Aughar

Aughar

Aughar is an adherent of the Nath parampara, a yogi-ascetic. These are the sadhus who wear the ritual whistle (nadi) on the nadi-janeu (black thread), this whistle used in Guru and Deity worship.

Aughars are disciples devoted to their Guru in the Nath lineage who have chosen the Nath Guru as the Mula Guru. They are given a special black thread - "janeu", a ring – "pavitra" and a whistle – "nadi"; they are a symbol of belonging to the parampara, one cannot wear the thread that has broken, it is necessary to give the “janeu” to the sacred river and receive it again personally from the Guru. It cannot be made by oneself, "janeu" can only be given by Diksha-Guru.

Aughar receives special upadeshas from his Guru. It is preferable to stay near the Guru, especially the first time after receiving the diksha. In India, in any temple of the Nath Sampradaya, aughars are treated with respect.

Ordinary nath, which follows the tradition of yoga and later becomes aughar, is compared with the stone from which murti of Deity is created. The sculptor cuts off everything superfluous, and gradually an image appears by which one can see whether it is a yogi or not, and when this image comes to life and the essence of Shiva wakes up in it, then it becomes nath kanphat. The entire tradition of the Nathas can be represented only by the one who has become a darshani, and only darshani can be a Guru. An aughar can also become a Guru if he has the right to do so from his Guru, but he must be considered lower in rank than a darshani. Therefore, an aughar should treat the darshani as one of his teachers, even though he is not his diksha Guru, he still has more authority. For example, an aughar has no right to sit on a darshani’s asana, but it is permissible to do so in relation to an aughar.