Maha Yogi Gorakhnath

Pranams at the lotus feet of Gorakhnath Maharaj!

Chapter - 4

Gorakhnath along with preceptor Mathsyendhranathji and his disciples arrived in Badri.  They underwent extreme Tapasya to achieve the blessings of Lord Mahadeva who symbolizes wisdom and knowledge.  Mathysendhranathji taught four Vedas, six Shasthra, eighteen Puranas, various Vidhya, meditation, the significance of Nath traditions, etc.. Once Gorakhnath was practicing meditation under a berry tree at the instruction of his Guruji , a few children were approached him with a plea to make an idol of cart and a child from the clay, he made the idol meticulously.   Soon the life invested in the idol of the infant and started crying, children ran off from the place calling Gorakhnath evil spirit.   Mathsyendhranathji arrived after receiving alms from the village, he saw an infant lying on the floor next to Gorakhnath, the child is crying and Gorakhnath was in deep meditation.   Guruji took hold of the crying child and said to Gorakhnath “It is the result of your Sanjeevini Vidhya. You must have memorized the lessons of Sanjeevini Vidhya while making the clay idols that the reason the life invested in the idol.” Gorakhnath was not aware of the fact that the Sanjeevini Vidhya could do a miracle like this.  Soon the villagers assembled before them and praised Gorakhnath and Guruji.  They want to remain in the association of these ascetics, so requested Mathsyendhranathji to reside in the village and conduct their spiritual practices, they were eager to know more about the origin of the child.   Guruji described everything in detail to the people assembled.   A childless pious Brahmin couple came forward and pleaded for the custodian of the child, they described their wretched life without any offspring, they were having a miserable life without any child for the longevity of clan or taking care of them in the old age, they promised to take great care of the child who was born as the essence of supreme spirit.  The infant was named as Ghehnenath and given to the pious Bhramin couple.  Mathsyendranathji said “ This is not an ordinary child, he will become a great Yogi, the infant should be taken care of as an incarnation of Lord.  This child will become the disciple of Guru Nivriththinath.”   After this incident, Gorakhnath felt that the crowd of villagers would take away their precious hours of meditation, so they had decided to leave Badri.

Maha Yogi Gorakhnath

Pranams at the lotus feet of Gorakhnath Maharaj!

Chapter – 3

Gorakhnath asked “ Guruji who created this Universe? Why this is called Prithvi Lok?” Mathysendhraji replied “ son, the Universe and its living beings are created by the supreme spirit/Paramathman, further the  five essential elements are known as space, air, water, fire, and Earth came into existence in order to protect the living beings on the Earth, all the living beings on the Earth has to die therefore it is called Prithvi Lok.”  Gorakhnath became one of the famous Yogis who is prominent in Hatha Yoga in Nath tradition and Shivaite religious leaders.

Once Mathsyendhraji advised Gorakhnath to go for begging alms, he returned with various types of delicious meals and offered to Guruji.  Guruji asked “How did you manage to get various kinds of meals?” Gorakhnath said, “There was some ceremony held in a house, they offered these savories and sweets.”  He liked all the meals but he liked Dhahibada very much.  Seeing that, Gorakhnath asked “Shall I go for alms again.” Guruji said, “Yes, but do not bring anything other than Dhahibada, you have enough food here.” Gorakhnath went to the same house and asked for alms “ Alak Niranjan”, the lady from the house rushed out and said, “ Just now only I have offered various meals, you are back again, you have no other work other than begging for alms.” Gorakhnath said “Matha, I did not come for myself, my preceptor liked your Dhahibada, he asked to bring some more, and could you please give me some more Dhahibada.” Lady poured out harsh words “ You are  fooling around in the name of your preceptor, you want to fill your stomach right,” Gorakhnath said “ I am a yogi from Nath traditions, I won’t tell lies, believe me, my preceptor asked for your Dhahibada,” Lady continued “ people like you fooling the public by changing consumes, I have several years of experience, I have not seen any saint doing good for others,” Gorakhnath said “ Matha, you are too angry now, please give me Dhahibada for my preceptor, I will resolve all your problems,” the lady said “ You do not have a thing to fill your stomach, how can you resolve my issues.” Gorakhnath said, “ Ask me, I will do anything.” Lady said “ Oh! Are you Siddhapurusha? Then give me your eyes in return for Dhahibada.” Gorakhnath pleasantly said “ Matha, you have asked a very silly thing,  you have asked for my eye, I can sacrifice my eyes and even my life for my preceptor. I will give you my eye, kindly bring Dhahibada.” Saying so he pulled out his right eye, the lady went in an utter shock.  When Gorakhnath returned after begging for alms, Mathsyendhranathji noticed bleeding on his eye and enquired the reason, he elaborated what had happened in the village, he pleaded his preceptor to forgive that lady, Gorakhnath was already pardoned her. Soon Mathsyendhranathji restored the eye of Gorakhnath with his Yogic powers.

Maha Yogi Gorakhnath

Pranams at the lotus feet of Gorakhnath Maharaj!

Chapter - 2

The Yogi appeared before the female was Mathsyendhranath and the child initiated from the cow dung was Gorakhnath who became one of the disciples of Mathsyendhranathj. There is another legend about the birth of Sri Gorakhnathji mentioned in “Navnath Bhakthisar”.  It is mentioned in Srimad Bhagavath that Navaranarayan took the form of humans in the Kali era, Kavi Narayan as Mathsyendranath and Harinarayan as Ghorakhnath.    Mathsyendhranath Maharaj traveled extensively through Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, Burma, Nepal and various parts of India; he visited Mathura, Ayodhya, Avanthika, Kashi, and finally arrived in a small village Chandragiri in Bengal.  He begged for alms in that village, he came in front of a house, suddenly he could recollect some incident that happened before twelve years.  When the lady came out of that house, he could recognize her as Saraswathi and her husband Dhayalpathi, this couple had no children, and he gave some sacred ashes for virtuous offspring and blessed her.  Mathsyendhranathji after twelve years arrived in the same house for alms and asked about the child, Saraswathi got sacred and wept bitterly “ Maharaj, kindly do not curse me, I have committed severe sin, I have heard that the curse of saints  could bring destruction to the clan, kindly forgive me, I have thrown away the sacred ashes you have given me.” Saraswathi took Mathyasendhranathji with her to check the place where she had washed off the ashes; the place was full of dirt, cow dung and waste.   Mathysendhranathji called out “Child Gorakhnath, kindly come out, I am here for you.”  Soon a twelve-year-old child appeared out of the cow dung.  The writer has described the splendor of Gorakhnath from head to toe, he had the effulgence of Sun, he had a lustrous charming face resembles autumn moon, his eyes were marvelous, he had a beautiful waist, arms, hands, legs and fingers.  Gorakhnath bowed down before Mathsyendranathji, “Oh! Child, you have lived in this cow dung for twelve years, therefore you are the protector of cows, you will be known as Gorakh/Gorakshan Nath.”  Mathsyendhranath placed his hand on the head of the child and offered Manthradheeksha.  Gorakhnath became a disciple of Mathsyendhranathji, further they conducted spiritual journey to various places.

Maha Yogi Gorakhnath 

Pranams at the lotus feet of Gorakhnath Maharaj!

Chapter - 1

“Alak Niranjan’ is a term addressed to Nirguna Bramham which is beyond attributes.  One day a saint arrived in front of a house and pronounced “ Alak Niranjan”, a female voice answered, “ Babaji, kindly wait, I am coming.” She came out with the alms to Babaji, her face was dull and depressed.  Babaji asked “ Daughter, why are you so distressed? a lady  with an unhappy face should not give alms to a Saint.” The lady from the neighborhood answered, “ Babaji, she is married so long, but the couple has no children, so she is considered as inauspicious in the village, she is very much upset about it, therefore she has reduced to come out in the public.”  Babaji said “ Don’t worry daughter, consume this sacred ash, you will become a mother of a virtuous child with the grace of Lord Shiva,” Babaji blessed her and after giving ashes he left the place.  She stood out of the house holding sacred ashes in her hand,  her mind was full of joy.  The neighborhood lady said “ Do you think this sacred ash works wonders for you? he is a beggar living on alms, children are blessings of God, and nothing will work without his grace,”  She got frustrated, immediately threw away all the sacred ashes behind her house where there was a cow dung pit surrounded by dirt, she lost her faith in the sacred ashes given by Babaji.  

Years passed, the same Yogi arrived in front of her door and asked for alms, he had seen the same dull face of the female.  He was shocked and asked “ Daughter, where is your son? call him I wanted to meet him.” female stunned and said “ Son? I do not have any son.”  Babaji said " I have given sacred ashes some twelve years before to consume, and I have told you that you will have a virtuous son with the grace of Lord Shiva, Isn’t it?” she said, “ Forgive me Babaji, my neighbor discouraged me to consume, so I have washed it away.”  Babaji said “ Then take me the place where did you shove off the ashes.” she brought Babaji in the exact place where she left the sacred ashes some twelve years before, Babaji said “ Alak Niranjan” instantly a child of twelve years with fair complexion appeared from the heap of cow dung and bowed his head down before Babaji.   She was awestruck, before saying anything Babaji and the child vanished from her sight.