Articles

20.01.2021 Navanathas and Chaurasi-siddhas
Each of the nine Nathas (Navanathas) is a svarupa of one or another Deity, and Nathas worship not just Deities, but their "svarupas" first and then Deities. “Svarupa” is the true form. For example, the body can be considered as a secondary form and the soul as primary form. Spiritual form is svarupa. In the Tradition, Navanathas have two forms: the first is "bhoga-rupa", the second is "yoga-rupa". “Bhoga” are forms such as Ganesha, Vishnu, Chandra, Parvati, Brahma and others, while “yoga” are forms such as Kantharnath, Santoshnath, Chauranginath, Udayanath, etc. Read more>>
Tags: :  nathas sampradaya yoga tantra
Author: Yogi Matsyendranath Maharaj

29.12.2020 Traditional apprenticeship. Tips for students
What else is worth mentioning about the path, practice and doctrine of Nathas is that it is extremely secret. And this is not intrigue or advertisement. To make it clear: there is a chance for a few in millions to figure out what Nathas tradition is. Why do I think so? It is known that Gorakshanath was a disciple of Matsyendranath who was kaula-tantric. Kaula-tantrism is a difficult practice and doctrine has traditionally been kept secret. So, Gorakshanath took its essence from his Teacher, that means the highest that was there. The essence can’t be simpler, than that from which it is extracted. Read more>>
Tags: :  yoga sadhana forum Nathas Guru
Author: Yogi Matsyendranath Maharaj

24.12.2020 Amanaska-yoga
Purva-yoga (Purva-taraka) is a synonym for Hatha-yoga, and Amanaska-yoga (or Uttara-taraka) is a synonym for Raja-yoga, the purpose of which is Unmani (dissolving of mind in its source, Parasamvita). Unmani-avastha (state of unmani) is somewhat different in the definition of tantrikas and nathas from Patanjali's definition of «citta-vritti nirodhah». Read more>>
Tags: :  yoga amanaska-yoga raja-yoga
Author: Yogi Matsyendranath Maharaj

02.07.2020 Adharas
"Adhara" means basis or foundation. In yoga esoteric aspects of the body are called adharas. Those are the points of prana transformation and areas for concentration. There are sixteen adharas. Concentration on adharas helps in the awakening of Kundalini, raising it upward, so that in the higher stage of shambhavi-mudra to redirect Kundalini inside, to connect the inner and outer lakshyas and achieve the state of vyoma. Read more>>
Tags: :  sadhana yoga nathas
Author: Yogi Matsyendranath Maharaj

01.07.2020 Meaning of Time in Nath tradition
Time, in Nathas worldview, is the essence of Shakti, the dynamic aspect of Shiva. Tantra names given aspect of Shakti Kali, while whereas in Nath tradition the highest manifestation of the Goddess is Yogamaya Balasundari. Special yantra is used for her worshiping. Yantra is divided into four parts, symbolizing the four yugas - time segments of the universe. In the middle is Balasundari herself in yamala (union with Shiva). Balasundari is Nija-shakti of Shiva, Kundalini. Read more>>
Tags: :  yoga sampradaya nathas mantra
Author: Yogi Matsyendranath Maharaj

02.04.2019 Guru-seva
Seva means a selfless service. If you take a closer look, then you will see that the whole human life is seva. We go to work and sacrifice our time and energy. Later we sacrifice our pay, for example, to our family or to a sales person at the store. We then receive only in order to invest in something else. We may also choose to not sacrifice anything. However, by not sacrificing, nothing will come on its own. Read more>>
Author: Yogi Matsyendranath Maharaj

29.11.2018 Yoga as a means of understanding ourselves and the world (ACU YOGA REIKI MAGAZINE #2)
In this article I would like to talk about a complicated topic, but in a simple and understandable language. Surely, many have already heard about natha-yogis, the founders of the Nath Tradition, such as Gorakhnath, Matsyendranath, Dharmanath and others. I have been inspired by their stories, spiritual experiences, guidelines and continue to practice and explore their doctrine. Read more>>
Author: Yogi Matsyendranath Maharaj

29.11.2018 Natha Yoga (ACU YOGA REIKI MAGAZINE #1)
In this article, I would like to tell you about Nath Tradition, which I have belonged to for almost twenty years since my first initiation. It so happened that I became a yogi in that tradition and what is more, received the blessing from my Guru to spread it to others, which is what I have been doing since 2004. Read more>>
Author: Yogi Matsyendranath Maharaj

30.07.2018 Shiva and Shakti

Natha Sampradaya refers to the Shivaism, but this tradition also worships Shakti - the Goddess. Shakti is a power that allows Shiva to manifest as a form. We know many forms of Shiva - Rudra, Bhairava, Aghora, Sadyojata, Tatpurusha, Sadashiva. Generally, Shiva is the original emptiness, he is beyond all gunas (nirguna), beyond all qualities. He is the super-consciousness (parasamvit), is the omnipresent consciousness, and Shakti is the energy by which this consciousness is revealed.

13.01.2018 Divisions of the Order
This is chapter of "Gorakhnāth and Kānphaṭha Yogīs", G. W. Briggs. The principal panths, or sub-sects of the order may be described as follows: Satnath, Ramnath, Dharamnath, Lakshmannath, Daryanath, Ganganath, Bairag, Rawal or Nagnath, Jalandharipa, Aipanth, Kaplani, Dhajjanath, Kanipa. Read more>>
Tags: :  sampradaya Nathas

01.11.2017 Yama and Niyama: brief review
Yama-Niyama are the principles of spiritual life, based on which yogi, practicing spiritual practices, becomes perfect. In other words, Yama-Niyama is the boat in which you are sitting, and spiritual practices are the oars, the motor and the map, which by the grace of Guru lead you in the right direction, thanks to your efforts. Without a boat, you are most likely to be eaten by sharks or will simply drown: the ocean of life consists not only of sunny moments. There are different variations of Yama-Niyama, but they are all alike. Read more>>
Tags: :  yoga sampradaya nathas
Author: Lakshminath

15.09.2017 Kanda and its location
Many Yogic texts mention a certain area called kanda, which means "bulb" or "root", from where all body’s nadis take a flow. But since the texts sometimes contain different information about the location of kanda, confusion may arise. The reason for the misunderstanding may be that the concept of kanda is associated with tantric symbols which is not explained in the texts in details. Read more>>
Tags: :  yoga tantra sadhana kanda
Author: Lakshminath

09.09.2017 Answers about measurement and depth of breathing
Touchy questions that I am often asked on seminars, specifically about the practice of prāṇāyāma. Read more>>
Tags: :  yoga pranayama sadhana
Author: Yogi Matsyendranath Maharaj

04.09.2017 Khecarī as a mudrā, mantra and a Goddess
There are many practices and elements of one or another practice under the name of khecarī–mudrā, for the reason that in India every spiritual path introduced something of its own. For example, in Gorakh-bānī, khecarī-mudrā is one of eight mudrās Read more>>
Tags: :  yoga mantra sadhana mudra

19.01.2017 Mantra Yoga

Mantra Yoga is a method for achieving the highest goal by using mantras. Practicing Mantra Yoga, sadhaka realizes mantra that he or she receives from Guru and the mantra`s siddhi.

09.12.2016 Viṣa and Amṛta in Tantra
Various Sampradayas could define many images of Vedas, Puranas, Tantras, Yoga-Shastras in their own, sometimes diametrically opposing ways. They use metaphorical language which is intentionally called 'sandha-bhasa’ by siddha yogis. This is a language which allows you to find doors to multidimensionality and versatility of meanings. One of such often described terms in Tantras is विष “viṣa” (poison), which is related to a poison consumed by Shiva after Samudra manthan (churning of the ocean by Devas and Danavas). Shiva also wears snakes instead of brahmanical thread and as earrings in his ears and etc. However, you may notice that the same element, for example, the churned ocean could produce opposite elements such as amṛta (nectar of immortality) and poison. Goddess Kundalini in her snake form could be associated with poison, but she is the Goddess of nectar, Sudha as well. Read more>>
Tags: :  amrita kundalini tantra vamachara
Author: Yogi Matsyendranath Maharaj

01.11.2016 Karma and karma-yoga

A lot of people might wonder what human karma and sanskaras are. Whether it is one’s nature or an offspring of karma.

Karma means a deed which leads to some result. Committing some action leaves an imprint (sanskara) in the soul, namely in the karana-sharira (the causal body). This imprint is carried through life and after some time it germinates.

15.06.2016 Vedic elements in Natha’s mantras

Let’s take a closer look at the meaning of Gorakshanath gayatri-mantra.

At the beginning it says about being (existence), element सत् – sat, which is also connected with a root अस् as – to be, from which a famous term सत्त्व sattvá (essence, existence) comes from.

25.09.2015 Meaning of the word Adesh

“Adesh” is a common greeting among Nathas.

In “Siddha-siddhanta-paddhati” Gorakshanath says that “Adesh” means unity between Atma, Jivatma and Paramatma. People in their usual state of mind don`t realize this unity, because of this all the problems appear.

12.09.2015 Dhyana

During dhyana you dive into an object, the sense of ego becomes simultaneously lost and perception of the object prevails.