Navnath
Encyclopedia
The Navnath also spelt as Navanatha and Nao Nath, are the nine Hindu
saints, Masters or Nath
s on whom the Navnath Sampradaya, the lineage of the nine gurus is based. They are worshipped collectively as well as individually.
The nine teachers, collectively known as Navnaths, are considered representative of great teachers in this tradition or parampara
::
', is a Hindu sampradaya
, and a parampara
, tradition based upon the lineage of the Navnaths, from the Nath Sampradaya (lineage) of Hindu mythology
.
The unique spiritual attainments of this legendary figure are mentioned in the Bhagavata Purana, the Mahabharata and also in some later Upanishads. Others hold that it is an offshoot of the Hatha Yoga.
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.
The teachings of the Nath Sampradaya have, over the centuries, become labyrinthine in complexity and have assumed different forms in different parts of India. Some Gurus of the Sampradaya lay stress on bhakti, devotion; others on jnana, knowledge; still others on yoga, the union with the ultimate. In the fourteenth century we find Svatmarama Svami, the great Hathayogin, bemoaning ‘the darkness arising out of multiplicity of opinions’ to dispel which he lit the lamp of his famous work Hathayogapradipika.
According to some learned commentators, the Nath Gurus propound that the entire creation is born out of nada (sound), the divine principle, and bindu (light), the physical principle and the Supreme Reality from which these two principles emanate is Shiva. Liberation according to them is merging of the soul into Shiva (according to Hinduism Shiva and Vishnu are one, not two separate powers) through the process of laya, dissolution of the human ego, the sense of I-ness.
In the day-to-day instructions to their devotees, however, the Nath Gurus seldom refer to the metaphysics discovered by the scholars in their teachings. In fact their approach is totally non-metaphysical, simple and direct. While the chanting of sacred hymns and devotional songs as well as the worship of the idols is a traditional feature of the sect, its teaching emphasises that the Supreme Reality can be realised only within the heart.
This tradition, believes Rishi Dattatreya
, an incarnation of the Hindu trinity Brahma
, Vishnu
and Shiva
to be its first teacher..
There is a book on these 9 great souls called "Navnath pothi". It has 40 chapters. This book narrates the Navnaths' births, their lives and deeds. As the Navnath are strongly worshiped in Maharashtra, the book is written in Marathi. It is believed that reading it in a specific manner is beneficial to human mind, soul and body.
The coming of the Navnath - or nine prophets - 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 true believers.
The Navnath sampradaya spreads the message of Krishna that God exists everywhere and not just in a particular form or lack thereof. The Avatar of Dattatreya (Unified form of the trinity) came on the mission on earth to dispel confusion of earthlings who thought the three are different.
Datta Guru Dattatreya
is the first teacher, initiator of Navnath Sampradaya who gave benediction to Machhindranath in the presence of Lord Shiva.
It is believed by some that two of the Navnath saints are among the five pirs who propagated the message of Allah
or Mahavishnu
or God - Jalandhar Nath & Gahini Nath known as Jan Pir and Ghaibi Pir. These people believe that all religions pray to the same God but in different languages.
According to another of Gahini Nath's student' stories, Gyandev was allowed into the Masjid in Lahore by a voice from the sky. On coming to the masjid, Gyandev was stopped from entering by the Maulvi but the Maulvi heard a voice from the sky asking him to allow Gyandev entrance, saying Gyandev is the son of GOD himself. Thus the Maulvi embraced Gyandev and allowed him to stay in the masjid along with his brother and sister.
(1897–1981), Sri Ranjit Maharaj (1913–2000) .
Today, the Navnath Parampara is one of the most well known advaitic parampara
in the world .
Hindu
Hindu refers to an identity associated with the philosophical, religious and cultural systems that are indigenous to the Indian subcontinent. As used in the Constitution of India, the word "Hindu" is also attributed to all persons professing any Indian religion...
saints, Masters or Nath
Nath
The Sanskrit word nāthá or नाथ, is the proper name of a Hindu initiatory tradition and the word itself literally means "lord, protector, refuge"...
s on whom the Navnath Sampradaya, the lineage of the nine gurus is based. They are worshipped collectively as well as individually.
The nine teachers, collectively known as Navnaths, are considered representative of great teachers in this tradition or parampara
Parampara
Parampara denotes a succession of teachers and disciples in traditional Indian culture and Indian religions such as Hinduism, Sikhism, Jainism and Buddhism...
::
- Machindranath or MatsyendranathMatsyendranathMatsyendranatha or Machindranath was one of the eighty-four Mahasiddhas. He was the guru of Gorakshanath, with whom he founded the school of Hatha yoga. He is considered as the author of the Kaulajñānanirṇaya , one of the earliest texts on Hatha Yoga in Sanskrit...
- GorakshanathGorakshanathGorakshanath was an 11th to 12th century Hindu Nath yogi, connected to Shaivism as one of the two most important disciples of Matsyendranath, the other being Caurangi. There are varying records of the spiritual descent of Gorakshanath. All name Adinath and Matsyendranath as two teachers preceding...
or Gorakhnath - Jalandharnath or Jalandernath also known as Jan Peer
- KanifnathKanifnathKanifnath, also known as Kanoba, is one of the nine Mahayogi of Navnath Sampradaya.Lord Kanifnathji is a Avtar of Prabuddha Narayan in one of Nav narayan was a son of shri vrushabh dev in mahabharta....
- Gahininath also known as Gaibi Peer
- Bhartrinath or Bhartarinath or Raja Bhartari
- Revananath
- Charpatinath
- Naganath or Nageshnath
Navnath Sampradaya
The Navnath Sampradaya or 'Navnath ParamparaParampara
Parampara denotes a succession of teachers and disciples in traditional Indian culture and Indian religions such as Hinduism, Sikhism, Jainism and Buddhism...
', is a Hindu sampradaya
Sampradaya
In Hinduism, a sampradaya can be translated as ‘tradition’ or a ‘religious system’, although the word commands much more respect and power in the Indian context than its translations in English does...
, and a parampara
Parampara
Parampara denotes a succession of teachers and disciples in traditional Indian culture and Indian religions such as Hinduism, Sikhism, Jainism and Buddhism...
, tradition based upon the lineage of the Navnaths, from the Nath Sampradaya (lineage) of Hindu mythology
Hindu mythology
Hindu religious literature is the large body of traditional narratives related to Hinduism, notably as contained in Sanskrit literature, such as the Sanskrit epics and the Puranas. As such, it is a subset of Nepali and Indian culture...
.
The unique spiritual attainments of this legendary figure are mentioned in the Bhagavata Purana, the Mahabharata and also in some later Upanishads. Others hold that it is an offshoot of the Hatha Yoga.
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.
The teachings of the Nath Sampradaya have, over the centuries, become labyrinthine in complexity and have assumed different forms in different parts of India. Some Gurus of the Sampradaya lay stress on bhakti, devotion; others on jnana, knowledge; still others on yoga, the union with the ultimate. In the fourteenth century we find Svatmarama Svami, the great Hathayogin, bemoaning ‘the darkness arising out of multiplicity of opinions’ to dispel which he lit the lamp of his famous work Hathayogapradipika.
According to some learned commentators, the Nath Gurus propound that the entire creation is born out of nada (sound), the divine principle, and bindu (light), the physical principle and the Supreme Reality from which these two principles emanate is Shiva. Liberation according to them is merging of the soul into Shiva (according to Hinduism Shiva and Vishnu are one, not two separate powers) through the process of laya, dissolution of the human ego, the sense of I-ness.
In the day-to-day instructions to their devotees, however, the Nath Gurus seldom refer to the metaphysics discovered by the scholars in their teachings. In fact their approach is totally non-metaphysical, simple and direct. While the chanting of sacred hymns and devotional songs as well as the worship of the idols is a traditional feature of the sect, its teaching emphasises that the Supreme Reality can be realised only within the heart.
This tradition, believes Rishi Dattatreya
Dattatreya
Dattatreya or Datta is a Hindu deity encompassing the trinity of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva, collectively known as Trimurti. The name Dattatreya can be divided into two words - "Datta" and "Atreya" referring to the sage Atri, his physical father.Various Hindu sects worship him differently...
, an incarnation of the Hindu trinity Brahma
Brahma
Brahma is the Hindu god of creation and one of the Trimurti, the others being Vishnu and Shiva. According to the Brahma Purana, he is the father of Mānu, and from Mānu all human beings are descended. In the Ramayana and the...
, Vishnu
Vishnu
Vishnu is the Supreme god in the Vaishnavite tradition of Hinduism. Smarta followers of Adi Shankara, among others, venerate Vishnu as one of the five primary forms of God....
and Shiva
Shiva
Shiva is a major Hindu deity, and is the destroyer god or transformer among the Trimurti, the Hindu Trinity of the primary aspects of the divine. God Shiva is a yogi who has notice of everything that happens in the world and is the main aspect of life. Yet one with great power lives a life of a...
to be its first teacher..
There is a book on these 9 great souls called "Navnath pothi". It has 40 chapters. This book narrates the Navnaths' births, their lives and deeds. As the Navnath are strongly worshiped in Maharashtra, the book is written in Marathi. It is believed that reading it in a specific manner is beneficial to human mind, soul and body.
The coming of the Navnath - or nine prophets - is mentioned in the Mahabharata. Krishna
Krishna
Krishna is a central figure of Hinduism and is traditionally attributed the authorship of the Bhagavad Gita. He is the supreme Being and considered in some monotheistic traditions as an Avatar of Vishnu...
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 true believers.
The Navnath sampradaya spreads the message of Krishna that God exists everywhere and not just in a particular form or lack thereof. The Avatar of Dattatreya (Unified form of the trinity) came on the mission on earth to dispel confusion of earthlings who thought the three are different.
Datta Guru Dattatreya
Dattatreya
Dattatreya or Datta is a Hindu deity encompassing the trinity of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva, collectively known as Trimurti. The name Dattatreya can be divided into two words - "Datta" and "Atreya" referring to the sage Atri, his physical father.Various Hindu sects worship him differently...
is the first teacher, initiator of Navnath Sampradaya who gave benediction to Machhindranath in the presence of Lord Shiva.
It is believed by some that two of the Navnath saints are among the five pirs who propagated the message of Allah
Allah
Allah is a word for God used in the context of Islam. In Arabic, the word means simply "God". It is used primarily by Muslims and Bahá'ís, and often, albeit not exclusively, used by Arabic-speaking Eastern Catholic Christians, Maltese Roman Catholics, Eastern Orthodox Christians, Mizrahi Jews and...
or Mahavishnu
Mahavishnu
Image:Hinducosm Map1.svg|thumb|Click an area to go there. This is one of many material universes which expand from Mahavishnu when He breathes.|300px|alt=One Brahmanda, with Garbhodakashayi-Vishnurect 216 61 277 80 Brahma...
or God - Jalandhar Nath & Gahini Nath known as Jan Pir and Ghaibi Pir. These people believe that all religions pray to the same God but in different languages.
According to another of Gahini Nath's student' stories, Gyandev was allowed into the Masjid in Lahore by a voice from the sky. On coming to the masjid, Gyandev was stopped from entering by the Maulvi but the Maulvi heard a voice from the sky asking him to allow Gyandev entrance, saying Gyandev is the son of GOD himself. Thus the Maulvi embraced Gyandev and allowed him to stay in the masjid along with his brother and sister.
Important Teachers
On one of the Navnath lineages, started by H.H. Revan nath (Also known as Kadasiddha- Siddhagiri) which was further carried on by Nimbargi Maharaj(Nimbargi) - Who also gave rise to the great Nimbargi Sampradaya, With great disciples as H.H. Shri. Bhausaheb Maharaj Umdikar (Umdi, Inchgiri), H.H. Shri Amburao Maharaj of Jigjivani(Inchgiri) and H.H. Shri. Gurudev Ranade of Nimbal, H.H. Shri.Sri Siddharameshwar (1888–1936) H.H. Shri. Nisargadatta MaharajNisargadatta Maharaj
Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj , born Maruti Shivrampant Kambli, was an Indian spiritual teacher and philosopher of Advaita , and a Guru, belonging to the Inchgiri branch of the Navnath Sampradaya....
(1897–1981), Sri Ranjit Maharaj (1913–2000) .
Today, the Navnath Parampara is one of the most well known advaitic parampara
Parampara
Parampara denotes a succession of teachers and disciples in traditional Indian culture and Indian religions such as Hinduism, Sikhism, Jainism and Buddhism...
in the world .
Further reading
- I Am That, Talks with Sri Nisargadatta, Transcribed and edited by Maurice Frydman. 1973. ISBN 0893860220.
- Nectar of Immortality, Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj Discourses on the Eternal, Edited by Robert Powell. 1987. ISBN 8120817338.