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Gorakh Nathji was the originator of yoga and
meditation and founder of the Nath Sampradaya. Gorakh
Nath literally means a person who has mastered his
indriyas (senses) and has complete control over the
five vikritis or negative characteristics in human
nature - that is kaam (sexuality), krodh (temper),
mad (ego), lobh (greed) and moh (worldly attachment).
By doing so, wants and desires get stabilized, leading
to peace and contentment within. He believed that God
existed in onself, the five elements of jal (water),
vayu (air), akash (aether), agni (fire) and prithivi
(earth), by which the body is made, become a part of
the cosmos through meditation and proper conduct.
Goraksh Nath ji is considered to be an avatar (form) of
Shiva, and therefore neither had birth nor death. It
is believed that Shiva took the form of Shri
Gorakshnath after an argument with Shakti. Shakti told
Shiva that she had the power to awaken desire in
anyone, while Shiva disagreed. In his form as
Gorakhnath, he showed complete freedom from all
desires through yoga.
Guru Gorakhnath Ji had Nav Naths and 84 Siddhas
(accomplished beings) as disciples, human forms
created by his own yogic powers to spread his message
of yoga and meditation to the world. The Nath
Sampradaya spread, through the centuries, all over the
world.
References have been found in the Vedas (holy books of
the Hindu scriptures over 5000 years old), the Dabistan I
Mazahib, the prophet Mohammad is reported as meeting him,
Buddha (6th to 7th century), the kings Gopichand and
Baratari (8th to 11th century) were disciples, Kabir Das
(14th century) mentions Gorakhnath in the Kabir Granthvali
and through all the ages.
No Samadhi (tomb) has ever been found, though the caves
where he meditated Gorakh Gufa (now in Nepal), Gorakh
Tilla (now in Pakistan), and Girnar, where Guru
Gorakhnath's dhooni still exists, (in India) are
places of worship.
He is considered to be ever-existent by Nath Yogis and
their followers, and the Nath Ashrams continue to
practice his teachings.
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