Matsyendranatha | |
|---|---|
Macchindranāth, Mīnanātha | |
 Miniature statue of Macchindranāth (Bunga Dyah) from Nepal | |
| Personal life | |
| Born | 10th century c.e |
| Religious life | |
| Religion | Hinduism,Buddhism |
| Founder of | Hatha yoga |
| Philosophy | Hatha yoga,Tantra |
| Sect | Nath,Kaula,Shaivism |
| Senior posting | |
Disciples
| |
| Kaulajnan-Nirnaya, Akul-Viratantra[2] | |
Matsyendranātha, also known asMatsyendra,Macchindranāth,Mīnanātha andMinapa (fl. early 10th century) was asaint andyogi inHindu traditions. He is considered the revivalist ofhatha yoga as well as the author of some of its earliest texts. He is also seen as the founder of thenathasampradaya, having received the teachings fromShiva.[4] He is associated withKaulaShaivism.[5] He is also one of the eighty-fourmahasiddhas and considered the guru ofGorakshanath, another known figure in early hatha yoga. He is revered by both Hindus and Buddhists and is sometimes regarded as an incarnation ofAvalokiteśvara.
In theSiddhar tradition ofTamil Nadu, Matsyendranatha is revered as one of the 18Siddhars of yore, and is also known as Machamuni.[6] The Kasi Viswanathar Temple inThiruparankundram,Madurai,Tamil Nadu is home to hisJivaSamadhi.[7] InNepal, Matsyendranatha is a highly revered deity, and the largest chariot festival in the world is dedicated to him in the valley of Kathmandu as a Buddhist-Hindu syncretic tradition.[8]
Little is known about the life of Matsyendranatha: he is also called Minanatha and he is also associated withLui-pa, all of whose names translate as 'Lord of the Fishes'. Legends vary in describing his birthplace.[9]Giuseppe Tucci states, on the authority of two Tibetan works - theSiddha (Wylie:grub thob) andTaranatha's "Possessing the Seven Transmissions" (Wylie:bka' babs bdun ldan) - that Matsyendranātha, who is seen in Tibet as an avatar of Avalokiteśvara, was a fromKaibarta or fishermen community ofKamarupa.[1][2][10][11][12] Other sources give his birthplace asBarisal ( then Chandradwip).[2][3] According to inscriptions found in Nepal in the ancient Newari colony of Bungmati, the home of Machhindranath Chariot Jatra, his shrine was brought fromAssam in India. He is mentioned in theSabaratantra as one of the twenty-fourKapalika Siddhas.[1]
Legends have it that Matsyendranatha was born under an inauspicious star. This warranted his parents to throw the baby into the ocean. It was there that the baby was swallowed by a fish where he lived for many years. The fish swam to the bottom of the ocean whereShiva was imparting the secrets of yoga to his consort,Parvati. Upon overhearing the secrets of yoga, Matsyendranatha began to practice yogasadhana inside the fish's belly. After twelve years he emerged as an enlightenedSiddha. This is given as the origin of his name 'Lord of the Fishes' or 'He Whose Lord is the Lord of the Fishes'.[13] Other versions of the legend exist, including one in which Matsyendranatha was born as a fish and turned into a Siddha by Shiva.[14] Tibetan renditions of the story tell of a fisherman-turned-Siddha named Mina, who is eaten by a fish while working in the Bay of Bengal.[15] Some scholars draw parallels between this legend and the Biblical story ofJonah and the Whale.[16]
Another legend says that, whenGorakshanath visited Patan, in Nepal, he captured all the rain-showering serpents of Patan and started to meditate after he was disappointed by the locals as they did not grant him any alms on his request. As a result, Patan faced drought for a long time. The king of Patan, on the advice of his advisers, invited Matsyendranatha, Gorakshanath's guru, to Patan. When Gorakshanath learned that his teacher was in Patan, he released the rain showering serpents and went to see him. As soon as the rain-showering serpents were set free, Patan again got plenty of rainfall every year. After that day, the locals of Patan worshiped Matsyendranatha as the god of rain.[17][18]
Matsyendranatha is credited with composing Hatha and Tantric works such as theKaulajñānanirnāya ("Discussion of the Knowledge Pertaining to the Kaula Tradition"),[19] the Matsyendrasamhita and "Akula-Viratantra", some of the earliest texts onhatha yoga in Sanskrit in the eleventh century.[2] James Mallinson,Alexis Sanderson,David Gordon White and others theorize that many works were attributed to him posthumously.[20][21]
Matsyendranatha is listed as having eight disciples. The list of his disciples varies between different temples and lineages,[22] but includesGorakshanath, Jalandharnath, Kanifnath (Kanhoba), Gahininath,Bhartri Nath,Revan Nath, Charpatinath and Naganath. Along with Matsyendranatha, they are called theNavnath.[23] While Gorkshanath is considered a direct disciple of Matsyendranatha, it is likely they lived hundreds of years apart.[21]
Macchindranāth (or Bunga Dyah in Newari) is a god of rain worshiped by both Hindus and Buddhists inNepal. Hindus regard him as an incarnation of Shiva while Buddhists regard him as an incarnation of Avalokiteśvara.[8]The first original temple of Machhindranath is in a place calledBungamati while the second temple Macchindranāth lies in the southern part of thePatan Durbar Square since 1673.[24]
Hyangu (red) Macchindranath temple also known as Temple of Bunga: Dyaa: as it resides in Bungamati and also inPatan,[25] also known as the Rato Macchindranath Temple, is one of the oldest Matsyendranatha temples, dating back from the 16th century.[26] It lies in the southern part of the Patan Durbar Square. Each of the four well-crafted wooden doors of this temple is guarded by two lion figures while the four corners of the temple are guarded bykhyah, ayeti-like figure.[24]
Themurti of Rato Macchindranath (Matsyendranatha) spends six months of the year in this temple. The village ofBungamati, regarded in Nepal as the birthplace of Matsyendranatha, is a traditionalNewar town located 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) from downtownKathmandu. The temple of Rato Macchindranath is located in the heart of this village and it is known as his second home.[26] After the chariot festival, Rato Macchindranath spends the next six months in this temple.
Toyu (white) Macchindranath temple also known as JanaBaha: Dyaa: as it resides in JanaBaha: inKathmandu in another important Macchindranath temple in Nepal. White Machhindranath(Matsyendranatha) is also known as Jana-baha Dyo since the temple is located at Jana Baha(Bahal).[27]
An important event connected with the deity is the annual chariot procession known as Bunga Dyah Jatra or Rato Macchindranath Jatra. Each year, the locals ofPatan, Lalitpur celebrate the festival in order to show respect to the rain god. This festival is one of the oldest and the longest festival celebrated in Patan and is celebrated in April–May.[17][28]
It is celebrated just before the monsoon season starts so that the city will get plenty rainfall for good growth of crops. During the procession, the image of Bunga Dyah is placed on a tall chariot about 65 feet high and pulled in stages through the streets of Patan for a month.
Before the chariot festival starts, the ritual of Mahasnana is conducted in an auspicious hour as indicated by the astrologers, about 15 days before the chariot festival. The deity is taken to a platform at Lagankhel which is about 200 meters away from the temple of Machindranath at Ta: bahal Lalitpur. There in front of a crowd, the god is given a bath with thesacred water mixture of honey, milk, and water fetched by the panejus (priests) in the four silver kalasa (vessel). The four priests then pour the sacred water (jal) from four directions in the platform to the deity and it is believed that from whichever direction 1st the jal touches the deity from the same direction monsoon will start or first rain will be granted.
After the mahasnana, the repairs are done to the idol of the deity if required and the new face is painted. After the face painting is over various ritual are performed to the deity-like Bareychukegu; Ihi; Bara tyegu as done to a human and at the end Dashakarma vidhi is performed.While these all are going to the temple premises, the chariot or ratha is made at Pulchowk by the Barahi and Yawal clans, amongst which one only does the rope work and other only the woodwork. In the construction of the chariot, no nails are used to connect the joints of the huge chariot but are only tied with ropes and veds[check spelling]. The only part that uses an iron to hold are the four wheels. After the construction is finished the deity is ascended in the divine vehicle i.e. 3 days before the pulling of the chariot.
The route of the chariot procession starts at Pulchwok and passes through Gabahal, Sundhara, Lagankhel and ends atJawalakhel. Previously the festival was called the festival of three states viz. Kathmandu, Bhaktapur, Lalitpur as the deity was brought by the alliance of these three states. So, previously the 1st day of the festival was to be carried on by people of Kathmandu then by Bhaktapur and then 3rd by Lalitpur, and on last day all three sister cities come together for Jawalakhel Jatra with other nearby city people from Kirtipur and others from the valley.[17]
After the chariot reaches Jawalakhel, the festival concludes with Bhoto Jatra, which literally means "vest festival". During the ceremony, a government official holds up a jewel-studded black vest from the four sides of the chariot so that all the people gathered around can have a look at it.[29]
After the festival, the chariot is dismantled and Rato Macchindranath is taken to a temple in the nearby village ofBungamati, which is the first home of the rain god. Rato Macchindranath spends the next six months in that temple.[30] Machhendranath is an important festival for theNewar people. They celebrate it because Macchendranath saved them from a drought once and gave the water by makingKarkotak relieve the water serpents.
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In theDasam Granth,Guru Gobind Singh narrated a discourse between Matsyendranatha and Paras Nath on Intuitive (Bibek) and Non-Intuitive Mind (Abibek). Parasnatha subdued kings of the world and turned egoistic, and was broken by Matsyendranatha's spiritual preachings. This granth is regarded among Spiritual warriors of Khalsa Panths calledNihang Singhs.[citation needed]
Films about this legend inIndian cinema include:
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| National | |
