Matsyendranath

Matsyendra or Matsyendranatha ( Sanskrit: मत्स्येन्द्र, Matsyendra m; Pali:. Macchanda; Hindi: Macchendranath ) is a legendary Indian saint and founder of Kaula Tantra. He was the teacher of Goraksha and probably lived in the 6th or 7th century, but possibly only in the 10th century after Matsyendra an asana is named: the Matsyendrasana, a simplified version of this is the Ardha Matsyendrasana.

Name

Matsyendra or Matsyendranatha appears under many names forms, most are dialect forms such as Macchendar. As usual with the Kanpatha - yogis, the name is the word Natha "Master " is appended. In addition, he is also called Minanatha "Fish Master ", a name that is, its meaning is identical Matsyendra of what can be translated as "Fish Lord." In Tibetan Buddhism, it is also stated Lui Pa.

Life and Legend

To Matsyendra and his students are many legends that make it impossible to determine which features are historical, and also make it hard to date Matsyendra. There are many indications that he came around the year 600 to Nepal.

He was a fisherman in Bengal and lived on the island Chandradvipa ( "moon island "). For the first time it is called in the 10th century as Macchanda in the book Tantraloka of Abhinavagupta, pays tribute to him in his work great devotion.

The incarnation of Shiva

A legend from the 10th/11th. Century tells that Shiva incarnated to catch as fishermen Matsyendra the fish that had swallowed his sacred tantra textbook, after Karttikeya had thrown this into the sea. Then he gave in this incarnation the teaching more students further. Since he belonged to a lower caste as a fisherman, he took students from all layers whose adligster King Colendranatha was, while his main disciples Goraksha belonged to the lower layer.

The fish

A widespread legend tells how Shiva his wife Parvati introduced in the secret teachings of Tantra on the sea beach on the island Candradvipa. The fisherman Matsyendra but turned into a big fish and listened attentively to the teacher talk to. One version says that Matsyendra into a giant fish got into and so unnoticed could listen to the secret conversation. After some time Parvati nodded, and Shiva asked, " Are you asleep " Since Matsyendra replied, eager for the subject matter: "No, I 'm awake! " Shiva now noticed the big fish and realized Matsyendra. Delighted with the cunning and attention he decided that teaching instead of Parvati, now fully inform the Matsyendra. He also sat down in the fish and consecrated Matsyendra during twelve years in the tantric teaching one.

Matsyendras sons

The Matsyendra be attributed to six sons, two of which he had by the Queen of Sri Lanka, with whom he had a multi-year love affair. These two, Nimnath and Parashnath, according to legend, are considered the founders of Jainism. In truth, however, they must be regarded as the founder of two sects of Kanphata - yogis who have taken Jain ideas.

Worship

Since its first mention in the 10th century, Matsyendra enjoys great veneration. In Nepal, where he is revered by Buddhists as Avalokiteshvara, he is the patron god of the land, which each spring is celebrated a car fixed, in which asking for a lot of rain for the seed. Matsyendra is also revered as the founder of some sects of Kanpatha - yogis.

Works

Matsyendra is considered as the author of Kaulajnananirnaya.