Nine Nath Lords
Generally speaking, the Nava Naths or Nine Nath Lords are considered to be the Nine Mythical Lords behind the founding and creation of the Nath lineage. This is something like the concept of the “Secret Chiefs.” They were considered to be “divine” beings in as much as they are “immortal” and inhabit a different plane of existence other than our own. At the same time, they may or may not from time to time intersect into our own Earth plane. The myth suggests that they intruded onto the Earth plane long ago to plant the divine Nath vibration among the human race and create the Nath Order. This is the vibration which is a spirit Transmission and a pivotal part of “initiation.”
As far as the idea that the Nava Naths were human beings born of a human womb, we have no evidence. It was a loooong time ago. Some sects of Naths still retain the alleged names of the “nine,” but these names vary from place to place. The Nava Naths still have a place in some sects of Naths who claim the “nine” as an important part of their “lineage” or “sampradaya.” In this sense, they can be looked at as having a place in the ancestry of the lineage and are propitiated in what could easily be called “ancestor worship.” This, in hope and expectation that their blessings and transmission could be caused to intrude once more into this Earth plane and individual zonules where they are invoked.
In the INO, the Nava Naths are generally considered a creation myth, with existential validity given only on spiritual levels. They are rarely invoked or propitiated as discrete historical entities or even paid much attention at all. Instead, the ancestral invocation of lineage consists of the actual historical figures:
- Shri Dattatreya
- Shri Matsyendranath
- Shri Lokanath
- Shri Pagala Baba
- Shri Mahendranath
Of course, each of these human beings, no longer on this Earth plane, carried the Transmission vibration and are much related to the current INO. It works for us.
Fine Regards,
Kapilnath
