What is Nath Tradition?
The Nath Tradition (Natha Sampradaya) is a Shaiva sub-tradition within Hinduism that emerged in India and Nepal between the 12th and 13th centuries. It combined influences from Buddhism, Shaivism, Tantra, and Yoga traditions of the Indian subcontinent. The word “Nath” meaning “lord,” “master,” or “protector” in Sanskrit, refers both to the tradition itself and to the enlightened masters (nathas) who form its lineage. Gorakhnath is credited with writing the first books on Laya Yoga and the raising of kundalini-shakti, and is reputed to have been the original inventor of Hatha Yoga. The Nath tradition is known for its emphasis on physical immortality, alchemical transformation of the body, and direct mystical experience over ritual orthodoxy. It was known for not recognizing caste barriers and its teachings being adopted by both outcasts and kings.
Origins & Lineage
The 9th or 10th century Matsyendranath and the ideas and organization mainly developed by Gorakhnath are particularly important to the Nath tradition’s foundation. Matsyendranath became known as the founder of the Nath Sampradaya, though Gorakhnath is considered the originator of the Nath Panth as an organized movement. According to legend, Matsyendranath was born in Kāmarūpa and cast into the ocean as an infant, was swallowed by a fish and lived inside its body for twelve years, where he overheard Shiva teaching Parvati the most secret practices of Tantra.
Gorakhnath lived sometime around the 9th and 12th century, though exact dates remain debated among scholars. The Nath tradition has an extensive Shaivism-related theological literature of its own, most of which is traceable to the 11th century CE or later. Sanskrit works attributed to Gorakhnath under the title of Goraksh Samhita date to probably the 13th century.
Natha Sampradaya can be translated as the “sect of Nathas” or the “Tradition of the Nine Gurus”. The Naths have been a confederation of devotees who consider Shiva as their first lord or guru, with varying lists of additional gurus. Guru Gorakhnath founded 12 Panths or branches of Yoga-Sampradaya, allowing the tradition to incorporate diverse regional and doctrinal expressions while maintaining a common core of practice.
How It’s Practiced
Nath tradition practice centers on the transformation of the physical body into an immortal vehicle. In Natha Sampradaya the yoga practice is presented by mantra-yoga, hatha-yoga, laya-yoga and raja-yoga, as well as ashtanga-yoga (Yama, Niyama, Asana, Pranayama, Pratyahara, Dharana, Dhyana and Samadhi) and shadanga-yoga (steps from Asana up to Samadhi, excepting Yama and Niyama). Methods that enter into hatha-yoga include sukshma-vyayama, shat-karma (cleaning technics such as netti, basti, nauli, trataka, kapalabhati), asana (steady position of a body), pranayama (the control of vital energy over respiratory exercises), mudra (“stamp”) and bandha (muscular “lock”).
The guru-disciple relationship is central. When devotees are initiated into the Natha Sampradaya tradition, they are given a name ending in -nath. Followers of Nath sect remember their favorite deity before they utter the word Alakh (alaksa) and greet each other with the words Adesh or Adish. Matsyendranath’s work focused on the alchemical transformation of the body through techniques now recorded in texts like the Hatha Yoga Pradipika. In comparison with Yoga of Maharishi Patanjali, Hatha-yoga of Natha-Sampradaya accentuates the Kundalini-jagaran, sadhana originated from Tantric doctrines.
Traditionally, Nath yogis are also known as Kanphata (“split-eared”) yogis, referring to the practice of piercing the ears as part of initiation. Yogis wear a sacred thread of black wool called Seli and also keep a whistling instrument of horn, both called Singi-Seli.
Nath Tradition Today
The Nath Panth is particularly strong in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Nepal, and Bengal, with Gorakhpur in Uttar Pradesh being a major Nath center, housing the famous Gorakhnath Math. According to tradition, Gorakhnath’s samadhi shrine (tomb) resides at the Gorakhnath Temple in Gorakhpur. The tradition remains active in monastic contexts, with practitioners living as renunciate yogis in ashrams and temples dedicated to Matsyendranath and Gorakhnath.
The Nath Panth continues to preserve its ancient yoga heritage while adapting to modern contexts, and with yoga gaining global popularity, the Nath tradition is increasingly recognized as the source of authentic Hatha Yoga. Contemporary seekers encounter Nath teachings through Hatha Yoga classes worldwide, though most modern yoga focuses on physical postures rather than the full alchemical and meditative system. The principles of Gorakhnath’s doctrine have been relevant at all times due to their universality and are not dependent on convictions and religious beliefs of a practitioner, which is why Nath Tradition is present in Buddhist and Muslim countries, as well as in India, Europe, Brazil, Australia, USA, Israel and countries of CIS.
Nathas have never entered into confrontation with any doctrines and always have kept aside from social and religious activity, with the predominant orientation of Nath Tradition being mystical experience. This non-sectarian approach has allowed the tradition to influence diverse spiritual movements while maintaining its distinct yogic core.
Common Misconceptions
Many practitioners assume that all Hatha Yoga derives directly from Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras, but the Nath tradition developed its own distinct literature and methodology that emphasizes bodily transformation and kundalini awakening in ways not found in classical Ashtanga Yoga. The Nath tradition is not purely Hindu in a sectarian sense—when Buddhism was being superseded from India, many tantric Buddhists came into Natha Panths, which is why it’s possible to meet Sufis, Vaishnavas, Shaivas, Shaktas and Kaulas among Nathas.
Another misconception is that Nath yogis are primarily concerned with supernatural powers (siddhis). While siddhis are acknowledged, the ultimate goal is liberation (moksha) and the realization of the immortal body, not the accumulation of powers for worldly gain.
The relationship between Matsyendranath and Gorakhnath is sometimes misunderstood chronologically. The connection between Matsyendranath and Gorakhnath points to an important tradition, though historically his master probably preceded him by at least three centuries, suggesting the lineage may be more symbolic than strictly biographical.
How to Begin
For seekers interested in the Nath tradition meaning and practice, begin with the Hatha Yoga Pradipika, the most accessible classical text that preserves Nath teachings on asana, pranayama, mudra, and meditation. This 15th-century manual, compiled by Svatmarama, synthesizes earlier Nath wisdom into practical instructions.
Seek instruction from teachers who emphasize pranayama and meditation alongside physical postures. Traditional Nath practice requires guru initiation, but preparatory practices—especially breath control techniques like nadi shodhana and kapalabhati—can be learned from qualified Hatha Yoga instructors. If drawn to the tradition’s tantric dimensions, study the Goraksha Samhita and other Nath texts with scholarly commentary.
Visiting active Nath sites such as the Gorakhnath Temple in Gorakhpur or temples dedicated to Matsyendranath in Nepal can provide direct contact with living lineage holders. However, a sadhaka realizes a mantra given by his Guru and its siddhi by practice of mantra-yoga, emphasizing that authentic transmission typically requires formal initiation from an established guru within the sampradaya.