GURU GORAKH NATH JI

Gorakh Nath
Gorakh nath is one of the founder' and out­standing teacher of the kivite sect of ascetics, practicers of the Hatha Yoga, who are also called Nath Yogis; the great teacher of the Saivite faith, and finally the patron saint and tutelary of the state of Goraksa whose royal house used to rule in Nepal .

Gorakhnath has long since been deified, and, in popular religion, is considered a representative, even an embodiment, of siva. His name is also given to Siva. He is the creator in the dice-throwing ordeal in the Rasalu legend he is petitioned as a god.9 In the story of Hir and Ranjha he is worshipped with a platter of Milk and rice. And he is invoked elsewhere as a god."

A legend is current to the effect that Gorakhnath was born of dung and was found by Matsyendranath who made him a disciple." From Nepal comes the story that Siva after he had recited the Yoga doctrine to Parvati, standing on the sea shore,' while Matsy­endra (in the form of a fish) was listening, gave something to a woman to eat, with a promise that she would obtain a son. The woman did not eat the substance, but-cast it upon a dung-hill. Twelve years later, Matsyendra passed by the same spot and asked to see the child. He heard what the woman had done and ask to search in the dung heap. She there discovered a boy of twelve years. That boy was named Gorakhnath. Matsyendranath became his spiritual master and he served as dutiful disciple.

There are variants of these stories. A devotee of Siva, desiring offspring, received, at Parvati's intercession, ashes from Siva's dhuni. The devotee's wife was to swallow them. She did not, but threw them upon a dung-hill. Eventually a child was found there who was taken to Siva, and, by him, named Gorakhnath.