Monastic Wanderers: Nath Yogi Ascetics in Modern South Asia

Contents: Introduction. Part I: Nath Yogis Identity. 1. References. 2. Belonging to the Sampradaya. 3. Wandering ascetics. Part II. Collective Monasteries. 4. The Kadri Math: History. 5. Kadri Raja’s enthronement. 6. Caughera Math (Dang valley, Nepal): Legends of Foundation. 7. The yogis in the Kingdom: ritual services and worldly possessions. Part III: Personal Monasteries. 8. Fatehpur Ashram. 9. Institutionalization of the Fatehpur Ashram’s Nath belonging. 10. Lay followers, patronage and Seva: Fatehpur and Gorakhpur. 11. Asthal Bohar, a new synthesis. Part IV: Yogis by caste. 12. The Grihastha or householder Yogis. 13. Conclusion. Bibliography. Index.

How have the premodern Shaiva ascetic sect of the Nath Yogis (known also as the Yogis with splitted ears) succeeded in maintaining its presence and importance until today? This book intends to give a general survey of this sampradaya which is said to have been founded by the Siddha Gorakhnath, known for his strong link to Hatha Yoga. However, rather than to Yoga, the history and expansion of the Nath sect are linked to its rich legendary corpus. Dealing first with the marks of belonging (such as the huge earring worn by the fully initiated Yogis) which give the sect its unity, the book then focuses on its organization and explores the dialectics between the wandering yogis and the monastic settlements.