LORD GORAKHNATH – PATRON SAINT OF GORKHA

Lord Gorakhnath is worshipped as the patron saint and tutelary deity of Gorkha and the Royal House of the Shahs. Many are the stories and legends spun around this enigmatic figure called Gorakhnath, but the most interesting is the one where he remembers his pledge to return to Nepal and fill in the empty husks of rice paddy as he is a reincarnation of Lord Narayan, who had so promised at some earlier time.

Gorkha and the Gurkhas have been topics of much discussion for so many years. Much has been written about the citadel of Gorkha, synonymous to Prithivi Narayan Shah and his unification campaigns and about those hardy and cheerful foot-soldiers of his steam-rolling army, the Gurkhas. But, in spite of so much elucidation, it is rather strange that no one seems to be certain about Gorkha’s Christening.

The key to these inquires is, ‘Lord Gorknath’ and a follow-up question – who was Lord Gorakhnath? This question on dissection may provide us an insight into the origin of Gorkha, its royal dynasties, and people.

Although we do not posses much evidence in the form of recorded history pertaining to the personage of Lord Gorakhnath, the bits and pieces that are available, indicate that he was a wonder-worker-cum-master Yogi of
north-western India around 1200 AD. He is believed to be the founder and extraordinary Guru – spiritual leader – of the Saivite Sect of ascetics – who are called Gorakhnathis and rudely known as Kanphattas. These Gorakhnathis or Kanphattas can be easily distinguished by their split ear-lobes through which are huge large, thick, and uncommon ear-rings. Thus the appellation Kanphatta – ‘Kan’ or ear and ‘phatta’ or split.

When we do visit Gorkha, which is approximately 142 km due west of Kathmandu, we can catch a first-hand glimpse of the alleged cave of Lord Gorakhnath situated below the Durbar’s ground –level on the south-side. A look through the windows, which face south, reveal the offerings of various sized ‘Trisuls’ – tridents, marks of Lord Shiva-standing-up against the wall in front and the cave to the left under an overhanging slanted rock. Inside the cave is a small, approximately one square foot white marble stele on which is carved the figure of Lord Gorakhnath, seated in the Lotus posture.

To the east of the Durbar Complex and across the Bhanjyang (path) and across the collection of rocks on top of which can be seen a prints and facing west towards the Durbar alleged to be those of Lord Gorakhnath himself.

Lord Gorakhnath is worshipped as the patron saint and tutelary deity of Gorkha and the Royal House of Shahs. Many are the stories and legends spun around this enigmatic figure called Gorakhnath, but the most interesting is the one where he remembers his pledge to return to Nepal and fill in the empty husks of rice paddy as he is a reincarnation of Lord Narayan, who had so promised at some earlier time.

While on his way to Nepal, he came across a wine shop and had a bet with the female owner, that he could drink-up all her wine stock. Though Lord Gorakhnath drank a great deal of wine, he could not finish the whole stock, thus losing the bet. Doubtful at the dead of night, Lord Gorakhnath went to inspect the wine store and discovers, that the girl had been aided by the Nags who were coiled around the barrels, thus making the wine strong unabling Lord Gorakhnath to consume it totally. Feeling cheated, Lord Gorakhnath then flew into a rage and binding the nine Nags responsible, with his mystical powers, took them to Mrigasthali – present day Gueshwari jungle close to Pashupatinath Temple – and sat there in deep meditation. This temporary imprisonment of the nine Nags of Nepal – the Kathmandu Valley – caused a severe drought which lasted for twelve years. To alleviate this crises, it was suggested that Lord Matsyendranath be brought to Nepal so as to break Lord Gorakhnath’s meditation, as Lord Matsyendranath was Lord Gorakhnath’s Guru and Lord Gorakhnath would automatically rise to salute him. Resulting in the release of nine Nagas – the harbingers of the monsoon rains to the Valley – and ultimately ending the dreadful drought. This is what seems to have happened and once again, the arid and desolate landscape was transformed into the verdant and fertile land of milk and honey. Simultaneously the rice paddy husks were filled, fulfilling the pledge of Lord Narayan through Lord Gorakhnath.

The stories and legends that abound do suggest Lord Gorakhnath to be a superhuman. Gorkha seems to have actually derived its name from Gorakhnath, an eminent saint living in a cave, under an overhanging rock, which exist to this day in a hill on which the fortress palace of Gorkha has been constructed. Another place, that has trace of Lord Gorakhnath, is an hour ride by bus east of Kathmandu city, called Panauti, which lies at the base of the Mahabharat Lekh of hills. It is a small farming settlement, with a lot to see in terms of art and architecture, founded within the V of two rivers the Vywar and the Rosee – flowing down from the south and north respectively, joining at Panauti. North of the river junction is a small hillock known as ‘Dalin Chock’ covered with coniferous pines. It is on the top of this hill that a white marble image of Lord Gorakhnath a newly commissioned sculptured in base-relief, can be seen inside a house. It depicts Lord Gorakhnath in the Dhyana Mudra or Lotus posture. He has four hands, the upper ones holding the ‘Dambaroo’ and the ‘Trisul’– marks of Lord Shiva and the lower hands hold the beads and a book – symbols of learning and concentration and is on a flat marble stele approximately 3 sq feet. It can be noticed that his ear is also split and holds a pair of large earring like those of the Gorakhnathis, his disciples.

It is said to be an emanation of Lord Shiva himself, giving way to the belief that he is in reality Lord Shiva in another form. This image has been newly commissioned since the original one established by King Prithivi Narayan Shah has been vandalized and not perceived around here. The place where this image is housed is in reality a ‘patti’ which is also not the original one, but based on the foundation of the original one. The foundation of the original temple can be discerned in the open space in front where some images are kept for ‘pooja’, and in the centre, on a double stone footprints of Lord Gorakhnath. Inside too is a similar pair near the marble image.

When legends are consulted, we come across a story where King Prithivi Narayan Shah wanted blessing from Lord Gorakhnath before setting out on his unification campaign. He was told to hold out something since Lord Gorakhnath wanted to vomit. The King held out his cupped hands in which Lord Gorakhnath puked a foul smelling mess. The stench nauseated the King who released this mess on to his feet. Then Lord Gorakhnath blessed him saying, ‘you shall conquer till where your feet reach’. Accordingly, the King reached only till Panauti and so erected a Temple in the name of Lord Gorakhnath.

Lord Gorakhnath has been deified gradually down the ages and he frequently appears, disappears and again re-appears in legends, thus popularizing his name in religion and is thought of as a representative by some, and an embodiment by others, of Lord Shiva.

It is a subject of great controversy within the religious scriptures as to how Lord Gorakhnath received his name and thought legends are aplenty, none can be assumed to be correct and actual. One version has it that the formless creator, from the perspiration of his body, gave life to Lord Gorakhnath. Another says: in ‘Ghor – nath’, ‘Ghor’ means filth or it may mean intense, terrific, fearful and refers to his austerities. Yet another explains that more definitely his name ‘Goraksanatha’ may mean ‘Lord of Cattle or ‘Lord of Goraksa’, suggesting Lord Shiva on one hand and Gorkha on the other.

Lord Gorakhnath’s perfection in ascetic practices or Yoga, was reason enough to have supposedly imbued him with extraordinary powers of super-human dimensions. The detection of Manakamana Mai’s reincarnation in the queen of Gorkha was also due to his fantastic Yogic powers. All these attest to his being granted a status, sometimes equal to and at other times, even above, Lord Shiva himself.