Nath Leelamrit - Marathi

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The Nath cult spread throughout India. Maharashtra has prominently contributed to the tradition. Adinath Bhairava was one such link in the great tradition. He has composed Nathaleelamrut. It consists of 28 chapters and 5493 verses in the form of Ovee. It was published twice, in 1869 and 1898. As per Dr. R.C. Dhere, a scholar of Saint literature, folk literature, folk culture, folk art, who edited and published the Nathleelamrut in 1972, the work might have been composed in Vita in the Taluka Khanapur of the Satara district. It was completed in 1844.Adinath Bhairava hailed from Nighoje, in the taluka Khed of district Pune. His family was traditionally shaiva Gurav. His father Bhairavnath himself was his spiritual mentor, but did not survive to see the completion of the work. Adinath Bhairav died in 1845.His descendants still live in Nighoje. However, the works referred to in the Nathaleelamrut have perished. A manuscript from Nighoje has been preserved in Bharat Itihas Samshodhak Mandal. It contains some of the verses in the form of Abhanga, composed by Bhairav, Adinath’s father. His spiritual lineage is : Adinath- Matsyendranath- Gorakshanath – Gahininath – Prakashnath – Chidranjananath – Utpattinath – Pravrittinath – Hansanath – Niranjananath – Sidhdhanath- Bhairavanath – Adinath.A story of the disciple of Gahininath, Prakashnath, is mentioned by Adinath. Once he went home in the night and knocked on the door. His wife asked from within who was knocking. This otherwise mundane question initiated in him the philosophical pursuit of truly knowing oneself. He was a son of a king of Jayajayapur. His disciple initiated another king Jayasinha who had performed the Ashvamedha Yajnya. However the places and the dynasty are not traceable. Adinath has referred to many literatures from Mukundaraj to Shridhar and Mahipati. His command of Sanskrit as well as Marathi seems impressive. His profuse citation from the shrutis is proof of his literary stature. He has also referred to Hastamalaka, Manishapanchaka, Kalabhairavashtaka and Shankaradigvijaya by Madhavacharya.He has referred to traditional works of Nath cult, such as Patanjala Yogasutra to Hathayogapradipika. He has sought support from Sidhdha Sidhdhant Padhdhati, Amanaska yoga, Vivekamartanda, Goraksha Shataka, Gorakshabodha authored by Gorakshanath. He has also used works such as Gurugeeta, Kedarkalpa, Gurukalpakhanda, Matsyendra Sanhita etc. He has echoed the argument from Vajrasuchikopanishad attributed to Shankaracharya (also attributed to the Budhhist scholar Ashvaghosha). This work is very important to Nath Panthins. It is also essential for students of history and philosophy of the Nath cult. (Introduction from www.rcdhere.com)

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