Raval-panth

Raval-panth

One of Gorakshanath's panths (according to Briggs – one of the Shiva's panths). 

Alternative names: raval naths (rāval nath), nag naths (nāg nāth). 

The place of the main math is called Gailpur (Afghanistan) or Rawalpindi (Pakistan). 

Primarily Naganath (Nagarjuna) is called a founder. He was connected to Pashupati and received the knowledge of alchemy from nags. Also Ravalnath, siddha Badarbari, Gehalla-raval nath ji (one of the Chaurasi-siddhas) and Ravana were named as founders. The last version is not widely spread perhaps because Ravana is seen in a negative way (as the king of rakshasas and the main opponent of the God Rama). Although in the South he is seen as Shiva or Shiva's bhakta. 

Nagnaths worship Ananta-shesha and Achal Achambhenath. 

There are a lot of Muslim among nagnaths - more than in the other panths. According to the past evidence, ravalnaths were met mainly in the western part of India, but they traveled through its whole territory and abroad (to Europe). 

There is an opinion that "raval" is a distorted version of the Persian word rawinda which means "traveler". The other etymology takes "raval" from Arabic "rammal" which means "diviner". Nagnaths are often described as fakirs and diviners. From hindu "raval" (rāval) means "chieftain" – there was even such a title in Rajasthan. "Raval" could be a synonym to "Nath". 

Sometimes ravalnaths are divided on madia (followers of Gorakshanath) and g(h)al/raval g(h)alla (followers of Shiva). G(h)al is identified with pagalnaths. Besides the panth could be considered as half and joined with parasnaths.