Gorakhnath facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Gorakhnath |
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Statue of Gorakhnath performing yogic meditation in lotus position at Laxmangarh temple, India
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| Guru/teacher | Matsyendranath |
| Philosophy | Hatha yoga |
| Titles/honors | Mahayogi |
Gorakhnath (also called Goraksanath) was an important Hindu yogi and saint. He lived around the early 11th century. He started the influential Nath Hindu group of monks in India. He was one of the two most famous students of Matsyendranath.
His followers are found in places like Garbhagiri in Maharashtra, India. They are known as yogis, Gorakhnathi, Darshani, or Kanphata. Gorakhnath was one of nine special saints called Navnath. He is very popular in Maharashtra. Stories about him say he was more than just a human teacher. They say he could appear in different times and places.
Historians believe Gorakhnath lived sometime between the 11th and 15th centuries. They don't all agree on the exact time. Gorakhnath is seen as a Maha-yogi, meaning a great yogi, in the Hindu tradition. He taught that finding spiritual truth and living a spiritual life is a valuable goal for everyone. Gorakhnath believed that Yoga, spiritual practice, and living an ethical life could help people reach a state of deep peace called samadhi.
Gorakhnath, his ideas, and his yogis have been very popular in rural India. Many monasteries and temples are dedicated to him. You can find them in many Indian states, especially in the city of Gorakhpur, which is named after him.
Contents
Who was Gorakhnath?
When did Gorakhnath live?
Historians have different ideas about when Gorakhnath lived. Some think he lived in the 11th or 12th century. Others suggest the 13th or 14th century. His influence is seen in the writings of famous spiritual leaders like Kabir and Guru Nanak of Sikhism. These writings describe him as a powerful leader with many followers. This suggests he lived around the same time as these leaders.
Some old texts suggest that Gorakhnath might have been a Buddhist first. He then became a Hindu and strongly supported the worship of Shiva and the practice of Yoga. Gorakhnath believed that arguments between different spiritual ideas were not helpful. He taught that a yogi could choose any path, as long as it led to a state of deep spiritual understanding.
Stories about Gorakhnath
Stories about Gorakhnath say he appeared on Earth many times. These legends do not give a specific time or place for his birth. They see him as a superhuman figure. Some stories from North India say he came from northwest India, like Punjab. Other stories from Bengal and Bihar say he came from eastern India, like Assam.
These stories are not always the same. However, they all agree that Adinath and Matsyendranath were two important teachers before him. The Nath tradition believes that Adinath is Lord Shiva. He was the direct teacher of Matsyendranath, who then directly taught Gorakhnath.
Legends say that Gorakhnath traveled all over India. Stories about him are found in many places. These include Nepal, Punjab, Sindh, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Assam, Tripura, Bengal, Odisha, Kathiawar (Gujarat), Maharashtra, Karnataka, and even Sri Lanka.
The Nath Tradition
The Nath tradition existed before Gorakhnath. However, it grew much larger and stronger because of his guidance. He wrote many books and is still seen as the greatest of the Naths. It is believed that Gorakhnath wrote some of the first books on a type of yoga called Laya yoga.
Many caves in India have temples built over them. People say Gorakhnath meditated in these caves. One important place is the samadhi shrine (tomb) of Gorakhnath. It is at Nath Mandir near the Vajreshwari temple in Maharashtra, India. Legends also say that Gorakhnath and Matsyendranath practiced meditation at Kadri Temple in Mangalore, Karnataka.
There is also a famous temple of Gorakhnath on a hill called Garbhagiri in Maharashtra. Another well-known temple is in the state of Odisha.
Gorakhnath Math Monastery
The Gorakhnath Math is a monastery for the Nath group of monks. It is named after Saint Gorakhnath. The monastery and the town of Gorakhpur in Uttar Pradesh are named after him. This monastery is a cultural center for the city. It holds many cultural and social events. The monastery also publishes books about Gorakhnath's teachings.
Gorakhnath's Impact
Hatha Yoga
Some experts believe that Hatha yoga started with the Nath yogis, especially Gorakhnath and his teacher Matsyendranath. However, other scholars disagree. They think Hatha yoga might have started with other Hindu groups.
Even with different ideas about its exact start, many agree that there is a clear link between Gorakhnath, the Kanphatas (a group of yogis), and Hatha yoga.
Community Kitchens
Before Guru Nanak started Sikhism, Gorakhnath's followers in Punjab were already running free community kitchens. These kitchens, called langars, provided free meals to pilgrims and visitors. Gorakhnath shrines still offer free meals to people who visit them today.
Influence in Nepal
The Gurkhas of Nepal and Indian Gorkhas are named after Saint Gorakhnath. He has long been seen as the rastradevata (lord of the state) of Nepal. His name appears on many Nepalese coins and money notes. Gorkha, a historical area in Nepal, is also named after him.
There is a cave in Gorkha with his footprints (paduka) and a statue of him. Every year, there is a big celebration called Rot Mahotsav at his cave. This festival has been celebrated for over seven hundred years. A legend says that Gorakhnath once visited Nepal and meditated in a small hill for twelve years. Locals built a temple there to honor him.
Tamil Siddhar Tradition
Korakkar is one of the 18 Siddhars, who are wise saints in the Tamil tradition. He is also known as Goraknath among the Navanathar. Agattiyar and Bogar were his teachers. His Jeeva samadhi temple (a place where a saint is believed to have entered a deep meditative state) is in Vadukupoigainallur in Tamil Nadu. Some stories say he spent part of his childhood in the Velliangiri Mountains.
Other holy places linked to Korakkar are Perur, Thiruchendur, and Triconamalli. Korakkar caves can be found in Chaturagiri and Kolli Hills. Like other siddhas, Korakkar wrote songs about medicine, philosophy, and alchemy.
Influence in Eastern India
In West Bengal, Assam, and Tripura, and also in Bangladesh, there are many Yogi Brahmins. They are also called Rudraja Brahmins or Yogi Nath. They use surnames like Debnath, Debsharma, Nath, and Bhowmick. They take their name from Saint Gorakhnath.
Gorakhnath's Writings
Romola Butalia, who writes about Yoga history, lists several books believed to be written by Gorakhnath. These include the Goraksha Samhita, Goraksha Gita, Siddha Siddhanta Paddhati, Yoga Martanda, Yoga Siddhanta Paddhati, Yoga-Bija, and Yoga Chintamani.
He is thought to be the founder of the Nath Sampradaya. It is believed that the nine Naths and 84 Siddhas were special yogic forms. They appeared to share the message of yoga and meditation with the world. They are said to help people understand samadhi.
Siddha Siddhanta Paddhati
The Siddha Siddhanta Paddhati is an important Sanskrit text about Hatha Yoga. The Nath tradition believes Gorakhnath wrote it. This text describes the avadhuta, which is a liberated yogi.
The Siddha Siddhanta Paddhati teaches a philosophy of nonduality. This means the yogi sees "himself in all beings, and all in himself." This includes seeing the individual soul (Atman) as one with the universal spirit (Brahman). The text explains this idea in different ways, for example:
The four varna (social groups) are seen within each person. For example, a Brahmana is in righteous conduct, a Ksatriya in courage, a Vaisya in business, and a Sudra in service. A yogi feels all people of all groups within himself. So, he does not hate anyone. He has love for every being.
—Gorakhnath, Siddha Siddhanta Paddhati III.6-8 (Translator: D Shastri)
