Goraksha Samhita

<p><strong>Goraksha Samhita</strong> is composed by the great <em>Yogī</em> <em>Gorakśanātha</em>. Renowned spiritual masters in the East have highly acknowledged and honored him as a <em>Siddha</em> <em>Yogī</em> for many centuries. His name is mentioned by <em>Svāmi</em> <em>Svātmārāma</em> in his classical text <em>Hatha</em> <em>Yoga</em> <em>Pradipīkā</em> (Chapter One Verses 4 and 5). He is also one of the Masters mentioned in the <em>Purānas</em> and yogic texts. He is well known as Guru <em>Gorakhanāth</em> and a highly respected revered and worshipped spiritual master in India and Nepal. The followers of the <em>Nāth</em> Tradition worship him as the incarnation of Lord <em>Śiva</em> and say that the nine <em>Nāths</em> and eighty-four <em>Siddhas</em> belong to <em>Adinātha</em> Lord <em>Śiva</em>. So he is also called <em>Śiva</em> <em>Gorakśa</em> the founder of the <em>Natha</em> <em>Siddha</em> tradition.</p><p>It is said that <em>Gorakśanātha</em> was an Eighth Century <em>Siddha</em> <em>Yogī</em>. But some say that his physical presence occurred somewhere from the 8th to 11th century. According to the <em>Nath</em> <em>Siddha</em> tradition Guru <em>Gorakhnāth</em> is an immortal sage and takes care of human beings and their welfare.</p><p>It is said that <em>Hatha</em> <em>Yogī</em> <em>Mastsyendranāth</em> was the Guru of <em>Gorakśanātha</em>. <em>Yogī</em> <em>Mastsyendranāth</em> received Yoga <em>Vidyā</em> (knowledge/wisdom) directly from the mouth of Lord <em>Śiva</em> through <em>Parvati</em>. It was Guru <em>Gorakśanātha</em> who summarized the yogic subject matter in two hundred verses which he had received from his Guru <em>Mastsyendranāth</em> based on the teachings of <em>Śri Ādinātha</em> (Lord <em>Śiva</em>). This summarized text by <em>Gorakśanātha</em> is called <em>Gorakśa</em> <em>Samhitā</em> (compendium) which is also known as <em>Gorakhsa</em> <em>Paddhati</em>: <em>Yogic</em> Path of <em>Guru</em> <em>Gorakhanātha.</em></p><p><em>Gorakśa Samhitā</em> highly emphasizes the purification of the body <em>prāna</em> and the mind. It is believed that total purification of all impurities on both the physical and <em>prānic</em> levels is 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 <em>Śakti</em> is prepared.</p>