Volume-II, Special Issue, March 2026
Novel Insights A Peer-Reviewed Quarterly Multidisciplinary Research Journal |
Volume-II, Special Issue, March 2026 |
Performance of Gorakhnath: Revitalizing Its Significance and Vibrancy within the Nath Community Sampa Debnath, Research Scholar, Cooch Behar Panchanan Barma Universi, West Bengal, India Email: sampadebnath1996@gmail.com |
Received: 20.03.2026 | Accepted: 21.03.2026 | Published Online: 31.03.2026 |
Page No: 117-123 | DOI: 10.69655/novelinsights.vol.2.issue.specialW.95 | |
Abstract | ||
Gorakhnath was the influential founder of the Nath Hindu Monastic movement in India. He is one of the two notable disciples of Minanath, the founder of the Natha Sampradaya. It is believed that he has received teachings from Shiva. Gorakhnath championed yoga and an ethical life of self-determination to reaching samadhi. He is considered a Maha-yogi in the Hindu tradition. Historical texts imply that Gorakhnath was originally a Buddhist in a region influenced by Shaivism, and he converted to Hinduism, championing Shiva, and Yoga. The hagiography on Gorakhnath describes him as having appeared on earth several times. North Indian hagiographies suggest he originated from northwest India. Other hagiographies on Gorakhnath in Bengal and Bihar suggest he originated from the eastern region of India (Assam). Though there is no specific timespan of his birth, but believed that his presence was around the 8th century. In the eastern region of India, there is a creed that Gorakhnath is the saviour God of cows. In some parts of Assam, Bangladesh and Cooch Behar, there is a ritual to worship Gorakhnath for every newborn calf. Specifically, the Nath Sampradaya of the above mentioned are regions worships Gorakhnath on the 21st day of the newborn calf. They offer ' kheer' to the God prepared from the milk of a mother cow as an oblation to the God. In the time of worshipping, a group of people perform several songs which have been orally transmitted from generation to generation. These songs liven up the magnificence of and the tales of his Guru Gorakhnath's appearance as a cow protector. In the present days, this ritual and these tales have been found in amalgamation with the Rajbangsi Culture. Keywords: Gorakhnath, Nath, ritual, Yoga, Cow, song, worship | ||