Gorakhnāth, Gorakṣa

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Gorakhnāth, Gorakṣa, or Gorakṣanātha. A Hindu yogin of c.10/11 cent. CE, of the Nātha tantra cult, which claimed magical and occult powers through the practice of yoga. He is said by some to have originated Haṭha-yoga, and to have founded the order of Kānphaṭa yogīs (so-called from ‘ear’ + ‘split’: they wear heavy earrings after initiation; they are also called Gorakhnāthis). Two works in Skt. are attributed to him (Siddhasiddhāntapaddhati and Gorakśa sátaka), together with various hymns, but all are doubtful.