Navnath

The Navnath (

Sanskrit: नवनाथ), also spelt as Navnatha in vernacular languages, are the nine saints, Masters or Naths on whom the Navnath Sampradaya, the lineage of the nine gurus, is based.^[1] They are worshipped collectively as well as individually.^[2]

Nine gurus

Some members of the Nath Sampraday believe

parampara.^[4]

Several lists are known:

Nisargadatta Maharaj

According to Maurice Frydman, the translator of Nisargadatta Maharaj's I Am That, "the most widely accepted list"^[5]^[4] and Suamitra Mullarpattan is as follows:

Machindranath or Matsyendranath (9th century), "who was said to be, initiated by one of the three primary Hindu gods (Vishnu, Shiva, Brahma), namely by Shiva, in the science and teaching of Yoga."^[4]

Gorakshanath

or Gorakhnath

Jalindranath or Jalindranath

Kanifnath or Kanhoba

Gahininath or Gehininath

Bhartrinath or Bhartarinath or Raja Bhartari or Bhartṛhari
Revananath or Revan Siddh or Kada Siddha or Ravalanath
Charpatinath or Charpatakshnath
Naganath or Nageshnath

List 2

Matsyendranath (the chief Natha), Gorakshanatha, Charpatinatha, Mangalnatha, Ghugonatha, Gopinatha, Prannatha, Suratnatha and Cambanatha. They are not related to the divisions of the orders.^[6]

List 3

In another list each Natha is identified with a Hindu god:1. Aumkar Adinatha (Lord of Lords), Siva; 2. Shelnatha (Lord of the Arrow Shaft), Krisna or Rama Chandra; 3. Santoknatha (Lord of Gratification) 4. Acalacambhunatha (Lord of Wondrous Immortality), Hanuman or Laksman; 5. Gajbali Gajkanthnatha (Lord of the Elephant's Strength and Neck)) Ganesa Gajikarna (Elephant-Eared); 6. Prajnatha, or Udaynatha (Lord of the People), Parvati; 7. Mayarupi Macchendranatha (The Wondrous Form), Guru of Gorakhnatha; 8. Gathepinde Ricayakari, or Naranthar, Sambhujaiti Guru Gorakhnatha; 9. Gyansarupe, or Purakh Siddh Cauranjwenatha, or Puran Bhagat.^[6]

List 4

Orhkarinath, Visnu; Samtokanath, Visnu; Gajboli, Gajana, Hanuman; Acalesvar, Ganpati; Udayanatha, Surya; Parvati Prem, Mahadeo; Santhanatha, Brahma; Gyaniji Siddhacewarafigi, Jaggannath; Mayarupi, Matsya. The Nathas are also the guardian spirits of the Himalayan peaks.^[6]

List 5

1.Adinath 2. Udaynath Parvati 3.Satyanath Brahamaji 4.Santoshnath Vishnuji 5.Achabhenath Shesh 6.Kanthadnath Ganeshji 7.Chaurangi Chandrma 8.Matsyendranath 9.Gorakhnathh.^[6]

List 6

Omkarnath, Udaynath, Santoshnath, Achalnath, Gajbalinath, Gyannath, Chauranginath, Matsyendranath, Gorakhnath.^[6]

List 7

Macchendranatha, Gorakhnath, Jalandhernath, Kanifnath, Charpatinath, Naagnath, Bhartrharinath, Gahininath, Ravennath.^[6]

List 8

Shri Gorakhnath, Javaalendranath, Kaarinanath, Gahini nath, Charpath nath, Revan nath, Naag nath, Bharthari Nath, Gopichand Nath.^[6]

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.

Notes

^ ^a ^b nisargadatta.org, Navnath Sampradaya Archived 2015-02-23 at the Wayback Machine
^ Berntsen 1988.
^ Dikshit 1988, p. 271.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Boucher n.d.
^ Dikshit 1988.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g "Shri Gorakhanath". gorakhnath.org. Retrieved 2020-07-04.

References

Berntsen, Maxine; Zelliot, Eleanor (1988). The Experience of Hinduism: Essays on Religion in Maharashtra. Albany, N.Y: State University of New York Press. pp. 338.
ISBN 0-88706-662-3
.

Boucher, Cathy (n.d.). "The Lineage of Nine Gurus. The Navnath Sampradaya and Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj". Nisargadatta.net.
Dikshit, Sudhakar S., ed. (1988). I Am That, Talks with Sri Nisargadatta. Translated by Maurice Frydman. Acorn Press.
ISBN 0-89386-022-0
..