Articles

17.02.2022 Forms of Ganapati and the Meanings of His Attributes
Many forms of Ganapati are mentioned in various texts, up to 56 in Ganesha Purana. Some of Ganapati’s names emphasize the possession of one of his significant attributes and each has their meaning. Here are the explanations for some of them. Read more>>

27.06.2021 Vairagya
Vairagya - perfect renunciation is the ultimate detachment from the outside, combined with the ultimate immersion in the outside Read more>>
Author: Yogi Matsyendranath Maharaj

16.06.2021 Adinath
Shiva in the form of Adinath is considered to be the first Guru to tell the teachings of the Nathas. Being the source of all knowledge of yoga and tantra, he transmitted the secret truths to his disciple Matsyendranath, who in turn initiated Gorakshanath in them. Read more>>

11.04.2021 Legend of Dharmanath
There is a legend how Dharmanath, the founder of Dharmapanth, appeared. This story is outlined in "Navnath bhakti-sagara", but it also it’s modifications can be found in other sources. Read more>>
Author: Yogi Matsyendranath Maharaj

18.03.2021 Energy awakening
Some Gurus say that mudras pass arbitrarily during the awakening of the Kundalini. Moreover, the very term "mudra" itself is Shakti and means the one that bestows "joy", also something that means mixing, union (consciousness and prana). Read more>>
Author: Yogi Matsyendranath Maharaj

04.03.2021 Laya-yoga
“Laya-yoga is praised ten million times - it is the dissolution of consciousness; whether you walk, stand, sleep or eat - always meditate on Atman (the one who perceives). This is the meaning of Laya-yoga. " (Yoga-Tattva-Upanishad, 23, 24)
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Author: Yogi Matsyendranath Maharaj

24.02.2021 On actions that support and destroy the practice of yoga
Niyama are the prescriptions that yogi follows, receiving them from an authoritative Guru in the form of practices and instructions to them. There can be many Yamas and Niyamas, as many as there are obstacles on the way that must be overcome for spiritual development. Read more>>
Author: Yogi Matsyendranath Maharaj

19.02.2021 "Adesh" - the unity of Atma, Jivatma, and Paramatma
"Adesh" is the word used by Natha yogis to greet each other. Its literally translation is “will”, “order”, “instruction”, where “will” is the more accurate translation. Read more>>
Author: Yogi Matsyendranath Maharaj

22.01.2021 Sahaja
"Sahaja" means "essence", i.e. innate, primordial, higher nature. The practice of sahaja is the awareness of oneself as Shiva-Shakti yamala (union), without any efforts in the form of techniques or willingness to sustaine supporting states, when it is so obvious to you that you are Shiva that you do not need to prove it to yourself. Being in the state of sahaja, you don’t think or plan anything, and at the same time everything always develops in the most ideal way. Read more>>
Tags: :  hatha-yoga sahaja yoga nathas sadhana
Author: Yogi Matsyendranath Maharaj

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