NATHA

religious movement of India whose members strive for immortality by transforming the human body into an imperishable divine body. It combines esoteric traditions drawn from Buddhism, Saivism (worship of the Hindu deity Siva), and Hatha Yoga, with a liking for the occult. The term is derived from the names of the nine traditional masters, all of which end in the word natha (master, lord). Texts do not agree on the lists of the nine. All are believed to have successfully transformed their bodies through yogic discipline into indestructible spiritual entities, and, according to popular belief, they reside as demigods in the Himalayas. The nine nathas are in many respects similar to the 84 great perfect ones, the mahasiddhas, common to both Hinduism and Buddhism, and their names appear on both lists. The Natha cult is essentially made up of yogis whose aim is to achieve sahaja, defined as a state of neutrality transcending the duality of human existence. This is accomplished through the cultivation of kaya-sadhana (culture of the body), with great emphasis laid on the control of semen, breath, and thought. Guidance of an accomplished guru is considered essential. The Natha yogis share with similar esoteric cults a liking for paradox and enigmatic verse.