Nath Sampradaya

Jagatguru Yogacharya Goraksha Nathji

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Nath Sampradaya

Most yogis carry very few things while traveling. A wooden staff, a "Kambal" (woolen blanket), a "Kamandal" is all that the sadhu needs for his journeys. "Kamandal" is a typical container made of bitter fruit called Toomba used by the Sadhus to carry water. Some Sadhu remains in Samamdhi-Asana, a state of deep meditation for a long time without needing any food, drinking the nectar, which flows from within. The wooden hand rest called "Asho", is used to support the chin or the hand while the Sadhu sits in the asana.

Nath yogis perform great austerities practicing Hatha Yoga. Some Sadhus live in cremation grounds and eat food served only once in their khappar (a bowl made of half the portion of coco-de-la-mer, the coconut of the sea).

KHAPPAR MEY KHAYE, MUSHAN ME LETEY,
USKI POOJA KAUN METEY?
RAJA METEY RAAJ PAAT SEY JAAYE,
PRAJA METEY DOODH POOT SEY JAAYE,
YOGI METEY YOG-YUKTI SEY JAAYE....

As these saying goes, no one can disturb a Sadhu who eats in a Khappar and sleeps in the cremation grounds. A king would lose his kingdom , people would lose their livelihood, their children, and a yogi would lose his knowledge, if they tried to hurt such a Sadhu.

These yogis have been highly respected all through the ages by Kings and common man equally. With their practice of Yoga, these monks gain self-control over all their weaknesses. They then merge and become one with the Lord. They completely detach themselves from all materialistic pleasures in life. They are great philosophers, devoting their lives for the welfare of people, giving true knowledge, guiding all towards the right path to follow in life. Always performing virtuous actions, bringing good fortune to the needy and the wretched, granting salvation to all under their refuge. The complete Avdhoot Nath yogis remain in an ever-blissful state without any physical needs to perform these deeds. Only then they justify the character of the word 'Nath'. Nav Naths were such Avdhoot Nath yogis.