MACHHINDARNATHA

MACHHINDARNATHA (Matsyendranatha), also known as Minanatha, i.e. Fish-Lord, Minapa, Luipa (in Tibet), and Avilokitesvara (in Nepal), who flourished in the 10th century AD, was one of the eighty-four siddhas or Perfect ones of Tantric Buddhism. According to Tibetan-Buddhist belief, he was a fisherman who, while devoured alive by a large fish (matsya or mina in Sanskrit and machchhi in Punjabi), was initiated by Mahadeva or Adinatha himself. He in turn was the guru of Gorakhnath, the founder of the Nath cult. The Janam Sakhis mention Machhindarnatha as having met Guru Nanak and conversed with him.

The reference may be to a contemporary adherent of his school of yogis. The name does not occur in Guru Nanak\’s Sidh Gosti, but another of his hymns in Raga Ramkali is addressed to a yogi, there mentioned as Machhindra. The Guru says that true yoga meant not austerities but overcoming the Five Evils; that the true avadhuta, i.e. renouncer or recluse, is [not one who renounces the world but] one who remains absorbed in contemplation; and that such a one begs for [not alms but] devotion, rejoices in the invaluable gift of contentment, and fixes his mind on the True Name (GG, 877).

References :

1. Sabaddarth Sri Guru Granth Sahib. Amritsar, 1964
2. Bhalla, Sarup Das, Mahima Prakash. Patiala, 1971
3. Dviwedi, Hazari Prasad, Nath Sampradaya. Varanasi, 1966
4. Briggs, George Weston, Gorakhnath and the Kanphata Yogis. Varanasi, 1973