Goraksha Samhita: Goraksha Paddhati: The Yogic Path of Guru Gorakhanath

The name of the great Yogī Gorakśanātha is not unfamiliar at all. He is a highly acknowledged and honored Siddha Yogī by renowned spiritual masters in the past and present. His name is mentioned by Svāmi Svātmārāma in his classical text Hatha Yoga Pradipikā (Chapter One, Verses 4 and 5). He is also one of the Masters mentioned in the Puranas and yogic texts. He is well known as Guru Gorakhanāth and a highly respected, revered and worshipped spiritual master in India and Nepāl. The followers of the Nāth Tradition worship him as the incarnation of Lord Śiva and say that the nine Nāths and eighty-four Siddhas belong to Adinātha, Lord Śiva. So, he is also called Śiva Gorakśa, the founder of the Natha Siddha tradition.

It is said that Hatha Yogī Mastsyendranāth was the Guru of Gorakśanātha. Yogī Mastsyendranāth received Yoga Vidyā (knowledge/wisdom) directly from the mouth of Lord Śiva through Parvati. It was Guru Gorakśanātha who summarized the yogic subject matters in two hundred verses, which he had received from his Guru Mastsyendranāth, based on the teachings of Śri Ādinātha (Lord Śiva). This summarized text by Gorakśanātha is called Gorakśa Samhitā (compendium) which is also known as Gorakhsa Paddhati (method).

Gorakśa Samhitā highly emphasizes on purification of the body, prāna and the mind. It is believed that total purification of all impurities on the both physical and prānic levels are absolutely necessary in order to purify the mind. When these impurities are eliminated from the body and the energy blocks are removed, then the foundation for the awakening of the Śakti is prepared.

Therefore, Guru Gorakhanāth in Gorakśa Samhitā clearly outlines the various aspects of the Hatha Yoga practices e.g. āsana, prānāyāma, mudrā, bandha and dhyāna, etc., which serve as the solid foundation for the preparation and practice of Raja Yoga. Originally, the science of Hatha Yoga was discovered for the expansion and evolution of human consciousness and for the accomplishedment of ultimate goal of human life and Yoga, Mokśa (liberation) and Samādhi (the super conscious state) respectively.

According to Gorakśa Samhitā the objective of Hatha Yoga is to create a harmonious balance between the physical body, prāna (the vital energy) and the mind. It is said that when the impulses generated by this harmonious balance stimulate the awakening of the Kuṇḍalī Śakti, only then the evolution of consciousness or union between Śiva and Śakti is possible. This accomplishment is the sole objective of the teaching of Gorakśa Samhitā by Guru Gorakśanātha.