NATHA PANTHA IN KARNATAKA

NATHA PANTHA IN KARNATAKA

Natha Pantha (nAtha pantha) is an important tantic sect which influenced the Indian religious thought during the medieval era. Natha Pantha traces its origin to Lord Shiva. (AdinAtha) However its historical roots begin with Matsyendranatha and his great disciple Goraksha Natha. (Gorakhnath) Gahininatha and Nivruttinatha continued this tradition. Gorakhnath is believed to have lived in and around twelfth century. Punjab and Gorakhpur are his supposed places of residence. He is regarded as a great apostle of yogic mysticism in medieval India. Gorakha Natha is linked to many saint-composers of India such as Kabir and Guru Nanak. Natha Pantha is usually associated with Shaivism even though Vaishnavism, Jainism and Tantrism have influenced the religious practices of this cult in various regions. Some scholars have linked it with the ‘Vajrayana’ school of Buddhism. ‘Siddha Siddhanta Paddhati’, ‘Goraksha Siddhanta Sangraha’ and ‘Hatha Yoga Pradipika’ (written by Chintamani?), the most canonical texts of Natha Pantha are attributed to Goraksha Natha. The philosophical position of the Nathapanthis is enunciated by Gopinatha Kaviraj like this: “....The metaphysical position of the Nathas was not monistic, nor was it dualistic either. It was transcendental in the truest sense of the term. They speak of the Natha, the absolute, as beyond the opposition involved in the concepts of Saguna and Nirguna or of ‘Sakara’ and Nirakara’. And so, to them the supreme end of Life is to realize oneself as Natha and to remain eternally fixed above the world of relations. The way to this realization is stated to be Yoga, on which they lay great emphasis.”

Natha Pantha was instrumental in reviving the ancient Yogic tradition and ‘Hatha Yoga Pradipika’ played a crucial role in this task. Nathas opposed the puritanical, ritualistic Brahmanical religion and for them the caste system was irrelevant in the path of finding salvation. This cult threw its doors open to all castes. The disciples of this cult are called ‘Kanphatas’ because their ears are split to insert enormous rings at the initiation ceremony.

Natha Pantha had/has a significant presence in Karnataka also. There are many shrines dedicated to this school in various parts of Karnataka. kadri is the most important place among them. bEDakihALu, hanDibaDaganAtha, candragutti, savadatti, Adichuncanagiri and lankemale also important centres. Many villages and towns in Karnataka have names starting with ‘sidda’ or ‘jOgi’ which are the traditional suffixes attached to Natha yogis.

Kadri in South Canara district is the biggest Natha shrine in South India. Even here, it is treated as originally belonging to Vajrayana later assuming Shaivite overtones. The monastery of the sadhus located here is called ‘jOgimaTa’. This place was called ‘kadirikA vihAra’ during its Buddhist phase. There are small temples of BUtanAtha, matsyEndranAtha and gOrakshanAtha in the vicinity of the temple.

Natha Pantha and its practices have become an inseparable part of the non-vaidic tradition in Karnataka. Datta Pantha is another cult similar to Natha Pantha.