru Goraksha Natha were much ahead of his time, and his teaching does not lost its actuality until present moment.
Siddhas -
Perfect Yoga Masters
A Siddha सिद्ध in Sanskrit
means "one who is accomplished" and refers to perfected masters who,
according to Vedic and Hindu belief, have transcended the ahamkara (ego or I-maker), have subdued their minds to be subservient to their
Awareness (Cittam), and have transformed their bodies (composed mainly of dense
Rajo-tama gunas) into a different kind of body dominated by sattva. This is
usually accomplished only by persistent meditation. According to Jain belief
Siddha are liberated souls who have destroyed all the karma bondings. Siddha do
not have any kind of body, they are soul at its purest form.
A siddha has also
been defined to refer to one who has attained a siddhi. The siddhis as
paranormal abilities are considered emergent abilities of an individual that is
on the path to siddhahood, and do not define a siddha, who is established in
the Pranava or Aum (Om ) – the spiritual
substrate of creation. The siddhi in its pure form means "the attainment
of flawless identity with Reality (Brahman); perfection of Spirit." In the
Hindu philosophy of Kashmir Shaivita (Hindu tantra), siddha also refers to a
Siddha Guru who can by way of Shaktipat initiate disciples into Yoga.
In Jain Cosmology
siddha-shila is situated at the very top of universe. The Siddhas (liberated
souls who will never take birth again, who have gone above the cycle of life
and death) go to the siddha -shila after being liberated and stays there till
infinity. Siddha is a level of soul above Arihanta who possess kevala jnana. In
Hindu cosmology siddhaloka is a subtle world (lokam) where perfected beings
(siddhas) take birth. They are endowed with the eight primary siddhis at birth.
In Hindu
theology, Siddhashrama is a secret land deep in the Himalayas ,
where great yogis, sadhus, and sages who are siddha live. The concept is
similar to Tibetan mystical land
of Shambhala
Foto: Shree
Mahavatar Goraksha Natha - Nagaraja Kriya Babaji
Siddha
Sampradaya
Whenever siddha
is mentioned the 84 siddhas and 9 nathas are remembered and it is this
tradition of siddha which is known as the Siddha Sampradaya. Siddha is a term
used for both mahasiddhas and nathas. So a siddha may mean a siddha, a
mahasiddha or a natha. The three words siddha, mahasiddha and natha are used
interchangeably.
The
eighty-four Siddhas in the Varna
A list of
eighty-four Siddhas (though, actually only 76 names are mentioned) is found in
a manuscript (manuscript no 48/34 of the Asiatic Society of Bengal) dated
Lakshmana Samvat 388 (1506) of a medieval Maithili work, the Varna(na)ratnākara
written by Kaviśekharācārya Jyotirīśvara Ṭhākura, the
court poet of King Harisimhadeva of Mithila (reigned 1300–1321). An interesting
feature of this list is that the names of the most revered Nathas
are incorporated in this list along with the Buddhist Siddhacharyas. The names
of the Siddhas found in this list are:
Minanātha
Gorakshanātha
Chauranginātha
Chāmarinātha
Tantipā
Hālipā
Kedāripā
Dhongapā
Dāripā
Virupā
Kapāli
Kamāri
Kānha
Kanakhala
Mekhala
Unmana
Kāndali
Dhovi
Jālandhara
Tongi
Mavaha
Nāgārjuna
Dauli
Bhishāla
Achiti
Champaka
Dhentasa
Bhumbhari
Bākali
Tuji
Charpati
Bhāde
Chāndana
Kāmari
Karavat
Dharmapāpatanga
Bhadra
Pātalibhadra
Palihiha
Bhānu
Mina
Nirdaya
Savara
Sānti
Bhartrihari
Bhishana
Bhati
Gaganapā
Gamāra
Menurā
Kumāri
Jivana
Aghosādhava
Girivara
Siyāri
Nāgavāli
Bibhavat
Sāranga
Vivikadhaja
Magaradhaja
Achita
Bichita
Nechaka
Chātala
Nāchana
Bhilo
Pāhila
Pāsala
Kamalakangāri
Chipila
Govinda
Bhima
Bhairava
Bhadra
Bhamari
Bhurukuti
The Siddhas
in the Hathayogapradipika
In the first
upadeśa (chapter) of the Haṭhayogapradīpikā, a 15th century
text, a list of yogis is found, who are described as the Mahasiddhas. This list
has a number of names common with those found in the list of the Varna
Ādinātha
Matsyendra
Śāvara
Ānandabhairava
Chaurangi
Minanātha
Gorakṣanātha
Virupākṣa
Bileśaya
Manthāna
Bhairava
Siddhibuddha
Kanthaḍi
Koraṃṭaka
Surānanda
Siddhapāda
Charpaṭi
Kānerī
Pūjyapāda
Nityanātha
Nirañjana
Kapālī
Bindunātha
Kākachaṇḍīśvarā
Allāma
Prabhudeva
Ghoḍā
Chholī
Ṭiṃṭiṇi
Bhānukī
Nāradeva
Khaṇḍakāpālika
76 and 32 siddhas
there is directly mystical list of 108 siddhas...
In South India ,
a siddha refers to a being who has achieved a high degree of physical as well
as spiritual perfection or enlightenment. The ultimate demonstration of this is
that siddhas allegedly attained physical immortality. Thus siddha, like siddhar
or cittar (indigenisation of Sanskrit terms in Tamil Nadu) refers to a person
who has realised the goal of a type of sadhana and become a perfected being. In
Tamil Nadu, South India, where the siddha tradition is still practiced, special
individuals are recognized as and called siddhas (or siddhars or cittars) who
are on the path to that assumed perfection after they have taken special secret
rasayanas to perfect their bodies, in order to be able to sustain prolonged
meditation along with a form of pranayama which considerably reduces the number
of breaths they take.
The Natha tradition (Sampradaya) is a timeless
lineage of spiritual masters, connected with Infinite Consciousness through the
greatest Yogi of all ages, Babaji Gorakshanatha, the same introduced in
Yogananda's Autobiography of a Yogi. These ancient yogis discovered that the
secret of cosmic consciousness is intimately linked with breath mastery. The
life force, which is ordinarily used for bodily functions, can be channeled for
higher activities by a method of calming and stilling the ceaseless demands of
the breath. We get only a glimpse of the lineage of the Natha Yogis. It began from
Adi Natha, Lord Shiva himself, who gave it to his consort, Parvati Nathi. She gave it toShanmuka Natha, Ganesha and Nandi Natha.
Then Lord Krishna
as a member of Shaivita Natha Sampradaya initiated Lord Vivasvat, the Spirit of our sun
living on Earth. The lineage was later guarded by the kings of the solar
dynasty. Then Vaivasvat Manu, King Ikshavaku down to Harishchandra, then to
Lord RaghuNath (Rama), 47th in descent from Ikshavaku, whi is the 8th Rudra,
esoterically connected with Shiv Goraksha Babaji. It is through this grand
lineage of the Natha Yogis that the royal science of Kundalini Kriya Yoga has
been preserved and handed down through the corridors of time by the ever living
Shiv Goraksha Babaji. There is very a lot of mysticism in spiritual lineage of
Nathas.
Foto: Shree
Mahavatar Babaji - Goraksha Nathar
