Alternative spellings of this word include Machchhendranatha.

In Hinduism

Shaivism (Shaiva philosophy)

Source: Google Books: Manthanabhairavatantram (shaivism)

Macchendranātha (मच्छेन्द्रनाथ) is another name for Matsyendranātha, one of the “four Lords (teachers) of the Ages” (Yuganātha).—Matsyendranātha is worshipped as the teacher of this Age along with three other teachers and their consorts who brought the Kaula Tantra into the world in the previous three Ages. These four Lords of the Ages (yuganātha) are highly revered in the Kālīkrama and came to be considered to be embodiments of the basic states of consciousness. Matsyendranātha has a variety of cognate names [e.g., Macchendranātha] (Cf. Dyczkowski 1988: 163 n23 and Bagchi 1934: 9).

context information

Shaiva (शैव, śaiva) or Shaivism (śaivism) represents a tradition of Hinduism worshiping Shiva as the supreme being. Closely related to Shaktism, Shaiva literature includes a range of scriptures, including Tantras, while the root of this tradition may be traced back to the ancient Vedas.

Yoga (school of philosophy)

Source: academia.edu: Tessitori Collection I (yoga)

Machhendranath is the Guru of Gorakhnāth, according to the Garakhabodha (classified as Medieval Hindi literature), which is included in the collection of manuscripts at the ‘Vincenzo Joppi’ library, collected by Luigi Pio Tessitori during his visit to Rajasthan between 1914 and 1919.—The Gorakhbodh, a work written in an old form of Hindi and reported to date from the 14th century. The work is in rhymed prose, sixty stanzas in all, and is in the form of a conversation between Gorakhnāth and his Guru Machhendranāth, the stanzas being a question and an answer alternately. Unfortunately the extreme conciseness and difficulty of the text and particular character of the exposition make this source only partially utilizable.

context information

Yoga is originally considered a branch of Hindu philosophy (astika), but both ancient and modern Yoga combine the physical, mental and spiritual. Yoga teaches various physical techniques also known as āsanas (postures), used for various purposes (eg., meditation, contemplation, relaxation).

See also (Relevant definitions)

Partial matches: Natha, Macchendra.

Full-text: Macchendra.

Relevant text

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