Nath - Natha Sampradaya

Natha Sampradaya

Hinduism


Hindu History
Deities Trimurti Brahma Vishnu Shiva Devis and Devas Saraswati Lakshmi Parvati Shakti Durga Kali Ganesha Subrahmanya Ayyappa Rama Krishna Hanuman Prajapati Rudra Indra Agni Dyaus Bhumi Varuna Vayu
Scriptures Vedas Rigveda Yajurveda Samaveda Atharvaveda Divisions Samhita Brahmana Aranyaka Upanishad Upavedas Ayurveda Dhanurveda Gandharvaveda Sthapatyaveda Vedangas Shiksha Chandas Vyakarana Nirukta Kalpa Jyotisha Upanishads Rig vedic Aitareya Yajur vedic Brihadaranyaka Isha Taittiriya Katha Shvetashvatara Sama vedic Chandogya Kena Atharva vedic Mundaka Mandukya Prashna Puranas Brahma puranas Brahma Brahmanda Brahmavaivarta Markandeya Bhavishya Vaishnava puranas Vishnu Bhagavata Naradeya Garuda Padma Shaiva puranas Shiva Linga Skanda Agni Vayu Itihasas Ramayana Mahabharata Other scriptures Bhagavat Gita Dharma Shastra Manusmriti Artha Shastra Yoga Vasistha Sutras Stotras Tantras Yoga Sutra others Classification of scriptures Śruti Smriti Timeline Hindu texts
Practices Worship Puja Japa Bhajana Tapa Dhyana Yajna Homa Tirthadana Naivedhya Temple Vigraha Bhakti Samskaras Garbhadhana Pumsavana Simantonayana Jatakarma Namakarana Nishkramana Annaprashana Chudakarana Karnavedha Vidyarambha Upanayana Praishartha Keshanta Ritushuddhi Samavartana Vivaha Antyeshti Varnashrama Dharma Varna Brahmin Kshatriya Vaishya Shudra Ashrama Brahmacharya Grihastha Vanaprastha Sanyasa Festivals Navaratri Vijayadashami (Dasara) Deepavali Shivaratri Holi Kumbha Mela Ratha Yatra Vishu Bihu Baisakhi Puthandu Ganesh Chaturthi Onam Rama Navami Janmashtami Raksha Bandhan
Philosophers Ancient Gautama Angiras Ashtavakra Jaimini Kanada Kapila Pāṇini Patañjali Uddalaka Valmiki Vyasa Yajnavalkya Medieval Adi Shankara Basava Dnyaneshwar Chaitanya Gangesha Upadhyaya Gaudapada Jayanta Bhatta Kabir Kumarila Bhatta Madhusudana Madhva Namdeva Nimbarka Prabhakara Raghunatha Siromani Ramanuja Srimanta Sankardeva Vedanta Desika Tukaram Tulsidas Vachaspati Mishra Vallabha Vidyaranya Modern Aurobindo Coomaraswamy Dayananda Saraswati Gandhi Krishnananda Narayana Guru Prabhupada Ramakrishna Ramana Maharshi Radhakrishnan Sivananda U. G. Krishnamurti Vivekananda Yogananda Sri Sri Ravishankar
Other topics Hindu denominations Hinduism by country Mythology Hindu calendar Hindu law Hindu iconography Hindu nationalism Hindutva Hindu pilgrimage sites Persecution Criticism Glossary
Hinduism Portal Hindu Mythology Portal

The Natha Sampradaya (Devanagari:नाथ संप्रदाय), is a development of the earlier Siddha or Avadhuta Sampradaya, an ancient lineage of spiritual masters. Its founding is traditionally ascribed as an ideal reflected by the life and spiritual attainments of the Guru Dattatreya, the avatar of Brahma, Vishnu & Shiva all in one and born as the son of Rishi Atri and Anusuya Mata. The establishment of the Naths as a distinct historical sect purportedly began around the 8th or 9th century with a simple fisherman, Matsyendranath (sometimes called Minanath, who may be identified with or called the father of Matsyendranath in some sources).

One story of the origin of the Nath teachings is that Matsyendranath was swallowed by a fish and while inside the fish overheard the teachings given by Shiva to his wife Parvati. According to legend, the reason behind Shiva imparting a teaching at the bottom of the ocean was in order to avoid being overheard by others. In the form of a fish, Matsyendranath exerted his hearing in the manner required to overhear and absorb the teachings of Shiva. After being rescued from the fish by another fisherman, Matsyendranath took initiation as a sannyasin from Siddha Carpati. It was Matsyendranath who became known as the founder of the specific stream of yogis known as the Nath Sampradaya.

Matysendranath's two most important disciples were Caurangi and Gorakshanath. The latter came to eclipse his Master in importance in many of the branches and sub-sects of the Nath Sampradaya. Even today, Gorakshanath is considered by many to have been the most influential of the ancient Naths. He is also reputed to have written the first books dealing with Laya yoga and the raising of the kundalini-shakti.

There are several sites, ashrams and temples in India dedicated to Gorakshanatha. Many of them have been built at sites where he lived and engaged in meditation and other sadhana. According to tradition, his samadhi shrine (tomb) and gaddi (seat) reside at the Gorakhnath Temple in the city of Gorakhpur in Uttar Pradesh. However, according to the claims of the vaishnava Nityananda the samadhi shrines (tombs) of both Matsyendranath and Gorakshanath reside at Nath Mandir near the Vajreshwari temple about a kilometer from Ganeshpuri, Maharashtra, India.

The Natha Sampradaya does not recognize caste barriers, and their teachings were adopted by outcasts and kings alike. The Nath tradition has many sub-sects, but all honor Matsyendranath and Gorakshanath as the founders of the tradition.