NATHA SAMPRADAYA
In India, Natha Sampradaya is the tradition where Yoga emerged as the West knows this practice, with postures (asana), breathing exercises (pranayama), and other techniques such as Mudras and Layas. This tradition is divided into an official Orthodox branch and several unofficial heterodox branches.
The orthodox branch is called the Nath Darshan or Nath Panth and is subdivided into 12 upa-panths (sub-branches) managed by a single organization called Akhil Bharatvarshiya Avadhut Bhesh Barah Panth Yogi Mahasabha, with headquarters in the city of Haridwar in the state of Uttarakhand and another in the city of Gorakhpur in the state of Uttar Pradesh, both in India. People with an "ordinary" life do not enter this branch, being exclusive to sadhus (celibate monks) who wear earrings (kundalas) inserted in the cartilage of the ears and are called Kanpatha Yogis (pierced ears). The practice of Hatha Yoga called "Physical Yoga" in the West, only exists within this branch.
On the other hand, the various heterodox branches do not have the knowledge or practice of Hatha Yoga and are generally composed of people with a "normal" life, married people, business owners, etc., devotees of Shiva in the form of Gorakshanath or Dattatreya who are considered inferior or Aughars (half-yogis), and focus more on philosophical practices, religious-ritualistic practices, or both. In India itself, any Hatha Yoga teacher who has never been a monk will never have learned many things about this science.
The teacher of this course, Rajnath, started his search in a heterodox branch of the Navnath tradition called Inchigeri Panth, to which Shri Nisargadatta Maharaj, author of the book “I Am That” belonged. However, in this aspect only philosophical and meditative knowledge was developed, without the deeper knowledge, and until then inaccessible to the Westerner about Hatha Yoga. As he was already a teacher of Hatha Yoga, Rajnath decided to go a step further and seek the official and orthodox branch, which is the oldest branch.
In order to seek this profound knowledge of Hatha Yoga that had not yet reached the West, Professor Rajnath had to become a sadhu to bring this knowledge to all those who are not monks he decided to break the Vow of Secrecy that exists in tantrism, where you promise never to teach the secrets to someone uninitiated. Today a course with all this knowledge acquired over years as a monk is available for people from different countries.
By becoming an initiated monk of this tradition, one receives the lineage of transmission of teachings that goes directly back to the figures of Shiva, Matsyendranath, and Gorakshanath. This is the lineage from Shiva to Rajnath:
01st Adinath Mahadev (Shiva)
02nd Shri Matsyendranath Ji Maharaj
03rd Shri Gorakshanath Ji Maharaj
04th Shri Vicharnath Ji Maharaj (King Bhartrihari)
05th Shri Raja Peer Yogi Bhuccharnath Ji Maharaj
06th Shri Raja Peer Yogi Khecharnath Ji Maharaj
07th Shri Raja Peer Yogi Arbhainath Ji Maharaj
8th Shri Raja Peer Yogi Aachenath Ji Maharaj
09th Shri Raja Peer Yogi Udenath Ji Maharaj
10th Shri Raja Peer Yogi Balaknath Ji Maharaj
11th Shri Raja Peer Yogi Motinath Ji Maharaj
12th Shri Raja Peer Yogi Nemnath Ji Maharaj
13th Shri Raja Peer Yogi Lilanath Ji Maharaj
14th Shri Raja Peer Yogi Mangalnath Ji Maharaj
15th Shri Mahant Yogi Rajnath Ji Maharaj
Next, we will see a little about each of the two branches, first about the orthodox branch, in which the yogis wear hoop earrings inserted in the middle of the cartilage of the ears, and then about the heterodox branch of the Aughars (without the earrings), in which masters are family men who do not take vows of celibacy or renunciation.
WHAT IS NATHA SAMPRADAYA
The Navnath Sampradaya (also known as "Natha Sampradaya", "Siddha Sampradaya", "Avadhuta Sampradaya", "Himalaya Navnath Sadhu Sangh", "The Tradition of the Nine Masters" or simply as "The Tradition of Yoga") is the lineage of oldest masters of Hindu tantrism.
The teaching of Siddhas is a disciplic heritage known to be a very closed tradition even for Indians who are not Sadhus (renunciant monks) reserving yoga teachings only for those who become Sadhu.
The Nine Masters are Adinath, Matsyendranath, Gorakshanath, Achala Achambhenath, Chauranginath, Gajabeli Gajakantharnath, Santoshnath, Satyanath, and Udayanath.
If you've heard of yoga, chakras, nadis, and other subjects, it's thanks to the masters of this tradition, which is the oldest and most respected Yoga tradition in all of India.
WHO WAS RAJNATH'S GURU?
In India, the oldest tantric tradition still active is better known as Natha Sampradaya. It is also common to call her Navnatha Sampradaya and Siddha Sampradaya.
This tradition has 12 subdivisions and each is headed by a top leader, a Mahasiddha known among Sadhus as "The 12 Sira Math", among Indian citizens as "The 12 Kings of Yogis" and among Western scholars as "The 12 Tantric Popes".
1. Satnathi (Satnath)
2. Ramnathi (Ram ke)
3. Pagal (Pagalpanthi)
4. Pav Panth (Pavak)
5. Dharmnath (Dharmnathi)
6. Mannathi (Manonathi)
7. Kaplani (Kapilpanth)
8. Ganganath (Ganganathi)
9. Nateshvari (Daryanathi)
10. Aai Panth (Aai ke)
11. Vairag (Bhartrihari Vairag)
12. Ravalpanthi
His Holiness the 14th Mahasiddha Shri Raja Peer Mangalnath Bhartrihari Vairag Panth Sira Math is one of the 12 leading Tantric Kings of the Bhartrihari Vairag lineage of ancient Mahasiddhas and is also the oldest among all 12 kings. He is Rajnath's guru and was named after him, in a ritual equivalent to baptism in Hinduism.
MORE ABOUT NATHA SAMPRADAYA
The Natha Sampradaya, also known as the Siddha Sampradaya or simply the Siddha tradition, is considered the oldest and most respected lineage of yogis in India for a few reasons:
1) The Siddha tradition is the order of the 84 great enlightened masters of the Himalayas, known as "The 84 Mahasiddhas", who is praised even by Buddhist lamas and also as "The Nine Siddhas", who are revered by the Munis and Acharyas of Jainism.
2) The Siddha tradition was the order that trained Jesus Christ, who in India is known as Ishanath. Jesus lived in India from age 14 to 29. During this period, he underwent training that lasted 12 years. At the age of 33, Jesus returned to India. He lived in the village of Pahalgam near Srinagar, Kashmir, and lived there until his death shortly after his 112th birthday. Jesus greatly appreciated the landscapes of the Tulián Valley, especially the beautiful lake where he made his meditation retreats and Lake Sheshnag, in whose surroundings was the cave where his guru Amarnath lived.
3) The Siddha tradition was the order that created Hatha Yoga, which gave rise to all modern styles of yoga that use body postures.
4) The Siddha tradition is the lineage of masters like
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Sai Baba of Shirdi, a 16th-century saint. XIX;
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Nisargadatta Maharaj, a great modern master of Advaita Tantra and whose teachings form the core of the book “I Am That”;
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Matsyendranath, known among Buddhists as Avalokiteshvara, was the teacher of Abhinavagupta, author of Tantraloka of Kashmir Shaivism. According to PC Bagchi, there are references to Matsyendranath not only in Tantraloka but also in Kalidasa's Mangalashtaka, Savara Tantra, Shaktiratnakara Tantra, Hatha Pradipika, Kaulavalitantra, and Kaulajnananirnaya in the lists of gurus of the Kali tradition (Matsyendra and his disciple Goraksha are mentioned as belonging to the order of lineage gurus);
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Gorakshanath, also known as Mahavatar Babaji, is the immortal yogi of the Himalayas;
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Svatmarama Nath and Gheranda Nath, authors of famous yoga scriptures.
5) There is a consensus among Hindus that the Siddha Sampradaya would have been the only tradition initiated by Shiva himself.
6) The Siddha tradition is the source of all traditional Hatha Yoga scriptures like Hatha Yoga Pradipika and Gheranda Samhita, among others that remain unknown to Western audiences, such as:
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Svara Tantra,
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Siddha Siddhanta Paddhati,
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Yoga Siddhanta Paddhati,
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Goraksha Siddhanta Paddhati,
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Goraksha Gita,
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Goraksha Upanishad,
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Goraksha Vacana Sangraha,
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Goraksha Paddhati,
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Goraksha Samhita,
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Goraksha Shataka,
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Goraksha Sahasranama,
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Matsyendra Samhita,
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Amanaska Yoga,
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Yogabija,
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Yoga Chintamani,
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Yoga Mahima,
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Yoga Martanda,
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Viveka Martanda,
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Jnana Rita,
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Jnana-sankalini,
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Maraugha Prabodha,
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Atmabodha,
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Kulananda Tantra,
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Akulavira Tantra,
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Jnana Karika,
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Natha Sutra etc.
7) The origin of the legend of Siddhashram (also called Shambala or Olmolungring, for Buddhist lamas) is in the Siddha tradition, a spiritual dimension where elevated masters who no longer need the physical body live.
8) The Nine Masters are respected and cited by famous masters all over the world, such as Yogananda, Osho, Blavatsky, and Sathya Sai Baba, among others, and also by Western initiatory orders such as Rose Cross and Freemasonry.
9) The Siddha tradition has made most kings become monks in all human history.
10) The Siddha tradition is the origin of Buddhism, Jainism, Aghori, Pancha-Dashami (also known as "naga babas"), Udasin, Ramanandi, and many other traditions.
At various times in history, a teacher has not openly belonged to the Siddha Sampradaya but has been quietly trained by a Mahasiddha behind the scenes, as was the case with Krishnamurti, Paramahansa Yogananda's teacher's teacher, and many others.
RAJNATH'S LINE OF SUCESSION
In Sanskrit, we use the word “parampara” to refer to a lineage of masters and disciples, a succession of transmission of some special knowledge.
The Siddha Sampradaya is a very famous and legendary lineage in India. Throughout history, many charlatans who do not belong to any royal lineage have claimed to belong to the Siddha Sampradaya.
Among sadhus, the best way to prove your ancestry and your link to tradition is to present your lineage. A lineage can shed light on many things about the origin of a teacher's knowledge.
This is Rajnath's line of succession
1st Adinath Mahasiddha (SHIVA)
2nd Matsyendranath Mahasiddha
3rd Gorakshanath Mahasiddha
4th Shri Raja Peer Vicharnath Mahasiddha
(King Bhartrihari)
5th Shri Raja Peer Bhuccharnath Mahasiddha
6th Shri Raja Peer Khecharnath Mahasiddha
(no images)
7th Shri Raja Peer Arbhainathji Mahasiddha
(no images)
8th Shri Raja Peer Aachenathji Mahasiddha
(no images)
9th Shri Raja Peer Udenathji Mahasiddha
10th Shri Raja Peer Balaknath Mahasiddha
11th Shri Raja Peer Motinath Mahasiddha
12th Shri Raja Peer Nemnath Mahasiddha
13th Shri Raja Peer Lilanath Mahasiddha
14th Shri Raja Peer Mangalnath Mahasiddha
15th Rajnath Ji Maharaj
This is the orthodox and formal lineage of the Natha Sampradaya.
Next, we will talk a little about the initial and heterodox strand in which Rajnath was also initiated. In this tradition, he received the Secret Mantra, which are the words given in a ritual context that are known only to the initiate and, of course, the master.
The Inchigeri Panth
of the Navnath bloodline
Considered the most profound modern book of oriental wisdom
In addition to the main branch of the Natha Sampradaya, in which Rajnath is the 15th master of one of the official branches (Bhartrihari Berag Panth), he is also the 35th master of the Inchigeri Panth, one of the unofficial lineages of the Natha Sampradaya.
The Inchigeri Panth became known to the Western public for being the lineage to which Nisargadatta Maharaj belonged, author of the book "I am That", about Advaita Tantra, which is arguably the most profound work on self-knowledge available in English and many other languages.
Rajnath was initiated into the Inchigeri Panth lineage and received the secret mantra of Ramakant Maharaj, the last living enlightened disciple of Nisargadatta Maharaj.
1st SHIVA (Adinath)
2nd Matsyendranath Mahasiddha
3rd Gorakshanath Mahasiddha
4th Atri Rishi, father of Dattatreya
5th Dattatreyanath Mahasiddha (Dattatreya)
6th Gahininath Mahasiddha (Gaibi Peer)
7th Nivruttinath Mahasiddha (1273)
8th Dhyannath Mahasiddha (the second Kaadsiddheshwar, master of forest sages)
From the 9th to the 28th there is a long lineage of Kaadsiddheshwars (from the 3rd to the 22nd Kaadsiddheshwar):
29th - 23rd Shri Samarth Muppin Kaadsiddheshwar
Shri Gurulingajangam Maharaj (Nimbargi Maharaj) (1789-1875)
30th - 24th Shri Samarth Muppin Kaadsiddheswar
Shri Bhausaheb Maharaj Umdikar (1843-1914)
31st - 25th Shri Samarth Muppin Kaadsiddheswar
Shri Siddharameshwar Maharaj (1888-1936)
32nd Shri Nisargadatta Maharaj (1897-1981)
33rd Shri Ramakant Maharaj (July 8, 1941 - August 31, 2018)
34th Shri Rajnath Maharaj
Shri Nisargadatta Maharaj
This branch of the Nath tradition is not among the 12 formally recognized Orthodox branches. This non-recognition comes from a political disagreement between the two gurus of a Natha called Dhyannath (Jñanadeva). One of these gurus was the great yogi Nivruttinath Maharaj, brother of Dhyannath, and the other was Mahasiddha Revannath.
Another reason for non-recognition is that this lineage chose not to use the ritual of drilling the cartilage of the ears to place hoop earrings. This ritual is a type of will test given to Sadhus created by King Bhartrihari, considered the best disciple of Gorakshanath, the best yogi of all time.
The history of this lineage is a bit complicated. We must be very careful to understand its formation through the changes that have occurred over time.
We will see below some of the histories of the Inchigeri Panth. This summary is the result of studies carried out personally by Rajnath in India, more precisely in the state of Maharashtra. For better understanding, this summary is divided into four phases:
First Phase
How did this heterodox branch emerge from the orthodox trunk
1st Adinath Mahasiddha (SHIVA)
2nd Matsyendranath Mahasiddha
3rd Gorakshanath Mahasiddha
4th - Atrinath Mahasiddha
(Atri Rishi)
5th - Dattatreyanath, Gahininath, Nivruttinath and Dhyannath
5th - Dattatreyanath Mahasiddha (Dattatreya)
6th - Gahininath Mahasiddha (Gaibi Peer)
7th - Nivruttinath Mahasiddha (1273)
8º - Dhyannath Mahasiddha (1275–1296) (also known as Dhyaneshwar, Jñaneshwar ou Jñanadeva em different parts of India. His great grandfather was initiated by Gorakshanath himself)
Second Level
LINEAGE KAADSIDDHESHWAR (wise men of the forests)/ KANERI MATH
Revannath, a disciple of Dattatreyanath and member of the group of 84 original Mahasiddhas of Natha Sampradaya founded his own lineage called Kaadsiddheshwar, The Sages of Forests (kaad = forest), founding Kaneri Math. The foundation of this lineage came from a vision that Revannath had in the city of Kaneri, south of Kolhapur, Maharashtra.
1st Adinath Mahasiddha (SHIVA)
2nd Matsyendranath Mahasiddha
3rd Gorakshanath Mahasiddha
4th - Atrinath Mahasiddha (Atri Rishi)
Dattatreyanath, Revannath, Dhyannath
(21 generations later) and Lingajangam
5th Dattatreyanath Mahasiddha (Dattatreya)
6th Revannath Mahasiddha (also known as Revansiddha, Kadasidha, or Kaadsiddheshwar Maharaj in different parts of India he was the First Shri Samarth Muppin Kaadsiddheswar)
7th Dhyannath Mahasiddha (also known as Dhyaneshwar, Jñaneshwar, or Jñanadeva in different parts of India. His great-grandfather was initiated by Gorakshanath himself) (1275–1296)
These lineages start again from Dhyannath Mahasiddha, the Second Samarth Muppin Kaadsiddheswars, and span from the 13th century to the 18th century.
After 21 generations of “Samarth Muppin Kaadsiddheswars”, Guru Lingajangam (who was the 23rd Kaadsiddheswar and also a Lingayat) had a vision of Revannath himself (or "Kadhasiddha", the Siddha of the forests) and founded the Nimgargi Sampradaya. From then on Kaneri Math was called Siddhagiri Math.
Third Phase
NIMBARGI SAMPRADAYA / SIDDHAGIRI MATH / LINGAYAT PARAMPARA
23rd Shri Samarth Muppin Kaadsiddheshwar
Shri Gurulingajangam Maharaj (Nimbargi Maharaj) - (1789-1875)
Initiated at the age of 31
24th Shri Samarth Muppin Kaadsiddheshwar
Shri Bhausaheb Maharaj Umdikar (1843-1914)
Fourth Phase
INCHEGERI, INCHAGIRI or INCHIGIRI PANTH
The fourth phase begins when Bahusaheb Maharaj, the 24th Kaadsiddheshwar, has a vision of Kadhasiddha himself. At this point, he decides to found a lineage of masters who were not celibate Sadhus but family men, ordinary people who would lead a normal life to show that it is possible to experience spiritual teachings in everyday life.
In this way, also inspired by the ancient Mahasiddhas (many were not celibate), by Dhyannath, and by the sages Sant Eknath and Samarth Ramdas, Bahusaheb Maharaj founds the Inchigeri Panth.
Kadhasiddha, Lingajangam, Bahusaheb, Siddharameshwar, Nisargadatta and Ramakant
1st - Shri Bhausaheb Maharaj Umdikar (1843-1914), the 24th Shri Samarth Muppin Kaadsiddheswar
2nd - Shri Siddharameshwar Maharaj (1888-1936), the 25th Shri Samarth Muppin Kaadsiddheswar
3rd - Shri Nisargadatta Maharaj
(1897-1981)
4th Shri Ramakant Maharaj
(July 8, 1941 -August 31, 2018)
5th Shri Rajnath Maharaj