Expansion of the Nath Sampradaya by Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu

As Dwapara Yuga approached its end, Lord Krishna formulated the divine blueprint for the Nath Sampradaya. According to this cosmic plan, the Nava-Narayanas — nine attendants of Narayana — incarnated to establish the Nath lineage and accomplish its foundational mission. These Nine Nathas were celestial, subtle beings with complete freedom to travel anywhere in the universe. Their work was rooted in yogic mastery, and the goshala (cow-shed) was their favored dwelling due to its purity and sattvik energy. Possessing mastery over the five great elements, they could act even against nature’s laws when necessary. Whatever they mentally conceived manifested instantly, a capacity unique to them alone.

The Nine Nath Yogis descended through ayonija means — without physical birth — appearing in human-like form to establish a spiritual path rich with miraculous power. Their appearance was marked by matted locks, rudraksha, sacred ash, a jholi, and a chimta, and their sacred call was “Alakh Niranjan! Aadēsh!” After completing their divine mission, they entrusted the lineage to future Gurus who would take human birth. These human-born Nath masters lived like ordinary householders but carried the same spiritual authority and siddhi as the original Nine Nathas.

To guide the next phase, Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu themselves incarnated through human families. Though these Gurus appeared externally ordinary — without ash-covered bodies or yogic symbols — their inner power remained identical to the primordial Nath masters. The structure of the Nath Panth, its disciplines, and its cosmic functioning were originally designed by Adinath Shiva, Lord Vishnu, and Kavinarayana (Machhindranath), ensuring that the Sampradaya would remain active throughout Kali Yuga. All celestial beings — gods, goddesses, yakshas, dakinis, vetalas, and fierce energies — pledged unwavering support to the Nath lineage, a promise that continues even today.

Though the external appearance of the lineage changed, the supervision of the Sampradaya remained entirely under Lord Dattatreya. He alone decides who will receive empowerment for Guru-work, while the Nava-Narayanas remain ever-watchful in sustaining the mission. After the Nine Nathas completed their earthly duties, Gahininath alone remained in the human realm, meditating on Brahmagiri, following the command of Gorakhnath.

In preparation for Shiva and Vishnu’s incarnation, a pious household known as the Kulkarni family existed. Vithalpant and his virtuous wife lived there. Vithalpant, deeply inclined toward scriptures and liberation, longed for sannyasa. One night he asked his half-asleep wife, “May I take sannyasa?” In her drowsiness, she said “Yes.” Believing this to be conscious consent, he left immediately and joined an ashram.

Years later, his Guru visited their home seeking alms. Vithalpant’s wife offered food, and the Guru blessed her: “May you be granted sons and good fortune.” She replied sorrowfully that she could not accept blessings because her husband had taken sannyasa. Upon discovering the truth, the Guru realized that the monk Vithal was indeed his disciple and declared that sannyasa without a wife's conscious consent is invalid.

He said: “On the coming full moon, your husband will return.” He summoned Vithalpant, instructed him to abandon sannyasa, and resume marital life. On Vat Purnima, after performing rituals around the banyan tree, the wife returned home and found Vithalpant standing before her, as foretold. They reunited, and soon became parents to four divine children: Nivruttinath, Dnyaneshwar (Dnyan-Nath), Sopan, and Muktabai.

Through this household — outwardly ordinary but inwardly divinely prepared — Lord Shiva and Vishnu continued the Nath tradition. These children became pillars of the lineage, their lives revealing the same cosmic power that had once operated through the Nine Nathas. Thus, the Nath Sampradaya expanded from divine births to human lineages without losing even a trace of its original spiritual force.