Maha Yogi Gorakhnath

Pranams at the lotus feet of Gorakhnath Maharaj!

Chapter - 8

Gorakhnathji was Hathayogi Purusha, therefore it is believed that he lived long years and spread righteousness and imparted knowledge of Nath traditions which has the similarities of Pashupath Sampradaya. He established Nath monasteries, they worship Navnath as deities, supreme among the Nath is Lord Shiva.  Mathsyendhranath initiated the Nath traditions; he was born in Bengal.  Gorakh philosophies describe the fact that Lord Shiva and Goddess Shakti is inseparable, they together created the Universe and its living beings, Shiva assumes the form of Shakthi whenever he feels.  It is believed that pronunciation of the name of this Mahayogi would bring piousness, he achieved the highest of the spiritual state with his constant meditation and Yogic practices.  His fame spread across Nepal, Tibet, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Punjab, and Bengal.  Gorakhnath symbolizes Lord Shiva, he was well known for Hatha Yoga and Sahaja Yoga which is the spontaneous union of the self with the supreme spirit.  The Nath Sampradaya was established during the period of the excessive influence of BaudhaTantric, Aghori, and Kapli’s in society.  This tradition was introduced to reduce the disproportionate authority of these sects, and there were many people who struggled with no spiritual guidance.  The Nath tradition was introduced by the saint who was the follower of Pashupath sampradaya, and they worship Lord Shiva as the supreme deity.  There is a disagreement prevailed about the birthplace of Gorakhnath Maharaj, some believe that he was born in a village in Rawalpindi later the village was named as Gorakhpur.

Yoga has tremendous benefit to human body and mind; Yogis are supplemented with Ashtasiddhi and Navanidhi.   Yogis in the Nath traditions influenced the ordinary people; he enlightened people with the benefits of Yoga and taught them the beliefs in the faith of Lord Shiva.   Gorakhnath who reinstated righteousness and protected people of four eras, witnessing his divine form and pronouncing his name would make everything possible.  Gorakh Dham houses shrines of all the deities which is located in Gorakhpur, Luck now,  Uttar Pradesh. 

Maha Yogi Gorakhnath

Pranams at the lotus feet of Gorakhnath Maharaj!

Chapter - 7

Gorakhnathji preceded his journey towards the woods, there he met a holy man Khanifnathji, he received Gorakhnathji with all respects, he asked Gorakhnathji to eat mangoes which he can pluck with the Manthrasiddhi, Yogi said: “These mangoes are very tasty and sweet, kindly have it.” They together ate the mangoes,  Gorakhnathji said: “ I had a stomach full of Mangoes, please keep these remaining mangoes back on the tree.” The Yogi said “What? How can I keep the remaining mangoes back on the tree, I think you are a disciple of an inefficient preceptor that is why you are talking like this.”  Gorakhnathji got angry; he said “My preceptor taught me how to keep these mangoes back on the tree. I will show you.” Yogi started pouring harsh comments on Mathsyendhranathji, it infuriated Gorakhnathji, and he said: “Your preceptor Yogi Jalandharnathji is in prison, if you have enough skill why do not you release him from the prison?” Yogi said “do not argue, kindly do something,” Gorakhnathji said, “I will show you how to keep back these mangoes on the tree.”.  All the remaining mangoes were miraculously restored on the tree. Yogi Khanifnath said, “You have passed the test, I am failed, and I am not greater than you in wisdom or knowledge.” Gorakhnathji humbly said “No, No,” later they parted ways amicably.

Maha Yogi Gorakhnath

Pranams at the lotus feet of Gorakhnath Maharaj!

Chapter - 6

Gorakhnathji arrived in the Kingdom of King Gopichand, he asked the King’s men about the welfare of the country and its people, he was so scared to utter anything about the imprisonment of Yogi Jalandharnath by King Gopichand.   He explained the pathetic state of Yogi Jalandharnath in the prison.  Gorakhnathji was in a rage, arrived at the King’s place calling out for alms “Alak Niranjan”, soon Queen arrived and ordered her servants to offer alms to the Saint, but Gorakhnath refused to accept alms from the servant, he wants to receive the alms from the Queen.  She was so surprised and she went to meet the Saint, she reverentially greeted Gorakhnathji.  He asked the Queen why did they arrest the pious man Yogi Jalandharnath, and revealed his desire to free this pious man.   Queen said she does not know anything about the matter, she wants her son Gopichand to attain fame and appreciation from its subjects.   Gorakhnath said “ Sadhus and saints are divine personified on Earth, cruelty to the holy men would bring inauspiciousness to the Kingdom, therefore never hurt Saints and holy men”  Queen said “ Maharaj I want to be your disciple, I want to make my son Gopichand bring in this spiritual path and want him to be a Yogi,  I will always remember your words.”  Gorakhnathji accepted Queen as his disciple.

Maha Yogi Gorakhnath

Pranams at the lotus feet of Gorakhnath Maharaj!

Chapter - 5

Gorakhnath was too young to understand the life invested in the idol, Mathsyendhranathji advised him to focus on the contemplation upon Lord Shiva and attain his blessings to remain all his knowledge fruitful.  Mathsyendhranathji said “Son, all the wisdom and knowledge is futile if there are no blessings of Lord Shiva, you would not recite Sanjeevini Vidhya while making the clay idol if there were blessings of Lord Shiva upon you, Son, sometimes these kinds of impractical mistakes can bring disaster to human life,” Gorakhnath said “ Gurudev, kindly enlighten me with the knowledge of how to please Lord Shiva.”  Mathsyendhranathji said “Son, There is a Thapovan near Badrinath, you should undertake extreme penance, after that you should get the blessings of Lord Badrinath,  eventually all your wisdom and knowledge will become fruitful.”  Mathsyendhranathji took leave from Badrinath with a promise to meet Gorakhnath if there is the mercy of Lord Shiva, they will meet again. 

Gorakhnath went inside the forest in search of an appropriate place for Thapasya,  soon he found a several years old Vata Vruksha near a dilapidated shrine, he had intense faith upon Lord Shiva that he will protect him in the dense wood from the wild animals, he went into a transcendental state.   His Thapasya continued for twelve years without consuming water or meal, he lived on air and continued Tapasya.  Lord Shiva was highly pleased with Gorakhnathji and appeared before him; he informed him that he is too pleased with his Thapasya and would like to offer boons.  Lord Shiva said, “Son, ask for a boon.” Gorakhnath said “ Bhagavan, let all my knowledge and wisdom be flawless, bless I shall remain your sincere servant always,”  Lord Shiva said “ all that knowledge you have acquired from your preceptor Mathsyendhranath and  the knowledge you would gain from  the preceptors whom you meet in the future would bring an abundance of meritorious rewards to you.”

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.