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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.

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

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

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.

Utsaha

Zeal (utsaha) is certainty, intelligence, knowledge of reality, knowledge of the meaning, the rejection of the idle talk – these six steps lead to the improvement of yoga. Diligence is an effort to improve the quality of your apprenticeship, but at the same time, diligence and focusing on the practice, does not mean the pursuing the experience and knowledge. Diligence is a very quiet and continuous effort in all actions related to the sadhana. You need the quiet force to avoid rollback in practice. The experience shows that people who do systematic efforts according to their abilities show the best results.

Nadi-shodhana pranayama

The nadi-shodhana practice has always been popular in tantra, also it is used in a puja. Such pranayama leads to connection between mind and prana and "Kundalini straightens". This results in that the channels are cleansed, and the circulation of prana in the channels is distributed evenly. That is the true pranayama, which makes the mind quiet and clean.

Prana and pranayama

Prana is usually associated with consciousness, and with his work. Also prana is associated with breathing, but prana means "vital energy", and it especially manifests itself in breathing, because breathing is important function in our organism. But all other processes in the body such as metabolism, digestion, temperature, operation of the nervous system, reproductive, circulatory, muscular and other depend on prana. If you slow down some functions, the prana spent on their activity is preserved and resource of prana becomes bigger. As you can see, the control of prana may not necessarily is connected with breathing, but control through the breath is one of the most effective methods.

Gorakshanath

Gorakshanath is a certain tattva (essence), it represents the state of yogic perfection, and it’s in us. The aim of the worship of Gorakshanath is to feel his perfect condition in yourself. Gorakshanath means "the one who controls the senses". For this reason, we consider him as a protector of yogic way and followers of any dharma, also Gorakshanath is the patron of the Dharma. Gorakshanath is the symbol of Shunya (emptiness) therefore few people can feel him.

Bhakti

One of the most important things in the Natha tradition is stability. Bhakti (devotion) is expressed in stability; bhakti happens when we sacrifice ourselves, our body, our breathing and our mind to Alakh Niranjan. Alakh Niranjan is manifested in us, as well as in a Guru. Stable adherence to a Guru, stable asana, stable breathing and stable consciousness, rooted in God – these things are important for the yoga adept.