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References: removed grandparent category of Category:Bengali Hindu castes

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'''Yogi Nath''' is a [[Shaivism]]-related group of monks which emerged around the 13th-century. They are sometimes called ''Jogi'' or simply ''Yogi'', and are known for a variety of siddha yoga practices.<ref name="JonesRyan2006p308">{{cite book|author1=Constance Jones |author2=James D. Ryan |title=Encyclopedia of Hinduism |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OgMmceadQ3gC |date=2006 |publisher=Infobase |isbn=978-0-8160-7564-5 |pages=308 }}</ref> Their tradition is known as [[Nath]] [[Sampradaya]].<ref>AK Banerjea (1983), Philosophy of Gorakhnath with Goraksha-Vacana-Sangraha, {{ISBN|978-8120805347}}</ref>{{page needed|date=April 2020}}

== History ==

The yogis were primarily associated with the Yogic-traditions promoted by the great [[Nath]] saints, e.g. [[Matsyendranath]], [[Gorakshanath]], Chauranginath etc. [[Hatha yoga]] is considered as the prominent part of those traditions promoted by these great Nath masters. The Nath [[Sampradaya]] is considered as a development of the earlier [[Siddha]] or [[Avadhuta]] Sampradaya,<ref name=Despande>Deshpande, M.N. (1986). ''The Caves of Panhale-Kaji''. New Delhi: Archaeological Survey of India, Government of India.</ref> an ancient lineage of spiritual masters. The Nath yogis are classical followers of Shaivism; it was not a caste it is followed by different communities it was a sect within Hindu religion.<ref name="JonesRyan2006p308"/>

In 1567, [[Yogi Nath|Jogi]]s (Giris) and [[Sannyasa|Sannyasi]] (Puris) battled each other as detailed in the [[Tabaqat-i-Akbari]], both are 2 of the 10 [[akhara]]s (orders) of [[Dashanami Sampradaya]]. Puris were outnumbered by 200 to 500 by Jogis, Akbar asked his soldiers to smear ash and join Puris to help them, this led to the victory of Puris.<ref name=HinduRakshak1>David N. Lorenzen, 2006, [https://books.google.com.sg/books?id=SO-YmMWpcVEC&pg=PA52&lpg=PA52&dq=dashnami+akhara+aurangzeb&source=bl&ots=0wgApFz5ro&sig=ACfU3U2-hWLiwJSp9R2cfhs-ma1HnWi_DA&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjOm9Cv9vnoAhUScCsKHd8ADZQQ6AEwAHoECAYQAQ#v=onepage&q=dashnami%20akhara%20aurangzeb&f=false Who Invented Hinduism: Essays on Religion in History], Yoda Press, p.51-54.</ref>

== Organization ==

The principles of Yoga philosophy of Nath tradition are stated in Sanskrit texts such as Gorakshagita, Goraksha Paddhati, Siddha Siddhanta Paddhati, Amaraugha Sasana, [[Amaraugha Prabodha]], Mahartha Manjari, [[Gheranda Samhita]]. Hatha yoga includes disciplines, postures ([[asana]]), purification procedures ([[shatkriya]]), gestures ([[mudra]]), breathing ([[pranayama]]), meditation ([[Dhyāna in Hinduism|dhyana]]), [[samadhi]].{{citation needed|date=April 2016}}

The Nath tradition is a syncretic [[Yoga]] and [[Vedanta]] schools of [[Hindu philosophy]] based Shaiva tradition, that reveres Shiva and [[Dattatreya]]. Its founding is attributed to the ideas of [[Matsyendranath]] and [[Gorakshanath]], developed further with an additional seven other Siddha Yoga Gurus called "Naths" (literally, lords).<ref name="JonesRyan2006p308"/> The Nath Yogi ''sampradaya'' and monastic organizations grew starting with the 13th century,<ref name="JonesRyan2006p308"/> with its matha headquarters in [[Gorakhpur]], Uttar Pradesh. Many of their mathas are found in the northern, central and western states of India particularly in the Himalayas, but archeological inscriptions suggest their mathas existed in south India as well. The early Nath monks received endowments in Karnataka, for example, between the 10th and 13th century, which later became a temple and Shaiva matha hub for them near [[Mangalore]].<ref name=davidwhite94>{{cite book |last=White |first=David Gordon |year=2012 |title=The Alchemical Body: Siddha Traditions in Medieval India |publisher=University of Chicago Press |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pQuqAAAAQBAJ |pages=94–97 |isbn=978-0-226-14934-9}}</ref> The Kadri matha, for instance, is one of the legendary monasteries in the Nath tradition which attracted converts from Buddhism and infusion of Buddhist ideas into Shaivism.<ref name=davidwhite94/>

Nath Shaiva monastic organization was one of those Hindu monk groups that militarized and took up arms following the Muslim conquest of India, to resist persecution.<ref>David Lorenzen (2006), Who Invented Hinduism, Yoda Press, {{ISBN|978-8190227261}}, pages 51-63</ref><ref name=whitesyogi198>[[David Gordon White]] (2011), Sinister Yogis, University of Chicago Press, {{ISBN|978-0226895147}}, pages 198-207</ref><ref name=williampinchwarascetic>William Pinch (2012), Warrior Ascetics and Indian Empires, Cambridge University Press, {{ISBN|978-1107406377}}, pages 4-9, 28-34, 61-65, 150-151, 189-191, 194-207</ref> They were scorned and persecuted by Mughal Empire officials, and by social, cultural and religious elites.<ref>{{cite book |last=White |first=David Gordon |year=2012 |title=The Alchemical Body: Siddha Traditions in Medieval India |publisher=University of Chicago Press |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pQuqAAAAQBAJ |pages=8–9 |isbn=978-0-226-14934-9}}</ref><ref>Shail Mayaram (2003), Against History, Against State, Columbia University Press, {{ISBN|978-0231127301}}, pages 40-41, 39</ref> However, the Nath yogi monks have been very popular with the rural population in South Asia since medieval times.<ref name=lorenzenmunozx>David N. Lorenzen and Adrián Muñoz (2012), Yogi Heroes and Poets: Histories and Legends of the Naths, SUNY Press, {{ISBN|978-1438438900}}, pages x-xi</ref>

The Nath tradition of Shaivism is credited with establishing numerous Shiva Hindu temples and monasteries, particularly in Gujarat, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, north Bihar, and Nepal.<ref>{{cite book |last=White |first=David Gordon |year=2012 |title=The Alchemical Body: Siddha Traditions in Medieval India |publisher=University of Chicago Press |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pQuqAAAAQBAJ |pages=94–101, 104–105, 118 |isbn=978-0-226-14934-9}}</ref>

==Yogi Nath in Bengal==
In British colonial census, Yogi Nath were classified as a [[Bengali Hindu]] caste descended from the Nath Sampradaya ([[sect]]).<ref name="mitra384-85">{{cite book |script-title=bn:যেশার খুলনার ইিতহাস |trans-title=The History of Jessore and Khulna |language=Bengali |last=Mitra |first=Satish Chandra | year=1914 |volume=Volume 1 |publisher=Deys Publishing |location=Kolkata |isbn=81-7612-766-3 |pages=384–85}}</ref><ref name="kundu">{{cite book |script-title=bn:বাঙালী িহন্দু জািত পিরচয় |trans-title=An Introduction of Bengali Hindu Castes |language=Bengali |last=Kundu |first=Santosh Kumar |year=1890 |publisher=Presidency Library |location=Kolkata |isbn=978-81-89466-13-8 |pages=160–164}}</ref> Many of them then settled in the outlying tracts of eastern Bengal, especially in the districts of Sylhet, Tipperah, Noakhali, Chittagong, Mymensingh and Dhaka. Many of the yogis adopted weaving as profession.<ref name="wise">{{cite book |title=Notes on the Races, Castes and Trades of Eastern Bengal |last=Wise |first=James |year=1883 |publisher=Harrison and Sons |location=London |pages=296–300}}</ref>

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

{{Bengali Hindu people}}

[[Category:Bengali Hindu castes]]
[[Category:Social groups of West Bengal]]
[[Category:Indian weavers]]

Yogi Nath - Revision history

imported>Marcocapelle: /* References */removed grandparent category of Category:Bengali Hindu castes