Yogi Nath

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Yogi Nath is a Shaivism-related group of monks which emerged around the 13th-century. They are sometimes called Jogi or simply Yogi, and are known for a variety of siddha yoga practices. [1]

Contents

History

The yogis were primarily associated with the Yogic-traditions promoted by the great Nath saints, e.g. Matsyendranath, Gorakshanath, Chauranginath etc. Hatha yoga is considered as the prominent part of those traditions promoted by these great Nath masters. The Nath Sampradaya is considered as a development of the earlier Siddha or Avadhuta Sampradaya, [2] an ancient lineage of spiritual masters. The Nath yogis are classical followers of Shaivism; it was not a caste it is followed by different communities it was a sect within Hindu religion. [1]

In 1567, Jogis (Giris) and Sannyasi (Puris) battled each other as detailed in the Tabaqat-i-Akbari, both are 2 of the 10 akharas (orders) of Dashanami Sampradaya. Puris were outnumbered by 200 to 500 by Jogis, Akbar asked his soldiers to smear ash and join Puris to help them, this led to the victory of Puris. [3]

Organization

The Nath tradition is a syncretic Yoga and Vedanta schools of Hindu philosophy based Shaiva tradition, that reveres Shiva and Dattatreya. Its founding is attributed to the ideas of Matsyendranath and Gorakshanath, developed further with an additional seven other Siddha Yoga Gurus called "Naths" (literally, lords). [1] The Nath Yogi sampradaya and monastic organizations grew starting with the 13th century, [1] with its matha headquarters in Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh. Many of their mathas are found in the northern, central and western states of India particularly in the Himalayas, but archeological inscriptions suggest their mathas existed in south India as well. The early Nath monks received endowments in Karnataka, for example, between the 10th and 13th century, which later became a temple and Shaiva matha hub for them near Mangalore. [4] The Kadri matha, for instance, is one of the legendary monasteries in the Nath tradition which attracted converts from Buddhism and infusion of Buddhist ideas into Shaivism. [4]

Nath Shaiva monastic organization was one of those Hindu monk groups that militarized and took up arms following the Muslim conquest of India, to resist persecution. [5] [6] [7] They were scorned and persecuted by Mughal Empire officials, and by social, cultural and religious elites. [8] [9] However, the Nath yogi monks have been very popular with the rural population in South Asia since medieval times. [10]

The Nath tradition of Shaivism is credited with establishing numerous Shiva Hindu temples and monasteries, particularly in Gujarat, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, north Bihar, and Nepal. [11]

Yogi Nath in Bengal

Prior to independence, census statistics rarely included the caste name Nath or Yogi nath. 19th-century British sources mentioned that castes known as jogis or jugis existed in Bengal. Some sources claim that Jogis held a low position during the 19th century. They appear to be particularly linked to failed ascetics and weavers who are often of lower status. [12] In the state of West Bengal they are classified as Other Backward Class under India's Reservation system. [13]

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yogi</span> Practitioner of Yoga

A yogi is a practitioner of Yoga, including a sannyasin or practitioner of meditation in Indian religions. The feminine form, sometimes used in English, is yogini.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shaivism</span> Hindu tradition that worships Shiva

Shaivism is one of the major Hindu traditions, which worships Shiva as the Supreme Being. One of the largest Hindu denominations, it incorporates many sub-traditions ranging from devotional dualistic theism such as Shaiva Siddhanta to yoga-orientated monistic non-theism such as Kashmiri Shaivism. It considers both the Vedas and the Agama texts as important sources of theology. According to a 2010 estimate by Johnson and Grim, Shaivism is the second-largest Hindu sect, constituting about 252 million or 26.6% of Hindus.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hatha yoga</span> Branch of yoga focusing on physical techniques

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dattatreya</span> Hindu deity

Dattatreya, Dattā or Dattaguru, is a paradigmatic Sannyasi (monk) and one of the lords of yoga, venerated as a Hindu god. He is considered to be an avatar and combined form of the three Hindu gods Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva, who are also collectively known as the Trimurti, and as the manifestation of Parabrahma, the supreme being, in texts such as the Bhagavata Purana, the Markandeya Purana, and the Brahmanda Purana, though stories about his birth and origin vary from text to text. Several Upanishads are dedicated to him, as are texts of the Vedanta-Yoga tradition in Hinduism. One of the most important texts of Hinduism, namely Avadhuta Gita is attributed to Dattatreya. Over time, Dattatreya has inspired many monastic movements in Shaivism, Vaishnavism, and Shaktism, particularly in the Deccan region of India, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Himalayan regions where Shaivism is prevalent. His pursuit of simple life, kindness to all, sharing of his knowledge and the meaning of life during his travels is reverentially mentioned in the poems by Tukaram, a saint-poet of the Bhakti movement.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Natha Sampradaya</span> Yogic tradition within Shaivism

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<i>Matha</i> Hindu monastery

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Daśanāmi Sampradaya</span> Monastic tradition in Hinduism

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Matsyendranatha</span> 10th century Hindu and Buddhist saint and yogi

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yogini</span> Female practitioner of yoga

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Constance Jones; James D. Ryan (2006). Encyclopedia of Hinduism. Infobase. p. 308. ISBN   978-0-8160-7564-5.
  2. ↑ M. N. Deshpande (1986). The Caves of Panhale-Kaji. New Delhi: Archaeological Survey of India, Government of India. OCLC   469489273.
  3. ↑ David N. Lorenzen (2006). Who Invented Hinduism: Essays on Religion in History. Yoda Press. pp. 51–54. ISBN   978-81-902272-6-1.
  4. 1 2 David Gordon White (2012). The Alchemical Body: Siddha Traditions in Medieval India. University of Chicago Press. pp. 94–97. ISBN   978-0-226-14934-9.
  5. ↑ David N. Lorenzen (2006). Who Invented Hinduism: Essays on Religion in History. pp. 51–63. ISBN   978-81-902272-6-1.
  6. ↑ David Gordon White (2011). Sinister Yogis. University of Chicago Press. pp. 198–207. ISBN   978-0-226-89514-7.
  7. ↑ William Pinch (2012). Warrior Ascetics and Indian Empires. Cambridge University Press. pp. 4–9, 28–34, 61–65, 150–151, 189–191, 194–207. ISBN   978-1-107-40637-7.
  8. ↑ David Gordon White (2012). The Alchemical Body: Siddha Traditions in Medieval India. University of Chicago Press. pp. 8–9. ISBN   978-0-226-14934-9.
  9. ↑ Shail Mayaram (2003). Against History, Against State. Columbia University Press. pp. 39–41. ISBN   978-0-231-12730-1.
  10. ↑ David N. Lorenzen; Adrián Muñoz (2012). Yogi Heroes and Poets: Histories and Legends of the Naths. SUNY Press. pp. x–xi. ISBN   978-1-4384-3890-0.
  11. ↑ David Gordon White (2012). The Alchemical Body: Siddha Traditions in Medieval India. University of Chicago Press. pp. 94–101, 104–105, 118. ISBN   978-0-226-14934-9.
  12. ↑ Nath, M. N. (1993). A Carnival of Parting: The Tales of King Bharthari and King Gopi Chand as Sung and Told by Madhu Natisar Nath of Ghatiyali, Rajasthan. United States: University of California Press. p. 51.
  13. ↑ "List of Other Backward Classes (O.B.C.) Recognized by Govt. of West Bengal" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2014-11-13.
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