Shri Revan Natha, also known as Revan Siddh,
Kada Siddha,
and, Kaadhsiddheshwar
Siddharaj was the 7th or 8th
Navnath
The Navanatha (), also spelt as Navnath in vernacular languages, are the nine saints, Masters or Naths on whom the Navnath Sampradaya, the lineage of the nine gurus, is based. . He is especially worshipped in western India, where several temples are dedicated to him, and several
sampradaya
''Sampradaya'' (/ səmpɾəd̪ɑjə/,; ), in Indian-origin religions, namely Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and Sikhism, can be translated as 'tradition', 'spiritual lineage', 'sect', or 'religious system'. To ensure continuity and transmissi ...
s trace their origin to him, the best-known being the
Inchegeri Sampradaya
The Inchagiri Sampradaya, also known as Nimbargi Sampradaya, is a lineage of Hindu Navnath and Lingayat Guru, teachers from Maharashtra and Karnataka, which was started by Bhausaheb Maharaj. It is inspired by Sant Mat teachers as Namdev, Rav ...
.
Etymology
Kada Siddha
According to one account, Revan nath derived the name ''Kada Siddha'' from his siddhi, powers:
Kaadhsiddheshwar
According to another account, Revanath settled on the Siddhgiri hill for ascetic practice, living on whatever the jungle, gave him. He became famous known as Kaadsiddheswar
* "Kaadha" means a jungle;
*
siddha
''Siddha'' (Sanskrit: '; "perfected one") is a term that is used widely in Indian religions and culture. It means "one who is accomplished." It refers to perfected masters who have achieved a high degree of perfection of the intellect as we ...
, siddha guru, mean "one who is accomplished";
* "ishwar" means
Shiva
Shiva (; , ), also known as Mahadeva (; , , Help:IPA/Sanskrit, ɐɦaːd̪eːʋɐh and Hara, is one of the Hindu deities, principal deities of Hinduism. He is the God in Hinduism, Supreme Being in Shaivism, one of the major traditions w ...
, the "Supreme lord".
Meaning "the one who attained supreme realization in a forest".
Biography
Revan Nath was born at the bank of Reva River (Narmada River ), and was brought up at a farmer’s house.
Mahima Siddhi
One morning when he proceeded to his farm, Lord Guru
Dattatreya gave him
Darshana, revealing himself to Revan Natha. Guru Dattatreya recognised the boy as an Avatara being incarnated on earth and gave him special
siddhi
In Indian religions, (Sanskrit: '; fulfillment, accomplishment) are material, paranormal, supernatural, or otherwise magical powers, abilities, and attainments that are the products of Yoga, yogic advancement through sādhanās such as medit ...
, divine powers, called "Mahima". After receiving this siddhi, the farmer’s house flourished with plenty of food grain and prosperity, and ''Anna Chatra'' was also started.
Machchindra Natha, the first Nath of the
Navnath Sampradaya
The Navanatha (), also spelt as Navnath in vernacular languages, are the nine saints, Masters or Naths on whom the Navnath Sampradaya, the lineage of the nine gurus, is based. , visited the village when he came to know about Mahima Siddhi. Machchindra Natha recognised Revan Natha as a Narayana Avatar but warned that if he kept stuck in a cage of popularity due to this Mahima Siddhi, it would create an obstacle in his Avatar Karya. Machchindra Natha prayed to Lord Dattatreya to give the status of Brahma Sanatana to this boy. Revan Natha realised his ''Satya Swaroopa'', and proceeded to work for the welfare of the world, and the upliftment of poor and needy people.
The seven dead children
While on
pilgrimage
A pilgrimage is a travel, journey to a holy place, which can lead to a personal transformation, after which the pilgrim returns to their daily life. A pilgrim (from the Latin ''peregrinus'') is a traveler (literally one who has come from afar) w ...
, he arrived at a village named Vita (near Sangli, in
Maharashtra
Maharashtra () is a state in the western peninsular region of India occupying a substantial portion of the Deccan Plateau. It is bordered by the Arabian Sea to the west, the Indian states of Karnataka and Goa to the south, Telangana to th ...
). At that time, there was a naming ceremony occurring for a Brahmin family from the village; the patriarch of the family, upon seeing Revan Natha, cordially invited him to the ceremony, which happened to be for his son. Revan Natha accepted and decided to stay at the Brahmin’s residence for a while, seeing his good nature and respectful manner. However, that night, at the stroke of midnight, the son whose ceremony it had been suddenly expired. The mother of the dead child began weeping, upon discovering this; Revan Natha, woken by the sound, got up to investigate and—meeting the father, who was also stricken by grief—asked the latter what had occurred. The Brahmin man explained to the saint that the recently deceased had been his seventh son—and the seventh child of his to die upon completion of the naming ceremony.
After listening to the story, Revan Natha thought to himself: "How could such a thing have occurred when I myself was in the house?—and perceived nothing out of the ordinary!" After consoling the grieving family, Revan Natha straightaway approached Lord Shiva, and brought the immortal consciousnesses ''(sanjivan chaitanya)'' of the seven dead children therefrom; he divided the body of the boy who had died the previous night, and, reinstating the awarenesses ''(chaitanya)'' therein, made alive the seven dead children and gave them rebirth by using his spiritual power. The Brahmin family—no longer weeping with grief, but with joy—showered the sage with praise and gratitude; Shri Revan Natha thence stayed in the village for some days more, thereafter proceeding on his pilgrimage for divine duties (i.e., looking after the welfare of needy people).
Temples
Several temples are dedicated to Revan Nath.
Siddhagiri Math
Revananath is considered to have established the
Kaadsiddheshwar temple and
math
Mathematics is a field of study that discovers and organizes methods, Mathematical theory, theories and theorems that are developed and Mathematical proof, proved for the needs of empirical sciences and mathematics itself. There are many ar ...
in the 7th century CE.
Other accounts mention a history of "more than 1300 years",
and the 14th century CE, when a Lingayat Priest established a Shivling at the hill, which became Kaneri Math.
It is located on Siddhagiri hill
in Kanheri village, Karveer tehsil,
Kolhapur
Kolhapur () is a city on the banks of the Panchganga River in the southern part of the Indian state of Maharashtra.
Kolhapur is one of the most significant cities in South Maharashtra and has been a hub of historical, religious, and cultural a ...
district,
Maharashtra
Maharashtra () is a state in the western peninsular region of India occupying a substantial portion of the Deccan Plateau. It is bordered by the Arabian Sea to the west, the Indian states of Karnataka and Goa to the south, Telangana to th ...
state, India.
It is also called "
Siddhagiri Math"
The Siddhagiri Math was established around the Moola-Kaadsiddheswar
Shiva
Shiva (; , ), also known as Mahadeva (; , , Help:IPA/Sanskrit, ɐɦaːd̪eːʋɐh and Hara, is one of the Hindu deities, principal deities of Hinduism. He is the God in Hinduism, Supreme Being in Shaivism, one of the major traditions w ...
temple in the
Shaiva
Shaivism (, , ) is one of the major Hindu traditions, which worships Shiva as the supreme being. It is the second-largest Hindu sect after Vaishnavism, constituting about 385 million Hindus, found widely across South Asia (predominantly in ...
-
Lingayat
The Lingayats are a monotheistic religious denomination of Hinduism. Lingayats are also known as , , , . Lingayats are known for their unique practice of Ishtalinga worship, where adherents carry a personal linga symbolizing a constant, intim ...
tradition. It is a vast campus with the central Shiva temple.
In the 12th century the Math came under the influence of
Basaveshwar, who established the
Lingayat
The Lingayats are a monotheistic religious denomination of Hinduism. Lingayats are also known as , , , . Lingayats are known for their unique practice of Ishtalinga worship, where adherents carry a personal linga symbolizing a constant, intim ...
tradition of south India.
Nowadays the influence of the math exceeds to most of the districts of Maharashtra and Karnataka, and also to some places in Madhya Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh.
Part of Siddhagiri Math is the "Siddhagiri Gramjivan Museum", a wax museum dedicated to Gandhi's ideal of rural life. It was established by the 27th Mathadhipati, H.H. Adrushya Kadsiddheshwar Swami Ji.
Waarshik Maha Utsava (Annual Ceremony) is being celebrated continuously for 3 days over here and the said practice is observed in Revan Natha Darbar Kolhapur since 33 years regularly with all joy.
All spiritual rituals of Natha Sampradaya are being arranged. The Annual ceremony comes in Margashirsha, Vadya Ashthami Navami and Dashami as per Hindu calendar which normally comes in the month of December every year as per English calendar.
Besides Annual Maha Utsava, the other important Utsavas like Guru Pornima, Shri Krishnashtami are also celebrated in Revan Natha Darbara enthusiastically. Spiritual guidance is being rendered to the devotees in Revan Natha Darbar Kolhapur.
Other temples
*
Revansiddha Temple was built in the 16th century and lies hardly three furlongs away from the village Renavi.
*
Sidhhanath Temple, Kharsundi is of a relative recent origin, being built 150 years ago.
*
Lord Bhoodsidhhanath Mandir is located in Bhood, Maharashtra.
Sampradaya
Inchegeri Sampradaya
The
Inchegeri Sampradaya
The Inchagiri Sampradaya, also known as Nimbargi Sampradaya, is a lineage of Hindu Navnath and Lingayat Guru, teachers from Maharashtra and Karnataka, which was started by Bhausaheb Maharaj. It is inspired by Sant Mat teachers as Namdev, Rav ...
honours Revan Natha as the (mythological) founder of their sampradaya.
See also
*
Shaivism
Shaivism (, , ) is one of the major Hindu denominations, Hindu traditions, which worships Shiva as the Para Brahman, supreme being. It is the Hinduism#Demographics, second-largest Hindu sect after Vaishnavism, constituting about 385 million H ...
*
84 Mahasiddhas
Notes
References
Sources
*
*
*
*
{{refend
External links
Swami Dayanand Seva Ashram, ''About the Nath Lineage''
Hinduism in Maharashtra
Inchegeri Sampradaya
Marathi Hindu saints
Navnath