Mahasiddha  Baba Balaknath

Pranams at the lotus feet of Baba Balaknath Maharaj!

Chapter - 1

Once, Lord Shiva was narrating glorious myths to Goddess Parvathi while they were having pleasing hours in the cave of Amarnath.  Goddess Parvathi has fallen asleep while listening to the myths, but Lord Shiva could not realize that and he continued, there was someone listening to it in the cave with a ‘hmm’ sound, when Lord Shiva finished describing, he could see Goddess Parvathi was sound asleep and someone in her place was listening to it.  Lord Shiva got very angry and searched for the whole cave for the person who was listening to it. Soon a baby parrot flew away from the cave, and Lord Shiva’s Trident followed the baby parrot to attack.   It took shelter in the mouth of the wife of Maharishi Vyasa who was yawning at that moment.  The Trident of Lord Shiva abruptly stopped following the baby parrot, thus the baby parrot was saved.   Lord Shiva waited for long for the baby parrot to come out of her mouth,  in the meantime, the function of the Universe got disrupted, Maharishi Narada arrived and said “ Mahadev, The whole universe is under trepidation in your absence, the baby parrot listened to the myths became immortal, therefore it is impossible to kill it.”  Lord Shiva ordered the parrot to come out immediately, the baby parrot put forward two conditions,  the first condition was it will assume the form of a human and come out, the second condition was children born at the time of parrot assumes the form of human should get the blessings of Lord, along with the supreme knowledge and wisdom, and they should remain immortal, these were the two conditions.  Lord Shiva agreed to the conditions of the baby parrot.  Immediately a child came out of the mouth of Maharishi Vedavyas, he was famously known as Shukadeva.    The other children who took birth at the same time were Navanatha and  eighty four Chaurasi Siddhas,  and one of the Siddha was Baba Balaknath who is believed to be an incarnation of Lord Shiva in the Kali era, he is also known as  Paunahari and Dhudhadhari.  The child Yogi contemplated upon Lord Shiva and got blessings from the Lord to remain youthful always.

Maha Yogi Gorakhnath

Pranams at the lotus feet of Gorakhnath Maharaj!

Chapter -21

Gorakhnathji describes a story from the scripture to his disciple.  Once Maharishi Narada took a journey through the entire Prithvik Lok and returned to the abode of Sri Vaikundam, Maharishi said “ Narayan, Narayan, Oh! Prabhu, why are you alone in Sri Vaikundham?” Mahavishnu said “What happened to these humans? None of them wants to be in the abode of Sri Vaikundam,” Maharishi said “who is that ill-fated creature do not want to be in Sri Vaikundham? Who does not want to live in this superior abode? The pious and Rishis are performing numerous years of Japa, Thapa, Yoga, and Charity to attain this supreme abode where there are no miseries and sorrows.”  Mahavishnu said, “ Narada, in spite of all these comforts and luxuries in this abode, none is willing to come and reside here, I am bored of sitting here alone.”  Narada said “ Narayan, Narayan, if you order me, I will bring lakhs and lakhs of people and fill the whole Vaikundham in a few days.  People of Mrithyuloka would run after me to attain this Vishnu Lok,” Lord Vishnu smiled and said “ Narada, none would follow you, it is not easy to attain the Vishnu Lok.  Maharishi Narad, you go to Prithvi Lok and bring a few humans to keep me engaged.”  Narada left at the command of Lord Vishnu to Prithvi Lok.   He met an old man and said “ Lalaji, kindly come with me to Vaikundham, You can get all the comforts and luxuries over there.” Lalaji said “ Why should I follow you to Vaikundham, I have enough wealth, my dear people and children are here to take good care of me, Vaikundham is the place for homeless people who have nothing in the Prithvi Lok,”  Narada met a Babaji and invited him to Vaikundham, but he refused “ why should I go to Vaikundham, I have hands and legs.  I don’t believe Sanyasins like you,” Narada met a Sethji “ You have lived a rich life here, why do not you come with me to Vaikundham and take pleasure in it.  Anyway, you are interested in Bajans and Keerthans and all.  I can take you to Vaikundham with your mortal coil.”  Sethji said “Even I wish to do the same, I want to be in Vaikundham, I am just waiting for my son to get married and settled in his life so that he will take care of my business and properties.  Therefore you please come some other time with this proposal.” After few years Narada approached Sethji and said “Now your sons have settled in life. So you can come with me to Vaikundham.” Sethji said “My son is married but they do not have any children, I wanted to see my grandchildren and leave this world,” Once again Narada met Sethji after several years “ Sethji, now you have seen your grandchildren and must be happy, shall we go to Vaikundham now.” Sethiji said, “ I wish to see the marriage of my grandchildren and after that, I may follow your proposal.” After several years Naradha went in search of Sethji, unfortunately, he was passed away. The husband and wife have assumed the form of serpent and dog respectively and waiting at the doors of their children for their homage.  Maharishi Narada returned to the abode of Lord Vishnu and narrated all the incidents that happened in Mrithyulok.  Maharishi said, “People of Mrithyulok is completely soaked in worldly bondage and illusion; they do not have the awareness of supreme consciousness or supreme abode.”  Thus Gorakhnathji concludes the story and said: “Son, This is the pathetic state of the people in the Kali era.”  The disciple was pleased with the explanation of his preceptor and prostrated before Gorakhnathji.

Maha Yogi Gorakhnath

Pranams at the lotus feet of Gorakhnath Maharaj!

Chapter -20

One of the disciples asked Gorakhnathji “ Guruji,  I have a qualm in my mind, kindly clear it.  Are we human superior to all the creatures on the Earth?  Seeing the atrocities of the people on the Earth I feel the Supreme Lord had made a mistake by giving intellect to the human who had become a curse to all other living creatures.  Human beings are selfish, cruel, wicked, and ruthless; the whole world has become a field of their atrocities.  Humans have proved themselves that they are not deserved to be called human.  They are supplemented with pride, jealousy, cruelty, lust, desire, wickedness and ego which is difficult to witness in other creatures on the planet, a human can only be deceitful to his blood relations and parents.  Humans do not think twice to kill human, therefore he is not deserved to be addressed as human, he is a burden on the Earth, and he is a dishonest, selfish, and most intolerable creature on the planet. ” Gorakhnathji said “Son, this Kali era has possessed all the evilness, twice-born will sell their knowledge in order to fill their stomach, they will become selfish, dull, and dishonest.  In fact, this is the appropriate time they have to use their intellect to elevate their soul; even the Supreme Lord must have shedding tears on the wickedness of his creatures, just like parents who shed tears of shame and guilt on immoral children.”    The disciple said “ Guruji, supreme Lord has given intellect to human,  he is engaging in various malpractice and vicious acts, he exhibits himself  as a thief and murderer, he performs shameless deeds, it is rare to find pious people in this Kali era, there are a very few could be called honest and righteous.  If he had supreme consciousness, he would have followed disciplines, right conduct, spiritual and religious rites, Varna and Ashrama Dharma, strict celibacy and he would have control over body and mind which could help him win over senses and death as well, then he would be deserved to be called honorable and intellectual.”  Gorakhnathji said, “ Son, it is the beginning of the Kali era, much more atrocities are waiting to pop up,  whatever unpleasant deeds you are witnessing are nothing,  Son, a human should act  dreadful like demons otherwise the hell  will remain empty.”  Disciple asked, “ Gurudev, You mean to say humans are going to  turn more vicious in the coming ages?”  Gorakhnathji describes the evil effects of Kali era on human, “They keep accumulating sins and  perform all the immoral acts, they  harass women, they sell sisters and mothers, they kill their parents mercilessly, they perform every wicked deeds with swollen pride and arrogance, they act shamelessly, they kill their sisters and take a dip in Ganga, they eat the meat of cow, they follow lies and produce false witnesses to protect them, they disgrace their mothers, they steal the possessions of others without any guilt, they do not follow any Dharmic, Varna or Ashrama rites, they  not even follow the basic manners, they disgrace the worship places and destroy its sanctity.”

Maha Yogi Gorakhnath

Pranams at the lotus feet of Gorakhnath Maharaj!

Chapter -19

Gorakhnathji with his preceptor Mathsyendhranath and with his disciples conducted their spiritual journey through Prayag Raj, they arrived in a wood where they could hear the sounds of Panchakshara Mantra was reverberating in the whole wood, and soon they found a boy who was reciting the Manthra requested Mathsyendhranathji to accept him as his disciple.  He was accepted as a disciple to the lineage of Nath and he learned knowledge of scriptures from Gorakhnathji.  He joined with the saints; they have decided to return to Prayagraj after twelve years.

Lord Indra decided to conduct Somayaga, he discussed with Devaguru Brihaspati and revealed his desire to include the powerful saints of  Nath traditions to attain an abundance of the meritorious reward of the performance of Yaga.  Indra was advised by Rishi Brihaspati to appeal to Maharishi Narada about the method to invite the Nath saints to participate in the Somayaga.  Narada described that Yogi Mathsyendhranath is a prominent disciple of Lord Dhaththathreya, therefore UparikshaVasu is appropriate to invite Mathsyendhranath if he accepts the invitation of Vasu, all the Nathpankthi saints would take part in the Somayaga, and thus he can accomplish the Yaga fruitfully.   Lord Indra went to meet Upariksha Vasu.

Maha Yogi Gorakhnath

Pranams at the lotus feet of Gorakhnath Maharaj!

Chapter -18

Gorakhnathji and Chauranginath arrived in the place where he has kept the mortal coil of his preceptor Mathsyendhranathji.  Gorakhnath met the female cowherd, he asked about the mortal coil of his preceptor; she informed that the Queen of the Kingdom came to know the truth of Mathsyendhranathji.  She was in a fury ordered her men to severe the mortal coil of Mathsyendhranathji and feed it on animals in the forest, and she is not aware of the body of his preceptor.  Gorakhnathji was in a blazing rage screamed at her “You have committed severe sin.” Gorakhnathji was in a vehemence conducted the search for the body parts of Mathsyendhranathji in the forest, but they did not find any body parts.  They have decided to go to Mount Kailash to get resolved this problem.  On the way, they met Lord Surya and informed all about Mathsyendhranathji.  Lord Surya said the body of Mathsyendhranathji is with the Ganas of Lord Shiva.  Lord Surya invoked Veerabadhra and ordered to return the mortal coil of Mathsyendhranath to Gorakhnathji who is a great Yogi.  But Veerabadhra was not willing to go against the instruction of Lord Chandra.  Lord Surya said then you have to fight against these two great Yogis, Lord Surya said “ Veerabadhra, if you want to fight with these great Yogis, better you should go to Prithvi Lok, not in the sacred mountain Kailash, because it will not withstand the battle between you two.”  Chauranginath and Veerabadhra invoked weapons with their Manthrasiddhi and entered in a vicious battle, it resulted in the Shiva Ganas fight between them, Gorakhnathji brought dreadful demons to life, seeing them Lord Indra got horrified.  Finally Lord Shiva arrived to put an end to the battle between Yogis and Veerabadhra, ultimately Yogi Mathsyendhranath’s life was restored in his body.

Maha Yogi Gorakhnath

Pranams at the lotus feet of Gorakhnath Maharaj!

Chapter -17

Gorakhnathji was traveling through the forest all tired of hunger, there was nothing eat or drink, he arrived near the agricultural field, where he could see a child preparing to consume his afternoon meal.  Gorakhnathji requested him to give something to eat, the child reverentially offered part of his meal to Gorakhnathji who was so pleased with the humility of the child, he instructed child to ask for a boon, the child said “Baba, you do not have anything to offer, you have to go for begging alms, how can you give me what I desired, therefore please do not offer any boons. You can continue the journey.”  Gorakhnathji offered a boon to the child and left.

Gorakhnathji on his way met Chauranginath who was undergoing penance in a cave under the instruction of Mathsyendhranathji.   He taught lessons on Asthra and Shasthra to Chauranginath and both of them arrived in his Kingdom.  Gorakhnathji said he should exhibit his skills to his parents, they should regret their treacherous act towards their son, he followed the instruction of his preceptor.   Chauranginath threw sacred ashes with Mantra Japa King’s on men who were safeguarding the fortress, immediately they had fallen unconscious.   It created trepidations among King and his men, they conducted a rigorous search to find the reason for the unforeseen incidents taken  place in his Kingdom, soon they found it was the curse of an illustrious Yogi.   King guessed that it must be Mathsyendhranathji and Gorakhnath, he decided to surrender at the feet of holy men, otherwise, these   Yogis would burn the whole Kingdom into ashes.  Soon he arrived looking for Yogi Mathsyendhranath and Gorakhnath,  King was followed with his men into the dense woods.  Gorakhnathji instructed Chauranginath to once again exhibit his skill to his father, he threw some ashes reciting Manthras, the King’s were raised in the sky and fallen on the ground with a heavy thud.   King pleaded before Gorakhnath “ Why do you want to punish us? What did we do wrong?”  Goraknathnath said “ Maharaj, It was not punishment, it was the skill of your son,” King was shocked to see his son alive, Chauranginath prostrated before his father at the instruction of his preceptor.  Gorakhnathji said, “ It was the same son who was thrown out of the Kingdom, severed his hands and legs by you.” King begged for pardon to his son and embraced him.  Chauranginath said, “ I have no intention to return to your Kingdom, my step-mother ill-treated me and you have trusted her and imposed punishment upon me, I was always been true to my words, but you have trusted her,  and will  always follow the path of truth.”  King instructed his men to bring the wicked Queen before Gorakhnathji.  Chauranginath said, “ You can impose whatever punishment upon her in the palace itself, you need not bring her here.”  Gorakhnath said “Whatever destined to happen has happened several years before, now you cannot rewrite it, therefore get married once again and you will have virtuous offspring.  We are saints; we are not supposed to stay in a place for long.  We are leaving your Kingdom.”  Gorakhnath blessed the King and left with Chauranginath.

Maha Yogi Gorakhnath

Pranams at the lotus feet of Gorakhnath Maharaj!

Chapter -16

  Gorakhnath and Mathsyendhranathji   arrived in Prayagraj, they saw the people of the province carrying the dead body of the King, was followed by several people, Gorakhnath said: “People of the King and his subjects are too sad at the death of the King.” Mathsyendhranathji said, “King’s soul will rest in peace; he must have done an abundance of piousness and welfare to his people.”  Gorakhnathji expressed his desire to revive the soul of the King, but Mathsyendhranathji said that his soul is already attained union with Bramham.  They both moved towards the shrine of Lord Shiva located near the funeral ground.  Gorakhnathji requested Mathsyendranathji that he want to revive the soul of the King with his Manthrasiddhi,  Mathsyendhranathji discouraged him, but he was not willing to listen, he said: “ If I could not revive the soul of the King, I will sacrifice myself in the fire.”  Mathsyendhranathji said “You cannot sacrifice your life like that; you have to finish many tasks before leaving your mortal coil.  I can help you to solve this problem.  I can enter the body of the King, leaving my mortal coil, you have to preserve my body for twelve years and I will return to my body once again after twelve years.”  Gorakhnathji was pleased with this idea of his Guruji.  Gorakhnathji felt anxious seeing the mortal coil of his preceptor; all that he was worried about how can he preserve his body for twelve years, though Yogi's mortal coil is imperishable.  Gorakhnath carried the body of his preceptor at the instruction of a female cowherd and safely kept in a place in the shrine of Lord Shiva.  Gorakhnath informed the female cowherd to take care of the body of his preceptor and requested her not to tell anyone about this incident.  He used to meet the preceptor who has assumed the form of the King on a regular basis, once he appealed to his preceptor that he wanted to go for a spiritual journey.  Gorakhnathji with the permission of Mathsyendhranathji left the place. 

One day the Queen came for worship in Lord Shiva temple and offered her humble prostration before Lord, she thanked the Lord for restoring the life of her husband, seeing this female cowherd could not control her laugh and it stirred anger in Queen.  She asked the reason why she laughed at her.  The female cowherd was too scared, she told all that happened at the time death of the King, Cowherd said that she is a widow, while King’s mortal coil was kept for the funeral pyre, Mathsyendhranath’s soul took place in the body of the King, therefore the King is not alive, it is Mathsyendhranathji assumed the form of King.  The Queen felt terribly upset and cheated, the female cowherd took the place where Yogi Mathsyendhranathji’s mortal coil was kept.  Queen felt terribly angry,  ordered her men to cut the mortal coil of Mathsyendhranathji and throw away in the forest so that it can feed on the animals.