'''Nath Yogi''' 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>
== History ==
The yogis were primarily associated with the Yogic-traditions promoted by the great Natha Sampradaya 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>{{cite book |author=M. N. Deshpande |author-link=M. N. Deshpande |year=1986 |title=The Caves of Panhale-Kaji |location=New Delhi |publisher=Archaeological Survey of India, Government of India |page= |oclc=469489273}}</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, Jogis (Giris) and Sannyasi (Puris) battled each other as detailed in the Tabaqat-i-Akbari, both are 2 of the 10 akharas (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">{{cite book |author=David N. Lorenzen |author-link=David N. Lorenzen |year=2006 |title=Who Invented Hinduism: Essays on Religion in History |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SO-YmMWpcVEC&dq=dashnami+akhara+aurangzeb&pg=PA52 |publisher=Yoda Press |pages=51–54 |isbn=978-81-902272-6-1}}</ref>
== Organization == 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 |author=David Gordon White |author-link=David Gordon White |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>{{cite book |author=David N. Lorenzen |author-link=David N. Lorenzen |year=2006 |title=Who Invented Hinduism: Essays on Religion in History |pages=51–63 |isbn=978-81-902272-6-1}}</ref><ref name=whitesyogi198>{{cite book |author=David Gordon White |author-link=David Gordon White |year=2011 |title=Sinister Yogis |publisher=University of Chicago Press |pages=198–207 |isbn=978-0-226-89514-7}}</ref><ref name=williampinchwarascetic>{{cite book |author=William Pinch |year=2012 |title=Warrior Ascetics and Indian Empires |publisher=Cambridge University Press |pages=4–9, 28–34, 61–65, 150–151, 189–191, 194–207 |isbn=978-1-107-40637-7}}</ref> They were scorned and persecuted by Mughal Empire officials, and by social, cultural and religious elites.<ref>{{cite book |author=David Gordon White |author-link=David Gordon White |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>{{cite book |author=Shail Mayaram |year=2003 |title=Against History, Against State |publisher=Columbia University Press |pages=39–41 |isbn=978-0-231-12730-1}}</ref> However, the Nath yogi monks have been very popular with the rural population in South Asia since medieval times.<ref name=lorenzenmunozx>{{cite book |author1=David N. Lorenzen |author1-link=David N. Lorenzen |author2=Adrián Muñoz |year=2012 |title=Yogi Heroes and Poets: Histories and Legends of the Naths |publisher=SUNY Press |pages=x-xi |isbn=978-1-4384-3890-0}}</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 |author=David Gordon White |author-link=David Gordon White |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>
==Nath Yogi in Bengal== Prior to independence, census statistics rarely included the caste name Nath or Nath Yogi. 19th-century British sources mentioned that castes known as jogis or jugis existed in Bengal. Some sources claim that Jogis held a low position during the 19th century. They appear to be particularly linked to failed ascetics and weavers who are often of lower status.<ref>Nath, M. N. (1993). A Carnival of Parting: The Tales of King Bharthari and King Gopi Chand as Sung and Told by Madhu Natisar Nath of Ghatiyali, Rajasthan. United States: University of California Press. p. 51.</ref> In the state of West Bengal they are classified as Other Backward Class under India's Reservation system.<ref>{{cite web |title=List of Other Backward Classes (O.B.C.) Recognized by Govt. of West Bengal |url=http://www.anagrasarkalyan.gov.in/pdf/category-wise-obc-list.pdf |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20141113195035/http://www.anagrasarkalyan.gov.in/pdf/category-wise-obc-list.pdf |archivedate=2014-11-13}}</ref>
== References == {{Reflist}}
{{Bengali Hindu people}}
Category:Bengali Hindu castes Category:Social groups of West Bengal Category:Indian weavers