|
 There are a number of pilgrimage destinations of the Gorakhnathis in the country. Like for instance, Kanphatas visit the usual places of pilgrimage such as Varanasi, Ayodhya, Prayag, Haridwar, Dwarka, Brindaban, Pushkar, Kedarnath, Rameswar in the south, Assam, Amarnath, Kashmir in the west, Darjeeling in the north east. Gorakhnathis visit several temples of Lord Shiva. Their own particular monasteries and shrines are widely scattered over India. The pilgrimage destinations of Kanphata yogis are appositely described as per areas like for example those in the state of Punjab, in the Himalayas, in Rajputana, in western India and elsewhere in the country.
In a monastery in Sikkim, there is a black, complex image one of the three forms of which represents Gorakhnath. At Gorkha in western Nepal, is the temple of Gorakhnath. In Kathmandu, there are a number of interesting places associated with the names of Gorakhnath. In the hills of Kumaon and Garhwal, Kanphatas are found at several shrines of Lord Shiva. In Garhwal, Gorakhnath is worshipped as an incarnation of Shiva and there is an establishment of Kanphatas at this place. In Nainital, at the temple of Nandi Devi, where is also a temple of Shiva, Kanphatas are sometimes found. In Almora, above the temple of Nandi Devi, there is the residence of a grhastha Yogi of the Dharamnath panth.
Haridwar has a number of places belonging to the Gorakhnathis. A cave is associated with the Kanphatas. The monastery of the Daryapanth has some ten or twelve Yogis in residence. There is a small evidently decaying establishment of the Gorakhnathis at Allahabad. It comprises two temples of Lord Shiva, a small monastery and one samadh. Important monasteries and shrines of the Gorakhnathis are situated in Gorakhpur, Varanasi and Tulsipur. Those at Gorakhpur and Tulsipur are in a flourishing condition. Three prominent places are associated with the name of the Gorakhnathis, the famous Lath of Bhairon, Gorakhnath ka Tilla and the temple of Kal Bhairon. The temple of Kal Bhairon in the city is an important place of meeting for Yogis, and is a famous shrine. The third place of interest is the old Gorakhnath ka Tilla, situated near the municipal gardens in the city. This place was built by Raja Man of Jodhpur, and was well endowed, but, along with the Lath of Bhairon, the endowments were nearly all lost through gambling and profligacy, and then now belong to it but a few inferior Yogis, some married.
Built against the temple on the north side is a small shrine that is containing the yoni-linga. It is about four feet high, including the spire. On the south side there is a larger shrine, about ten feet high, dedicated to Lord Shiva. The most important centre of the Kanphatas in the United Provinces is at Gorakhpur, a city named after the shrine of Gorakhnath. In fact, it is considered as the chief interest at this place. Besides the important monastery at Gorakh Tilla, there are many places in Punjab connected with the Gorakhnathis. Gorakhnathis, or Gorkhatri, in Peshawar was once a haunt of Kanphata yogis. Traditionally this is the place where Gorakhnath lived in the Satya Yuga. Moreover, the famous temple of Eklingaji, in Rajputana, bears important relations to the Kanphata Yogis. Two interesting shrines of the Kanphatas in West Bengal are at Mahanad in the Hoogly District and at the Cantonment of Dum Dum near Kolkata. The latter place is called Gorakh Bansuri. In the city of Puri (Jagannath Puri) is a gaddi, or seat, of the Satnath sect of the Kanphatas.
Hence, these are some of the chief and major pilgrimage destinations of the Gorakhnathis.
|
