Navanatha Sampradaya
The Navanath (हिंदी - नवनाथ), also spelt as Navnatha in vernacular languages, are the nine saints, Masters or Naths on whom the Navnath Sampradaya, the lineage of the nine gurus, is based.[1] They are worshipped collectively as well as individually.[2]
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Nine gurus
Some members of the Nath Sampraday believe Rishi Dattatreya, an incarnation of the Hindu trinity Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva was its first teacher.[3][1][4] Other traditions hold that Matsyendranath received initiation directly from Shiva, also known as Adi Nath. In many modern Nath groups, worship of Gorakshanath and Shiva is primary. The nine teachers, collectively known as Navnaths, are considered representative of great teachers in this tradition or parampara.[4]
Several lists are known:
Frydman
According to Maurice Frydman, the translator of Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj's I Am That, "the most widely accepted list"[5] is as follows:
- Machindranath or Matsyendranath
- Gorakshanath or Gorakhnath
- Jalandharnath or Jalandernath also known as Jan Peer
- Kanifnath or Kanhoba
- Gahininath also known as Gaibi Peer
- Bhartrinath or Bhartarinath or Raja Bhartari or Bhartṛhari
- Revananath or Revan Siddh or Kada Siddha or Ravalanath
- Charpatinath
- Naganath or Nageshnath
Mullarpattan
Suamitra Mullarpattan, translator of Nisargadatta Maharaj, gives the following list:[4]
- Matchindra-Nath (9th Century), "who was said to be, initiated by one of the three primary Hindu gods (Vishnu, Shiva, Brahma), namely by Shiva, in the science and teaching of Yoga."[4]
- Goraksha-Natha
- Jalandhar-Nath
- Kanifanath
- Charapati-Nath
- Naganath
- Bhartari-Nath
- Revan-Nath
- Gahininath
List 3
Matsyendranath (the chief Natha), Gorakshanatha, Charpatinatha, Mangalnatha, Ghugonatha, Gopinatha, Prannatha, Suratnatha and Cambanatha. They are not related to the divisions of the orders.[6]
List 4
In another list each Natha is identified with a Hindu god:1. Aumkar Adinatha (Lord of Lords), Siva; 2. Shelnatha (Lord of the Arrow Shaft), Krisna or Rama Chandra; 3. Santoknatha (Lord of Gratification) 4. Acalacambhunatha (Lord of Wondrous Immortality), Hanuman or Laksman; 5. Gajbali Gajkanthnatha (Lord of the Elephant's Strength and Neck)) Ganesa Gajikarna (Elephant-Eared); 6. Prajnatha, or Udaynatha (Lord of the People), Parvati; 7. Mayarupi Macchendranatha (The Wondrous Form), Guru of Gorakhnatha; S. Gathepinde Ricayakari, or Naranthar, Sambhujaiti Guru Gorakhnatha; 9. Gyansarupe, or Purakh Siddh Cauranjwenatha, or Puran Bhagat.[6]
List 5
Orhkarinath, Visnu; Samtokanath, Visnu; Gajboli, Gajana, Hanuman; Acalesvar, Ganpati; Udayanatha, Surya; Parvati Prem, Mahadeo; Santhanatha, Brahma; Gyaniji Siddhacewarafigi, Jaggannath; Mayarupi, Matsya. The Nathas are also the guardian spirits of the Himalayan peaks.[6]
List 6
1.Adinath 2. Udaynath Parvati 3.Satyanath Brahamaji 4.Santoshnath Vishnuji 5.Achabhenath Shesh 6.Kanthadnath Ganeshji 7.Chaurangi Chandrma 8.Matsyendranath 9.Gorakhnathh.[6]
List 7
Omkarnath, Udaynath, Santoshnath, Achalnath, Gajbalinath, Gyannath, Chauranginath, Matsyendranath, Gorakhnath.[6]
List 8
Macchendranatha, Gorakhnath, Jalandhernath, Kanifnath, Charpatinath, Naagnath, Bhartrharinath, Gahininath, Ravennath.[6]
List 9
Shri Gorakhnath, Javaalendranath, Kaarinanath, Gahini nath, Charpath nath, Revan nath, Naag nath, Bharthari Nath, Gopichand Nath.[6]
The nine Naths are the incarnations of nine Narayanas who help Lord Narayan in taking care of the worldly activities. Lord Krishna had summoned the nine Narayans to his court for deciding the establishment of Nath Sampraday.
Narratives
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Navnath pothi / Navnath Bhaktisar
The "Navnath Bhaktisar" also known as the "Navnath pothi" narrates the Navnaths' births, their lives and deeds. As the Navnath are strongly worshiped in Maharashtra, the book is written in Marathi. It is written by Malu Narhari. In this text, the author mentions at the end of each chapter that this text is a taken from original text which is also in Marathi 'Kimayagaar' by Gorakhnath, one of the Navnath.[citation needed]
Mahabharata
The coming of the Navnath is mentioned in the Mahabharata. Krishna called a meeting of all demi-gods, angels and saints to give his message of how he would continue his message of spreading good after his mission is over on earth. Krishna said he would send his own light in the form of nine saints or prophets, who will go to different parts of earth and throughout the universe where life exists. Lord Krishna also mentions that these prophets or saints will spread the message of Love, overcoming obstacles in order to unite with Mahavishnu or Shiva or Shakti. Krishna said that they would help only those who have good souls and believers.[citation needed]
Notes
- ^ a b nisargadatta.org, Navnath Sampradaya Archived 2015-02-23 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Berntsen 1988.
- ^ Dikshit 1988, p. 271.
- ^ a b c d Boucher n.d.
- ^ Dikshit 1988.
- ^ a b c d e f g "Shri Gorakhanath". gorakhnath.org. Retrieved 2020-07-04.
References
- Berntsen, Maxine; Zelliot, Eleanor (1988). The Experience of Hinduism: Essays on Religion in Maharashtra. Albany, N.Y: State University of New York Press. pp. 338. ISBN 0-88706-662-3.
- Boucher, Cathy (n.d.). "The Lineage of Nine Gurus. The Navnath Sampradaya and Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj". Nisargadatta.net.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: year (link) - Dikshit, Sudhakar S., ed. (1988). I Am That, Talks with Sri Nisargadatta. Translated by Maurice Frydman. Acorn Press. ISBN 0-89386-022-0..
Further reading
- Powell, Robert, ed. (2004). Nectar of Immortality: Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj Discourses on the Eternal. ISBN 81-208-1733-8..