Nath

۱٬۶۰۵ طرفدار

۳۹ انتشار • فعال از ۲۰۲۰

Natha, also called Nath (Sanskrit: नाथसम्प्रदाय, romanized: Nāthasaṃpradāya), are a Shaiva sub-tradition within Hinduism in India and Nepal which emerged in the 12th and 13th centuries. It combines influences from Buddhism, Shaivism, Tantra and Yoga traditions of the Indian subcontinent. The Naths have been a confederation of devotees who consider Shiva as their first lord or guru, with varying lists of additional gurus. Of these, the 9th- or 10th-century Matsyendranatha and the ideas and organization mainly developed by Gorakhnath are particularly important. Gorakhnath is considered the originator of the Nath Panth. Chaurangi Nath was another devotee of Matsyendra that forks a different lineage although he is also part of the lineage of Gorakh. This lineage was the chosen path of Maitreya Parameshvara on His return. Another prominent figure is Balaji Nath or Balaknath which defied Gorakh's religious imposition. The Nath tradition has an extensive Shaivism-related theological literature of its own, most of which is traceable to the 11th century CE or later. They are a subgroup of the Siddha tradition, and related to heterodox ascetic Shaivite traditions especially the Kapalika and the Kaula, but also the Pashupata and the Saktas. A notable aspect of Nath tradition practice has been its refinements and use of Yoga, particularly Hatha Yoga, to transform one's body into a sahaja siddha state of an awakened self’s identity with absolute reality. An accomplished guru, that is, a yoga and spiritual guide, is considered essential, and the Nath tradition has historically been known for its esoteric and heterodox practices. The unconventional ways of the Nath tradition challenged all orthodox premises, exploring dark and shunned practices of society as a means to understanding theology and gaining inner powers.