Gorakhnath Math

The Gorakhnath Math (Gorakhnath Mutt) is a Hindu monastic group in the Nath tradition founded by Matsyendranath. The name Gorakhnath derives from the medieval saint, Gorakshanath (ca. 11th c.), a famous yogi who travelled widely across India and authored a number of texts that form part of the canon of the Nath sampradaya (community).

Religious activity

Today's Gorakhnath Math, centered at Gorakhpur in eastern Uttar Pradesh (also epynomous from the saint), is a religious institution that runs two Gorakhnath temples, one in Nepal in the district of Gorkha (another word believed to be derived from Baba Gorakhnath), and the other a little south of Gorakhpur. The temple at Gorakhpur is said to contain the samadhi shrine (tomb) and gaddi (prayer seat) of Gorakshanath. These temples constitute the centre of most of the Hindu religious activity in this region.

Thousands of devotees throng these temples on the occasion of Makar Sankranti, when they offer Khichdi to Gorakshanath Baba. The King of Nepal also occasionally visits one of these temples during this festival.

The Gorakhnath Math has a significant following in eastern Uttar Pradesh and the terai regions of Nepal, and also among wider circles across the Nath groups. The monastic order, according to the principles of the saint Gorakhnath, does not follow caste conventions as in other Hindu religious groups. Thus, non-Brahmins may serve as priests.

The present mahant or chief priest is Avaidyanath. His appointed successor Yogi Adityanath, belongs to the Thakur or martial caste and is not a Brahmin.

Political activity

The Gorakhnath Math has been involved in political matters for decades. Avaidyanath had earlier been a leader of the rightist party, the Hindu Mahasabha, and had served in Parliament from Gorakhpur for four terms. Yogi Adityanath has been active in the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), and has moulded the Hindu forces in the region by a combination of alliances cutting across caste lines, and by raising demands for better economic livelihood^[1].

Adityanath has been the Member of Parliament (MP) from the Gorakhpur (Lok Sabha Constituency) since 1998, and has emerged as a major power center in Uttar Pradesh. He founded the Hindu Yuva Vahini (Hindu Youth Force), which has been noted for its extremist rightist views and anti-Muslim activities^[2]. The group has also been involved in much communally sensitive activity, including the Mau riots^[3] of October 2005 and the Gorakhpur riots^[2] of January 2007. The region was earlier known for its strong Hindu-Muslim ties; there were no riots here even after Babri Masjid^[1].

In the General elections of 2007, the Hindu Yuva Vahini was at one point contemplating running the elections on its own^[4], but finally a compromise was reached with the BJP.