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Of
all the Masters through the ages, there
is one acknowledged Master who has been
referred to in the ancient
scriptures,
in legends and mystic tales, in passing
mention by many renowned masters. Mentioned
in the Puranas and other scriptures,
he is known as Guru
Gorakhnath.
The Nath Sampradaya, among many others,
revere him as Shiva Goraksha.
It is
said that seeing Guru Gorakhnath in
samadhi, Mata Parvati asked Lord Shiva
about the yogi. Bhagwan Shankar or Lord
Shiva stated that it was his own yogic
manifestation. The Nine Naths and 84
Siddhas are aspects of Shiva himself,and
legend suggests that they
predate creation. Shiva Gorakshanath
is the founder of the Siddha tradition. |
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Guru
Goraknathji |
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The Nath Rahasya
mentions the Nine Naths as: |
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Adinath: Omkar Adinath,
Sakshat Shankar, nirakar, alakh niranjan swarup |
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Udayanath: Parvati-swaroop |
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Satyanath: Brahma swaroop |
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Santoshnath: Vishnu swaroop |
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Achal Achambaynath: Naukul
nagon ke Raja |
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Gajveli-Gajkantharnath: Ganesh
swaroop |
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Siddha Chowringhee Nath |
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Dada Macchendranath: Maccha
avatara swaroop |
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Shiva-Gorakshanath (Guru Gorakhnath) |
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There are innumerable
legends about Guru Gorakhnath, though there are
no records of when he was born, where he hails
from, or any historical facts associated with
events in his life. He is mentioned in reference
to Adi Shankaracharya who lived in the eighth
century. He is also associated with Kabir in the
fifteenth century.
Pandit Rajmani Tigunait referred to the divine
birth of Guru Gorakhnath in his book, From Death
to Birth. He wrote, "The eternal sage Narayana
himself walks in the flesh in the form of Matsyendra
Nath. Realising the depth of human ignorance and
misery he resolved to help the human race through
a beloved disciple who had already left his body
and become one with universal consciousness."
Among the many stories that abound, legend has
it that as the eternal sage Matsyendranath walked
through a village; he stopped at a house where
he was given a meal. Blessing the woman who gave
it, he said he would grant her any wish she had.
When she mentioned that she was barren, he gave
her some ash from the fire pit and told her to
eat it. She rushed to tell her neighbours who
ridiculed and cursed her. Afraid that they would
now call her insane as well as barren, she threw
the ash into the compost pit.
Twelve years later, Matsyendranath decided to
visit the child who was his eternal disciple.
Visiting the same house, he asked for the boy
and was surprised to hear that the woman did not
have a child. He asked, "What happened to
the ash?" Hearing that the woman had thrown
it into the compost pit, he asked to be taken
there. He called, "Alakh Niranjan" (one
who cannot be seen nor tainted). A young boy emerged
from the compost pit and bowing to his master
walked away with him. |
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Guru Gorakhnath
is thought to have authored several books including: |
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Goraksha Samhita |
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Goraksha Gita |
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Siddha Siddhanta Paddhati |
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Yoga Martanada |
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Yoga Siddhanta Paddhati |
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Yoga-Bija |
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Yoga Chintamani. |
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He is believed
to be the founder of the Nath Sampradaya and it
is stated that the nine Naths and 84 Siddhas are
all human forms created as yogic manifestations
to spread the message of yoga and meditation to
the world. It is they who reveal samadhi to mankind.
It is widely believed that Guru Gorakhnath has
been there for thousands of years, watching over
the welfare of mankind from behind the scenes
and occasionally appearing to accomplish a specific
goal. Guru Gorakhnath is a legend in the world
of everyday reality where logic prevails, where
the senses determine the truth of existence and
where reality is limited by the measurable. In
the world of man he is spoken of in tones that
vary from wonder and incredulity to sheer disbelief.
Shri Shraddhanathji Maharaj followed this tradition
of Nath Sampradaya as started by Guru Gorakhnath. |
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