Mangalnath’s Attempt to Take Vyankatanath Maharaj to Chitrakoot

Whenever one mentions Chitrakoot, the memory of Lord Rama naturally arises. During the *Treta Yuga*, nearly 1,328,000 years ago, Rama, Lakshmana, Sita and Hanuman lived in this sacred region during their exile. Across millions of years, kingdoms rose and fell, people were born and died — yet the names of Rama and Krishna alone continue to shine with undiminished devotion.

From this same Chitrakoot soil emerged a powerful Nath yogic lineage. In ancient times, sages here could hear the divine Vedic hymns to the Sun God through inner celestial sound.

After Sant Dnyaneshwar, the lineage included many great Nath yogis — Satyamalnath, Guptanath, Paramhansa, Brahmananda, Parmananda, Kashinath, Vitthalnath, Vishwanath. All of them carried out their spiritual mission from the Chitrakoot gadi, following their Guru’s command.

Guptanath — the seventh Nath from Machindranath — took samadhi in Chitrakoot, and later Gurus continued the same tradition. After Vishwanath, this seat was held by Madhavanath Maharaj.

Over time, the spiritual atmosphere of Chitrakoot weakened. Madhavanath received inner guidance that the Nath work must shift elsewhere. Guru Mata and the local people also requested him to leave. When leaving Chitrakoot, Madhavanath declared:

“We are leaving this land forever. Wherever we go, we shall carry its spiritual essence with us. We will never again set foot in Chitrakoot.”

Later, the young Mangalnath, son of Vyankatanath Maharaj, was ceremonially placed upon the Chitrakoot gadi at the age of ten. Vyankatanath Maharaj was present for this event.

Because of this background, and because the Nath lineage once flourished in Chitrakoot, Mangalnath felt that Vyankatanath Maharaj should accompany him there — as though returning to their ancestral seat.

One day, Mangalnath insisted that Vyankatanath Maharaj should travel with him to Chitrakoot. Hearing this, Vyankatanath called Narendra and asked: “Should I go with him? What do you think should be done?” Narendra replied: “Mangalnath Maharaj needs your support. If you do not support him, who will? Even in worldly life, if my son wished to follow my profession, it would be my duty to guide him. From a practical viewpoint, it is natural for him to seek your presence. So yes, I feel you should go with him.” Vyankatanath asked: “If I go, what will happen?” Narendra answered: “The moment people hear that you are travelling, almost all your disciples will accompany you.” Mangalnath added confidently: “All those who come — we will take care of them. We are even ready to arrange a special train. We only need your final decision.” Vyankatanath then said to Narendra: “You tell them what the decision should be.”

Narendra replied:

“As his father, he has the right to take you. But as *my Guru*, you are not obliged to go. If I am allowed to decide where my Guru should go, then I will never allow anyone to take you to Chitrakoot. You will not go — not at all.” Narendra then revealed the deeper reason:

“Madhavanath Maharaj abandoned Chitrakoot forever. He declared that no further Nath work would continue there. Before his samadhi, he transferred all the spiritual essence of Chitrakoot to Devgaon Rangari. He commanded that future Nath work must proceed from Devgaon alone. Therefore, your true spiritual connection is with Devgaon — not Chitrakoot.”

Narendra added: “If Mangalnath Maharaj wishes to take Guru Mata, that is a different relationship. They may go. But you, Maharaj, must not go.”

Vyankatanath then declared: “Narendra is right. I will do exactly as he says.”

Thus, the decision was made:

Vyankatanath Maharaj did not go to Chitrakoot. A few devotees and Guru Mata accompanied Mangalnath, but Maharaj himself never travelled there again — remaining obedient to the spiritual command of his Guru, Madhavanath Maharaj.

In this way, Vyankatanath Maharaj tested Narendra, and Narendra upheld the Nath tradition with unwavering loyalty.