Gorakhnath and the Kanphata Yogis c5.69

c5.69

There is conflict of opinion concerning the origin of the practice of wearing the rings. As stated above, the institution of the custom is attributed to Gorakhnāth. However, Śiva is the great ascetic and he wears huge ear-rings.² Legend records that ear-rings (kuṇḍal), made from dirt off her body, were attached to the body which Śiva had left behind when he descended the lotus stalk in the form of an insect, by Śakti.³ These ear-rings were later changed into mudrās. Śiva’s ears were split at that time. By this means the body of Śiva became immortal. Some trace the practice to Macchendranāth, the guru of Gorakhnāth. The Āipanthīs of Hardwār say that Macchendranāth, when he began to preach the Yoga, by order of Mahādeo, saw that Śiva had his ears split and that he (Śiva) wore the great rings. Macchendra, thereupon, longed to have similar rings himself. He began to worship Śiva and so pleased the god that his desire was granted. Macchendranāth was then ordered to split the ears of all who should become his disciples. Another legend, which connects the practice with Macchendranāth, states that when he was born as a fish, he was discovered to have had rings in his ears.⁴ At Purī, they say that the order to split the ears came from Macchendranāth.