Yoga and Total Health — January 2018

YOGA AND TOTAL HEALTH • January 2018^39

ogis of India

Y

Yogi Jalandhar Nath

Yo g i Jalandhar Nath was a direct disciple of Lord Shiva. He was also known as a

Mahasiddha Yogi.

As per one of the mythologies, he was born in a low caste family, in the city called

Thatta, in Sindh. Acharya Kambala was his Guru. A voice from heaven once told him

to go to Udayana and meditate there to achieve the desired Siddhis. In Udayana

he got the lessons from King Indrabhuti and a godly woman Laksmikara. He also

received instructions in Tantras from Acharya Kachapada. Later he got initiated by

an Dakini (A Tantric priestess). Eventually he took it upon himself to offer selfless

services for salvation of the various living beings.

As per another version, he was born in Nagarbhog village in a Brahmin family.

However, from young age, he showed disdain towards the material world. Sitting

in a cemetery he was once wondering about the impermanent nature of the world.

At that time a Dakini approached him and told him that he must work towards

keeping his mind clean and pure. It is believed that it was she who initiated him

into the great path of yoga through which the Siddhis or the super natural powers

could be acquired. He underwent austere practices under her tutelage. After seven

years of dedicated practice, he is said to have mastered various Yogic Siddhis.

Later the Yo g i moved to Jalandhara (known as Punjab and Himachal Pradesh

currently). He is supposed to have received the name Siddha Jalandhari as he

spent a lot of time in Jalandhara. His name is also traditionally connected to the

practice of Jalandhara-Bandha or the Chin Lock (one of the three main Bandhas

or locks practised by Yogis), and the invention of Hevajra Tantra. He is supposed

to have penned the following commentaries on the Hevajra Tantra - Suddhivajra

Pradip and Hevajra Sadhana.

In order to spread the knowledge to the countries in the east, he took the form of

a Hadi, a sweeper. Jalandhar Nath travelled extensively in India to propagate yoga

and Dharma. Many places in the country are connected with his name.