Yoga Guru Gorakhnath

Adinath ke nati,
Machchindar ke poot,
Mai Yogi Gorakh Avadhoot.

This is an extract from the popular Hindi poem ascribed to Gorakhnath. It means, "I am the grandson of Adinath and the son of MatsyendraNath. My name is Gorakh and I am a Yogi monk (avadhoot).

Let us now try to understand the legend of great yogi Gorakhnath. Gorakhnath (also known as Gorakhsa, Goraksha, Gorakshanath) is famous as the principal mastermind, administrator, teacher and organiser of the whole Nath Yoga Tradition. He is indeed one of the greatest gurus in the field of yoga. The nath cult began with Shiva or AdiNath [ adi = primal ] followed by Matsyendra Nath --> GorakhNath. From Gorakhnath, the tradition branched and sub-branched into a multitude of Avadhoot Sadhus thoughout India for thousands of years. This Nath Cult became most renouned and powerful in the Pala Era. [ 8th century Ad to 12th century Ad] But this doesnt mean that the Naths began in the Pala era. The Adept yogis of India ( who have realised God and are known as Sant) mention the name of Gorakhnath with great respect. Yogi Gambhirnath says that the Asana ( seat) of Guru Gorakhnath was established in the Treta Yuga at the time of Lord Rama on earth! That must be at least 3ooo years ago. Gorakhnath through his relentless yogic austerities became immortal like Shiva. He lives even today in a place inaccessible to ordinary human beings. Whoever calls for his help or, asks for his bessings, gets it. Gorakhnath taught his fellow men to stop searching for God in idols and look for Him in their own hearts. Turn your gaze inwards. Gorakhnath and his disciples cried out for God using these sacred words, Alakh Niranjan . Alakh meaning invisible and Niranjan meaning unblemished, immaculate, purest. The Gorakhnathi Yogis consider the Guru to be equal to God. Gorakhnath has showed the path of Laya Yoga to the world. Laya Yoga includes easily practicable meditations of Anahata Nada sound, the Atma-jyoti (light of the soul in the third eye ) & so on.

Shankara Digvijaya is an ancient sanskrit manuscript that gives a detailed account of Adi Shankaracharya and his scholarly conquests. Shankara re-established Vedic culture in India and proved Nirguna Brahman ( the Absolute formless God as described in Vedanta ) to be the highest ideal of Spirituality. The separate schools of philosophies that worshipped innumerable deities differing in philosophy, appearance, rituals were subdued by Shankara in debates and yogic feats. All philosophers and ascetics of that time had to accept the Formless Brahman as the One God, the highest one and the various deities as smaller aspects or facets of his expression. Shankaracharya entered his last samadhi at a very young age of 32 about 2000 years ago. His disciples belong to the DasNama Cult. Most ochre robed monks in India today belong to this cult. In Shankara Digvijaya, we find a conversation between Shankara and his disciple Padmapada. Here Padmapada mentions the name of Gorakhnath as a "great yogi of ancient times" who rescued his master MatsyendraNath from the illusion of royal pleasures. [Chapter 9, verse 79 - 88]. If Gorakhnath is a yogi of yore for Shankaracharya himself, how ancient he must be!

Gorakhnath taught the secrets of a different strain of practical yoga to a monk of the Shankaracharya order. This disciple became a great yogi and attained the status of "Yogindra". Under the guidance of Gorakhnath, he wrote a manuscript to popularise this new form of yoga. This manuscript is now famous as the Hathayoga Pradipika and it's author is known as Swami Swatmaram. Hatha Yoga is the easier practical application of Raja Yoga ( mental or, psychological path of yoga ), through the physical and subtle bodies (nadi-chakra, channels of prana). Hatha means the union of the sun and the moon that exist in the subtle body. Ha = Sun, Tha = Moon. Please read the Khechari Mudra article to know more. Here:
http://patanjali-yoga-theory.blogspot.com/2010/03/khechari-mudra-complete-yoga.html

A sanskrit song from far-off times states Gorakhnath as the Wisest of all Yogis.
Prathama Mani Omkara,
Devena Mani Mahadeva,
Gyanina Mani Goraksha,
Nadina Mani Ganga.
meaning: The Earliest and purest is Om. Mahadeva or Shiva is the highest among gods. Gorakhnath is the wisest of all. Ganga ( Ganges ) is the holiest among all rivers. The Nath tradition included both commoners and royalty. The householders embraced this religion, as well as the ash smeared, loincloth clad Avadhoot monks. The Nath monks endured untold hardship to gain the knowledge of God. Nine Immortal saints are considered to be the greatest among the Naths. They are, Matsyendra-Nath, Gorakh-Nath, Jalandhari-Nath, Kanif-Nath (Kanipa), Charpati-Nath, Bhartrihari-Nath, NaagNath, RevanNath, GahiniNath.

The works of Gorakhnath are as follows. Yoga Bija, Gorakhsa Samhita, Gorakhsa Sataka, Gorakh Bodh [in ancient Hindi ]. Many works have gone into oblivion, some are destroyed by the ravages of time and vandals, a few almost unknown manuscripts still exist in Buddhist Monasteries in the Himalayas and caves of yogis (in Assam near Kamakhya).

Sant Gyaneshwar, one of the most popular saints of Maharashtra, India, even considered as an incarnation of Lord Krishna was born in 1271 AD. He was initiated into the spiritual path by his elder brother NivrittiNath. When Nivritti was a small child, he was snatched by a tiger from his family. The tiger, instead of eating him, took him to a cave where great yogi Gorakhnath and his disciple GahiniNath were meditating. In this holy cave, Gahininath initiated the boy into Nath Yoga secrets. This cave is now famous as Gorakhsa-Gumpha near the Jyotirlingam of Trimbakeshwar (near Nasik, Maharashtra). Nivrittinath returned home and passed on the hidden knowledge to his younger brother Gyaneshwar. Sant Gyaneshwar (also known as Gyandev or, Dnyaneshwar ) performed numerous miracles and preached the knowledge of Bhagvad Gita in layman's terms among the common people, much to the dislike of the uppercaste brahmins of that time. He also wrote his version of the Gita in Marathi Prakrit, the vernacular language of that time. This Gita is famous as Gyaneshwari. Sant Gyaneshwar entered alive samadhi in a secret underground cave in Alandi, Maharashtra.

In Guru Grantha Sahib, the principal holy book of the Sikhs, Guru Nanak has written the name of Gorakhnath with great reverence. Many aspects of Guru Nanak's tradition fall togather with Gorakhnath's tradition. In Japuji, song 5, he says,
Thapia na jai, kita na hoi, Apei ap Niranjanu soi... ...
Gurumuhi nadam, Gurumukni Vedam, Gurumukhi Rahia samai,
Guru Isharu, Guru Gorakhsu Brahma, Guru Parvati Mai.
meaning: God cannot be established like an idol at a particular place for he is all pervading. God cannot be decorated by dress or flowers, for he is everything. He exists always in his own glory. He is Niranjan ~ unblemished, formless. Then Sant Guru Nanak praises the Guru to be equal to God. He uses the names of God (Ishwara, Gorakhsa, Brahman, Parvati) as being the same as the Guru. He also says that one can only know the secrets of Nada, Veda, Yoga through the Guru. Japuji 9 : "Suniai Joga, Jugati, Tanabhed." Yoga, Union with the Omnipresent, Piercing of the Chakras can only be achieved by listening to the directions of the Guru.
Japuji 29 states,
Bhugati Gyanu daia bhandari ghati ghati bajai Nada
Api Nathu Nathi Sabh Jaki Riddhi Sidhh Abara Sadha.
Sanjogu Bijogu Dui Kar Chalavahi Lekhe Abahi Bhag.
Adeshu tisai Adeshu.
Adi Anilu Anadi Anahati Jugu Jugu Eko Vesu.
Here Guru Nanak describes the value of Nada Yoga and describes God as the greatest Nath or Master of Yoga. He puts aside minor siddhis or yogic miracles as trivias compared to God. Here also the Sikh Guru cries out to God for direction, just as Guru Gorakhnath did uttering the word, Adesh. Guru Nanak lived from 1469 AD to 1539 Ad. He is the greatest Holyman in the Sikh community, the most sacred Guru in Punjab and worshipped like God.

By Amitabha Chatterjee

Aghori Sadhus of Antiquity

Aghori Sadhus are very rarely to be found. There are only about a handful of 1500 in the total 1.2 Billion population of India. Most hindus are afraid of Aghoris. These Aghoris are not actually violent but are known to consume corpses of humans or dogs, etc. when they can find it. They dont hurt or kill anyone. By inspiring fear in the minds of worldly men, they keep them at bay and do austerities in secret and indeed for a good reason. An Aghori tries to destroy all fear, hatred, fondness, greed, anger present inside the mind.

In Aghora, the adepts attain mastery over the components of the universe; the 5 mahabhutas ie., earth, water, fire, air and Akasha. They also understand the vital force Prana from inside out and energies that are even more subtle. They become the students of Mahashakti (Mother Nature) and play with the universal laws like a small child plays with toys! They transmute elements as if its a funny game. Ordinary men cannot understand their ways and are afraid and disgusted by them. The Aghoris are shy and keep away from the world of men. They stay in remote mountain caves, dense tiger infested forests, Cremation grounds and desolate river banks. Verily they are a cult steeped in mystery. Very few sadhus dare to tread this path, for its a closed tradition and they guard their secrets well. Very few people of this world have met adept Aghori Yogis. So little of them is known except their strange power and horrendous lifestyle.
Yogiraj Gambhir Nath is a legend from the nineteenth century. He was the most powerful yogi during his lifetime. According to Sant Vijayakrishna Goswami, Gambhirnathji could create and destroy this universe in the blink of an eye. Numerous miracles are known to be performed by him, including giving life to a dead devotee. He was the embodiment of kindness and devotion to God. He didnt wear silken clothes because numerous silkworms are boiled to death during it's manufacture. And he lived the life of a pauper even though he was the President of the gigantic Natha tradition. He was devoid of arrogance and pride. What very few people know is that, in his youth, Gambhirnath had been an Aghori.

When Yogiraj Visuddhananda was a little boy, he was taken to Gyangunj for initiation. After initiation from Maha_Rishi Mahatapa, he was taken to the place where Yogi Gambhirnath had set his Asana (seat) for blessing. Gambhirnath spoke very little. He awoke form samadhi, opened his merciful eyes, looked once at the boy and said, "OK, good." And instantly entered samadhi again. [taken from the record of Swami Visuddhananda]
Visuddhananda Paramhamsa became a legend in the field of Surya Science. He could transmute elements and create anything, even a living being by the power of his Yoga and solar science. He was not an Aghori but a Tantrik Yogi of the first order. He was very kind and wise and could openly perform unthinkable miracles. Once he opened his navel and displayed the Manipur Lotus to his devotees and students. His accounts can be found in Visuddhananda Prasanga and Yogirajadhiraj. He became a Paramhamsa yogi, as great as the legendary Rishis of yore. He was a rare adept in many fields simultaneously; his prowess is unequalled in Yoga, Tantra, Solar Science and Mantra Science. He walked with equal ease in both Hatha and Raja Yoga. He was the spiritual brother ( Gurubhai ) of Kutupananda or, Rishi Kauthumi ( Kooti Hoomi ), the Guru of Madame Blavatsky and Colonel Henry Olcott. [Rishi Kutupananda has mentioned students of foreign origin in a letter to Yogi Vishuddhananda. ]

When Sant Bijoykrishna Goswami ( Vijayakrishna Goswami ) was searching for a true Guru (yoga master), he met Yogi Gambhirnath in a mountain cave. A young chela (student) Aghori sadhu, who looked very fierce in appearence was guarding the cave. [Taken from the Diary of Kuladananda Brahmachari 1900AD] His job was to ward off inquisitive worldly people who disturbed the adept's austerities. The chela threw pebbles at Vijaykrishna and his friend, but never actually hitting them and shouted ferociously. The friend ran away to save himself, but Vijayakrishna advanced. Finding the latter to be fearless and stubborn, the chela was very pleased. He offered Vijaya some prasadam(holy food offered to God) which to Vijaya's utter shock was a half burnt human palm! Vijaya declined and was taken inside the cave. Inside he saw a one of a kind sight.
On four sides sat 4 adepts in their respective asanas. They had their own dhoonis (holy fire) and were incessantly engaged in sadhana. All of them were from a different religious tradition and have become one in adepthood. They have lost all personal weakness and pride and were just children of One Single God. One of these adepts were Yogiraj Gambhirnath, another was a Ramaeth Vaishnava Sant, another a Nanakshahi Sikh Mahatma and the fourth was a Sufi Muslim Sage. Its so strange to see that the Mahatmas have reconciled their difference of paths and were worshipping God togather. Gambhirnathji told young Vijaya that he was not his Guru, for such is the will of God. But he taught Vijaya Ajapa pranayama; Vijayakrishna Goswami was taught the same pranayama years later by his Guru and he understood the importance of it 20 years after meeting Gambhirnath. Bijoykrishna Goswami became a famous adept of the Vaishnava Tradition. He was like a Rishi, he spent almost 16 hours in samadhi. It is said that after he was posioned to death, he reentered his own corpse and maintained his life for a few more weeks to end his earthly Karma. He was not an Aghori, by the way.

Aghori is a branch of the Nath Yoga cult. Yogiraj Guru Gorakh Nath arranged the yogis into 12 orders. They are: Kanphat, Aoghar, Machendra, Bhartrihari, Sarangi, Durihar, Kanipa (Kanifnath), Rampanthi, Siddhi-Kerani, Aghori, Yogini and Sanyogi. There is a 13th muslim branch called Ardhyogi.Main pilgrimages of the Nath tradition are: Gorakhpur, Kajli, Peshawar (Pakistan), Dwarka, Haridwar, Pasupatinath (Nepal), Damdama (Kolkata) Mahanaad Jateshwar Temple (Hoogli), Kapildhara (Gaya), Nath Tilla, Mount Ar (Gujarat).

There is a misconception that the legendary sage Trailinga swami of Varanasi was an Aghori. Tailanga Swami was not an Aghori. His real name was Hitlal Mishra, he was the disciple of Swami Bhagirath Saraswati. His monkhood name was Swami Ganapati Saraswati. Had he been an Aghori, he would have been in the Nath Order. He was a fully realised Shaiva Yogi. (a devotee of Shiva) He was well versed in the scriptures and was an adept Hathayogi, Rajayogi and Rasayanik (alchemist). He could transmute matter from one form to another. He once lifted a 1 ton Shiva Lingam from the Ganges and planted (put Life force inside it) in his single room Ashram in Kashi. He was a very huge man and was often seen floating in padmasana, completely nude in the Ganges. When he was doing austerities in the bank of river Narmada and wanted to drink it's water, the whole river turned to milk. Khaki Baba, another yogi witnessed this miracle. Sri Ramakrishna Paramhansa, Yogiraj ShyamaCharan Lahiri, Bama Khepa, Yogiraj Lokenath Brahmachari & Bijoykrishna Goswami met him in his 250 years lifetime. All these facts can be proved from the records of the aforesaid holymen.
Being a devotee of Shiva is different from being an Aghori. There are innumerable subclasses among Shiva worshippers. They are broadly divided into the Right Path ( Dakshina Achara ) and the Left Path ( Vama Achara ). Along the Right path, walk the the Rudradhyai Vedic, Swetashwetara Upanishad Rishis, Patanjal, Raja Yogi, Hatha Yogi and common devotees. The Left path is reserved by the terrible Aghori, Kapalik, Tantrik sadhus. The attitude, sense of sanctity, austerities, mantras and behaviors are radically different between the Right and the Left.
When I was a boy, I met a remarkable sadhu in Rajgir, Bihar, near the hotspring. He was almost 7 feet in height and very strongly built. He looked amazingly nimble for a 50 year old. He was wearing a garland of Rudraksha beads alternating with bones from the human vertibral column; he was unclad except for a small cloth around his loins. He had grey hair cut short on his head. I looked at him in awe ( because he radiated a magnetic personality ) and asked what kind of a sadhu he was. He looked at me kindly and said, "Mai AghorNath hoon, beta." (I am an Aghor Nath, my son.) and walked away. Only after I heard the word "Aghori" and saw the bones, that I felt a little nervous; otherwise he was quite kind and gentle in his manners.