Gorakhnath Temple
Encyclopedia
The Gorakhnath Math
(Gorakhnath Mutt) is a Hindu
monastic group
in the Nath
tradition. The name Gorakhnath derives from the medieval saint, Gorakshanath
(ca. 11th c.), a famous yogi
who travelled widely across India and authored a number of texts that form part of the canon of the Nath sampradaya (community). The Nath tradition was founded by Matsyendranath
.
The ancient Gorakhpur, in addition to modern, comprised the districts of KUSHINAGAR ,Basti, Deoria, Azamgarh and parts of Nepal tarai. These region, which may be called as Gorakhpur Janpad, had been an important centre of Aryan culture and civilization.
Gorakhpur was a part of the famous kingdom of Koshal, one of sixteen mahajanpadas in 6th Century B.C. The earliest known monarch ruling over this region with his capital at Ayodhya was IKSVAKU, who founded the solar dynasty of Kshatriya. It produced a number of illustratious kings till the accession of Ram, who was the greatest ruler of this dynasty. Since then, it remained an integral part of the erstwhile empires of Maurya, Shunga, Kushana , Gupta and Harsha dynasties.
Lord Gorakhnath resurrects if we chant his name may be along with his wife.
DHARM RAKSHTI RAKSHTAH. SHREE GORAKHNATHO VIJAYTET RAM. YATO DHARMASTATO JAYAH.
(also eponymous from the saint), is a religious institution that runs two Gorakhnath temples, one in Nepal
in the district of Gorkha
(another word believed to be derived from Baba Gorakhnath), and the other a little south of Gorakhpur
. The
temple at Gorakhpur is said to contain the samadhi shrine (tomb) and gaddi (prayer seat) of Gorakshanath.
These temples constitute the centre of most of the Hindu religious
activity in this region.
Thousands of devotees throng these temples on the occasion of Makar Sankranti, when they offer Khichdi
to Gorakshanath Baba. The King of Nepal also occasionally visits one of these temples during this festival.
The Gorakhnath Math has a significant following in eastern Uttar Pradesh
and the terai regions of Nepal, and also among wider circles across the Nath
groups. The monastic order, according to the principles of the saint Gorakhnath, does not follow caste conventions as in other Hindu religious groups. Thus, non-Brahmin
s may serve as priests.
The present mahant or chief priest is Avaidyanath. He appointed his successor Yogi Adityanath, who established himself as hero of Hindu renaissance.
It is widely believed that those who chant ShriGorakhnath Chalisa 12 times they are blessed with a miracle jyoti.
Yogi Adityanath has been active in the Bharatiya Janata Party
(BJP), and has moulded the Hindu forces in the region by a combination of alliances cutting across caste
lines, and by raising demands for better economic livelihood.
Adityanath has been
the Member of Parliament
(MP) from the Gorakhpur (Lok Sabha Constituency)
since 1998, and has emerged as a major power center in Uttar Pradesh. He founded the Hindu Yuva Vahini
(Hindu Youth Force). The group has also been involved in much communally sensitive activity, including the Mau
riots of October 2005 and the Gorakhpur riots of January 2007. The region was earlier known for its strong Hindu-Muslim ties; there were no riots here even after Babri Masjid.
In the General elections of 2007, the Hindu Yuva Vahini was at one point contemplating running the elections on its own, but finally a compromise was reached with the BJP.
Matha
A matha ) is a term for monastic and similar religious establishments of Hinduism and Jainism. A matha is usually more formal, hierarchical, and rule-based than an ashram.-Advaita Mathas:...
(Gorakhnath Mutt) is a Hindu
Hindu
Hindu refers to an identity associated with the philosophical, religious and cultural systems that are indigenous to the Indian subcontinent. As used in the Constitution of India, the word "Hindu" is also attributed to all persons professing any Indian religion...
monastic group
in the Nath
Nath
The Sanskrit word nāthá or नाथ, is the proper name of a Hindu initiatory tradition and the word itself literally means "lord, protector, refuge"...
tradition. The name Gorakhnath derives from the medieval saint, Gorakshanath
Gorakshanath
Gorakshanath was an 11th to 12th century Hindu Nath yogi, connected to Shaivism as one of the two most important disciples of Matsyendranath, the other being Caurangi. There are varying records of the spiritual descent of Gorakshanath. All name Adinath and Matsyendranath as two teachers preceding...
(ca. 11th c.), a famous yogi
Yogi
A Yogi is a practitioner of Yoga. The word is also used to refer to ascetic practitioners of meditation in a number of South Asian Religions including Jainism, Buddhism, and Hinduism.-Etymology:...
who travelled widely across India and authored a number of texts that form part of the canon of the Nath sampradaya (community). The Nath tradition was founded by Matsyendranath
Matsyendranath
Matsyendranatha or Machindranath was one of the eighty-four Mahasiddhas. He was the guru of Gorakshanath, with whom he founded the school of Hatha yoga. He is considered as the author of the Kaulajñānanirṇaya , one of the earliest texts on Hatha Yoga in Sanskrit...
.
History
The district Gorakhpur takes its name and fame from renowned, ascetic 'Gorakshnath', who was an eminent profounder saint of 'Nath Sampradaya'. A famous shrine 'Gorakhnath' was built in his honour on the same spot where he practised austerities.The ancient Gorakhpur, in addition to modern, comprised the districts of KUSHINAGAR ,Basti, Deoria, Azamgarh and parts of Nepal tarai. These region, which may be called as Gorakhpur Janpad, had been an important centre of Aryan culture and civilization.
Gorakhpur was a part of the famous kingdom of Koshal, one of sixteen mahajanpadas in 6th Century B.C. The earliest known monarch ruling over this region with his capital at Ayodhya was IKSVAKU, who founded the solar dynasty of Kshatriya. It produced a number of illustratious kings till the accession of Ram, who was the greatest ruler of this dynasty. Since then, it remained an integral part of the erstwhile empires of Maurya, Shunga, Kushana , Gupta and Harsha dynasties.
Lord Gorakhnath resurrects if we chant his name may be along with his wife.
DHARM RAKSHTI RAKSHTAH. SHREE GORAKHNATHO VIJAYTET RAM. YATO DHARMASTATO JAYAH.
Religious activity
Today's Gorakhnath Math, centered at [Gorakhpur] in eastern Uttar PradeshUttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh abbreviation U.P. , is a state located in the northern part of India. With a population of over 200 million people, it is India's most populous state, as well as the world's most populous sub-national entity...
(also eponymous from the saint), is a religious institution that runs two Gorakhnath temples, one in Nepal
Nepal
Nepal , officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, is a landlocked sovereign state located in South Asia. It is located in the Himalayas and bordered to the north by the People's Republic of China, and to the south, east, and west by the Republic of India...
in the district of Gorkha
Gorkha District
Gorkha District of 288,134. It is the location of the Manakamana Temple. Also, the temples of great sage Gorakh Nath and goddess Gorakh Kali temple is located in district, after which the district got its name. Four major rivers run within and along it, they are Chepe, Daraudi, Marsyangdi and...
(another word believed to be derived from Baba Gorakhnath), and the other a little south of Gorakhpur
Gorakhpur
Gorakhpur is a city in the eastern part of the state of Uttar Pradesh in India, near the border with Nepal. It is the administrative headquarters of Gorakhpur District and Gorakhpur Division. Gorakhpur is one of the proposed capitals of the Purvanchal state which is yet to be formed...
. The
temple at Gorakhpur is said to contain the samadhi shrine (tomb) and gaddi (prayer seat) of Gorakshanath.
These temples constitute the centre of most of the Hindu religious
Religion
Religion is a collection of cultural systems, belief systems, and worldviews that establishes symbols that relate humanity to spirituality and, sometimes, to moral values. Many religions have narratives, symbols, traditions and sacred histories that are intended to give meaning to life or to...
activity in this region.
Thousands of devotees throng these temples on the occasion of Makar Sankranti, when they offer Khichdi
Khichdi
Khichṛī , alternate spellings khichdi, khichri, khichdee, khichadi, khichuri, khichari, "kitcheree", "kitchree", and many other variants, is a South Asian preparation made from rice and lentils...
to Gorakshanath Baba. The King of Nepal also occasionally visits one of these temples during this festival.
The Gorakhnath Math has a significant following in eastern Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh abbreviation U.P. , is a state located in the northern part of India. With a population of over 200 million people, it is India's most populous state, as well as the world's most populous sub-national entity...
and the terai regions of Nepal, and also among wider circles across the Nath
Nath
The Sanskrit word nāthá or नाथ, is the proper name of a Hindu initiatory tradition and the word itself literally means "lord, protector, refuge"...
groups. The monastic order, according to the principles of the saint Gorakhnath, does not follow caste conventions as in other Hindu religious groups. Thus, non-Brahmin
Brahmin
Brahmin Brahman, Brahma and Brahmin.Brahman, Brahmin and Brahma have different meanings. Brahman refers to the Supreme Self...
s may serve as priests.
The present mahant or chief priest is Avaidyanath. He appointed his successor Yogi Adityanath, who established himself as hero of Hindu renaissance.
It is widely believed that those who chant ShriGorakhnath Chalisa 12 times they are blessed with a miracle jyoti.
Political activity
The Gorakhnath Math has been involved in political matters for decades. Avaidyanath had earlier been a leader of the rightist party, the Hindu Mahasabha, and had served in Parliament from Gorakhpur for four terms.Yogi Adityanath has been active in the Bharatiya Janata Party
Bharatiya Janata Party
The Bharatiya Janata Party ,; translation: Indian People's Party) is one of the two major political parties in India, the other being the Indian National Congress. Established in 1980, it is India's second largest political party in terms of representation in the parliament...
(BJP), and has moulded the Hindu forces in the region by a combination of alliances cutting across caste
Caste
Caste is an elaborate and complex social system that combines elements of endogamy, occupation, culture, social class, tribal affiliation and political power. It should not be confused with race or social class, e.g. members of different castes in one society may belong to the same race, as in India...
lines, and by raising demands for better economic livelihood.
Adityanath has been
the Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
(MP) from the Gorakhpur (Lok Sabha Constituency)
Gorakhpur (Lok Sabha Constituency)
Gorakhpur is a Lok Sabha parliamentary constituency in Gorakhpur, Eastern Uttar Pradesh, India.In the 2004 Lok Sabha Elections, the constituency had 1,432,002 eligible...
since 1998, and has emerged as a major power center in Uttar Pradesh. He founded the Hindu Yuva Vahini
Hindu Yuva Vahini
The Hindu Yuva Vahini is a Hindu youth group, founded by Yogi Adityanath, intended successor of the Gorakhpur Mutt temple in Gorakhpur, India....
(Hindu Youth Force). The group has also been involved in much communally sensitive activity, including the Mau
Mau
Mau , formerly Mau Nath Bhanjan , nearly 90 km from Varanasi is the powerhouse of textile weavers in Eastern UP, India. It is a small industrial town on the banks of Ghaghra . The Tamasa river flows through the city...
riots of October 2005 and the Gorakhpur riots of January 2007. The region was earlier known for its strong Hindu-Muslim ties; there were no riots here even after Babri Masjid.
In the General elections of 2007, the Hindu Yuva Vahini was at one point contemplating running the elections on its own, but finally a compromise was reached with the BJP.