NATH SAMPRADAY
Amongst the variety
of the numerous ascetic traditions existing in India, the Sect of Nathas is the
one of most ancient and remarkable. The order itself appears to be about one
thousand years old, but the principles on which it based trace their original
to far remote past. Nathas are also known as Yogis, because the foundation of
their order based on the ideas of Yoga.
As all other Shaiva ascetics, Nāthas wear
saffron colored closes, or go around half-naked, after besmearing body with ash
from their sacred fires. Many of them keep their hair matted, some are
clean-shaven. The most striking detail of the Natha appearance, which makes
them very easily distinguished from the ascetics of all others sects of India,
is their huge earrings called kundala (kuṇḍala), inserted into lobes of their
ears. The word kuṇḍala translated from Sanskrit means earring, ring, coil or
circle of rope. From the same root comes word Kundalini (the coiled Goddess)
the famous name of the mysterious Goddess Durgā. The splitting lobe of ears and
the inserting earrings is the important part of the Natha sadhanā and the
second stage of their initiation. The Natha Yogis believe that the two
important nadies (subtle channels) are become cut in the process, what becomes
helpful for the permanent rising of Kundalini.
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