Gorakshanatha Saivism
by Jayaram V
Gorakshanatha Saivism is also known as Siddha Siddhanta. It was
founded by
Gorakshanatha who lived about 10th century AD. He was a disciple
of Matsyendranatha who was from in Nepal. Followers of this sect believe
that knowledge of this tradition was received by Matsyendranath directly
from Siva himself. Gorakshanatha is credited with such works as Siddha
Siddhanta Paddhathi and Viveka Martanda. He composed them in Hindi. He
also created 12 monastic orders across Northern India in an effort to
preserve the Adinatha tradition. Other important works of this tradition
are Hathayoga Pradipika, Gheranda Samhita, Siva Samhita and Jnanamrita.
The school was predominantly ascetic and adapted many practices of
the Pasupatha sect and the Adinatha Tradition in contrast to the
Nandinatha tradition followed in the south. In the past this sect
enjoyed some Muslim following in the northern India and some of them even became
heads of the sect's monasteries. The Gorakshanatha sect
brought to light many secrets of hatha yoga, kundalini yoga and samadhi
and contributed to their present day popularity. Members of this sect also dabble in
occult sciences and siddhis or super natural powers.
Followers of this sect believe that it would be possible
through yogic practices to prolong
human life and become immortal in the physical body (kayasiddhi). No one knows for sure what these
practices are except those who have been initiated into them. Some
followers of this sect claim to have seen or interacted with beings who are several hundreds of years old. There
are claims that Gorakshanatha, the original founder of the school, is still
alive and active in our earth plane but does not appear in
public.
Followers of the sect believe that
Siva is the material and efficient cause of creation and that after
liberation the jivas would return to Siva, like bubbles in water.
Oneness with Siva can be experienced by serious practitioners of yoga in
a deep state of samadhi. Once the state of samadhi is reached, an
individual would remain forever established in transcendental
consciousness even while engaged in the mundane affairs of the outside world.
The sect is still active in many parts of India and abroad and its
followers range from mendicants and street magicians to the most
obscure ascetics living in the Himalayas. The popularity of hatha yoga,
pranayama, kundalini yoga, holistic medicine, astrology and
ayurveda in the modern world can be attributed to a great extent to this
tradition.
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