History of Nath Sect and Guru Gorakhnath in Garhwal-Haridwar around Sultanate attack Period (1200-1500)

History of Garhwal including Haridwar (1223- 1804 AD) –part -60    

                                            

 History of Uttarakhand (Garhwal, Kumaon and Haridwar) -305 

                       By: Bhishma Kukreti (A History Research Student

                                                 Nath Sect

     Nath sect is an important sect of Garhwal too. Most probably, Nath sect bifurcated from Siddh sect.

          Nath perceive that Shiva and Adinath are their originator.

            Guru Gorakhnath provided a solid shape to Nath sect.

                    Guru Gorakhnath in Garhwal

 Guru Gorakhnath did Tapasya in Dhaulya Udyari (Dhaula Cave). There are mentions of Dhaulya Udyari in a couple of Rakhwali Mantra. Epic Kedarkhand mentions that Guru Gorakhnath did Tapasya at Mandakini bank near Kedarnath.

  Guru Gorakhnath was great Siddh person and he influenced Indians as Shankaracharya. No other devotional personality could influence as Guru Gorakhnath and Sahnkarachary could influence the Indian psych.

         Guru Gorakhnath simplified the complexities of Vajrayan- Sprituality of Siddh sect. He became darling of common men. He used local language to make common men understand the spirituality.

 His period is adjudged around tenth century. It is definite that Nath sect prospered in his life time as Garhwalis changed names of Shiva and Vaishnu temples ending with Nath as Badrinath, Kedarnath, Tungnath etc.

 It is said that Guru Gorakhnath travelled from Asam to Peshavar. Definitely he travlled Garhwal and established his disciple to spread the Nath sect in Garhwal.

                          Satyanath Sect in Garhwal

 It is said that the disciples of Guru Gorakhnath established twelve Panth or sub sects under Nath sect.

 One of his learned disciples Satyanath established Satyanath Panth in Patal Bhuvneshwar of Orissa.

 Still today, there is one branch of Satyanath Panth in Devalgarh (near Shrinagar) Pauri Garhwal. There is no record about time of establishment of Satya Nath Panth in Devalgarh. That shows that there was cultural bridge between Orissa and Garhwal in tenth –eleventh centuries. The architect historians suggest that there is influence of Orissa temple structure on Garhwal temples of tenth century. There is one temple Patal Bhuvneshwar in Kumaon.

 Many suggest that Satyanath sect was established before Gorakhnath.

   It is also clear that by fifteenth century, there were many Satyanath Panth centers in Garhwal. Satyanath sect priests had great influence on Garhwal rulers and Kumaon rulers as Garhwal king Ajay Pal used to pay tributes to Satyanath Devalgarh centre and Champawat King Kirtichand used to take advices from Nagnath the disciple of Satyanath.

 Satyanath Gaddi has importance near Devalgarh. The elder son becomes heir of Gaddi.

Satyanath panth has many Muslim rules to follow.

    

Copyright@ Bhishma Kukreti Mumbai, India, bckukreti@gmail.com1/4//2014

History of Garhwal – Kumaon-Haridwar (Uttarakhand, India) to be continued… Part -306 

                                      References

1-Dr. Shiv Prasad Dabral, 1971, Uttarakhand ka Itihas Bhag-4, Veer Gatha Press, Dogadda, Pauri Garhwal, India 

2-Harikrishna Raturi, Garhwal ka Itihas

3-Dr. Patiram, Garhwal Ancient and Modern

4-Rahul Sankrityayan, Garhwal

5- Oakley and Gairola, Himalayan Folklore

6- Bhakt Darshan, Garhwal ki Divangit Vibhutiyan

7-Foster, Early Travels in India William Finch

8-Upadhyaya, Shri Shankaracharya

9-Shering, Western Tibet and British

10-H.G. Walton, Gazetteer of British Garhwal

11-B.P.Kamboj, Early Wall Paintings of Garhwal

12-H.g Walton, Gazetteer of Dehradun

13- Vimal Chandra, Prachin Bharat ka Itihas

14-Meera Seth, Wall Paintings of Western Himalayas 

15-Furar, Monumental Antiquities

16-Haudiwala, Studies in Indo-Muslim History

17- Rahul Khari 2007, Jats and Gujjar Origin, History and Culture

18- Upendra Singh, 2006, Delhi: Ancient History, Barghahan Books

19- B.S. Dahiya, 1980, Jats the Ancient Rulers (A Clan Study) , Sterling Publications

20- Maithani, Bharat –Gotrapravardeepika

21 Prem Hari Har Lal, 1993, The Doon Valley Down the Ages

22-Dashrath Sharma, Early Chauhan Dynasties

23- Shailndra Nath Sen, Ancient History and Civilization

24-H.M Elliot, 1867, The History of India as told by its Own Historians

25- Jaswant Lal Mehta, 1979, Advance Study in Medieval India

26- Nau Nihal Singh, 2003, The Royal Gurjars: their contribution to India, Anmol Publications 

(The History of Garhwal, Kumaon, Haridwar write up is aimed for general readers)

History of Garhwal from 1223-1804 to be continued in next chapter          

Notes on  South Asian Medieval History of Garhwal;  South Asian Medieval History of Pauri Garhwal;  Medieval History of Chamoli Garhwal;  South Asian Medieval History of Rudraprayag Garhwal;  South Asian Medieval History of Tehri Garhwal;  Medieval History of Uttarkashi Garhwal;  South Asian Medieval History of Dehradun, Garhwal;  Medieval History of Haridwar ;  South Asian Medieval History of Manglaur, Haridwar;  South Asian Medieval History of Rurkee Haridwar ;  South Asian Medieval History of Bahadarpur Haridwar ; South Asian History of Haridwar district to be continued…   

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History of Nath Sect and Guru Gorakhnath in Garhwal-Haridwar around Sultanate attack Period (1200-1500); History of Nath Sect and Guru Gorakhnath in Pauri Garhwal-Haridwar around Sultanate attack Period (1200-1500); History of Nath Sect and Guru Gorakhnath in Chamoli Garhwal-Haridwar around Sultanate attack Period (1200-1500); History of Nath Sect and Guru Gorakhnath in Rudraprayag Garhwal-Haridwar around Sultanate attack Period (1200-1500); History of Nath Sect and Guru Gorakhnath in Tehri Garhwal-Haridwar around Sultanate attack Period (1200-1500); History of Nath Sect and Guru Gorakhnath in Uttarkashi Garhwal-Haridwar around Sultanate attack Period (1200-1500); History of Nath Sect and Guru Gorakhnath in Dehradun Garhwal-Haridwar around Sultanate attack Period (1200-1500);