samadhi of Shri Matsyendranath (the propagator of Nath Sect)

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Dear members,

 

Maharashtra is famous for the “saade teen sakti pIth†or “three and half

shakti pithas†namely Ekavira at Mahurgad, Tulja Bhavani at Tuljapur,

Mahalakshmi at Kolhapur and Amba mayi or sapthashringipuravasini at Wani.  The

three devis names Ekavira, Amba Mayi, Tulja Bhavani represent the presiding

deities of 3 charitas of Chandi Sapthasati namely Mahakali, Mahalakshmi and

Mahasaraswati respectively.  The Kolhapur Mahalakshmi represents the Mula

Prakriti as described in Murthi Rahasya.  Mahalakshmi in Kolhapur has 4 hands

holding Matulinga, Gada, Khetaka, pana patra and on her crown sports Naga, Linga

and Yoni.  She is the Mula Chandi Swarupini from which emanates the Mahakali,

Mahalakshmi and Mahasaraswati. 

 

Long back I posted my travelogue to the great shakti kshetra Sapthashringi near

Wani†which is 50 kms from Nashik of Maharashtra where sports the divine

Mother “Ashtadasha Bhuji Mahachandiâ€.  Here Mother sports as Chandi with 18

hands.   

 

During my recent visit to Sapthashringi, I chanced to visit the great Samadhi of

Mahasiddha Matsyendranath. 

 

The name Sapthashringi is called because the Mother Chandi is on the top of 7

hills (Saptha = Seven; Shringa = Hill).  There are some of the wonderful spots

worth seeing like the temple of Rishi Markandeya etc. It is said that Markandeya

taught the secrets of chandi here to his disciples.  There is also a Guru

Mandir dedicated to the dandi sanyasi Shri Prakashananda Saraswati.  He was a

great upasaka of Chandi and the disciple of Muktananda Paramahamsa (a disciple

of Shri Nityananda Baba Avadhuta of Ganeshpuri).  

 

THE MOST INTERESTNG SPOT TO BE SEEN IS THE SAMADHI OF SHRI MATSYENDRANATH who

was the guru of Shri Goraknath.  Matsyendranath seems to be the adi guru of

Natha Parampara among the Nava (9) Naths.  The visit to this Samadhi is

soul-stirring and one can feel immense peace here.  This is the place where the

Shankaracharya of Puri (Shri Khare Sastry) had a vision of Chandi.   This is

the place where great Maratha King Shivaji visited and returned back

rejenuvated.   This is the place where Samartha Ramadas visited before

composing “Dasa Bodhaâ€.  This is the place visited by Shri Dasa Ganu

Maharaj the famous haridas of Maharashtra before composing “Shri Gajanan

Vijaya Granthâ€.   This is the place visited by Shri Jnaneshwar Maharaj

before composing “Anubhavamrita†and “Jnaneshwariâ€.  He salutes the

Matsyendranatha by mentioning this place in his magnum opus “Jnaneshwariâ€. 

Jnaneshwari is the commentary on Bhagavat Gita from

Shakta Perspective written by Shri Jnaneshwar as he belonged to Natha

Sampradaya. 

 

There is a spot where Shri Prakashananda Saraswati performed Sapthasati parayana

daily and performed Chandi homa and tarpana. 

 

I request everyone, especially, chandikopasakas to visit this soul-stirring

tirtha kshetra where Mother sports as Mahisha Mardini with 18 hands alongwith

the samadhi of great yogi Matsyendranath.   For details of this place, see my

old post on “Sapthashringiâ€.

 

With regards,

sriram

 

 

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