The doors of Nathpantha, located in Gorakhpur, one of the country's largest saintly sects, which remained a refuge for people in every calamity, were closed to devotees this morning.This was the first time that this Gorakhnath Peeth had to close its doors for public welfare.
Due to the corona virus infection, the managing committee of Gorakhnath Temple and Devipatan Maa Pateshwari Shaktipeeth Balrampur has decided to keep both the temple and the Peetha closed for devotees till 31 March. The decision became effective from Saturday morning. During the period, the ceremonial work of worship in the temple will continue regularly.
Actually, public welfare has been the tradition of Gorakshpeeth. From the beginning, the thinking of the back has been ahead of time. Before independence, when Purvanchal was backward in the field of education, then the Peetadheeshwar Brahmalin Mahant Digvijay Nath established Maharana Shiksha Parishad to ignite the light of education. Today, more than four dozen educational institutions of all kinds are running under the banner of the council. The Peeth has also played an important role in the establishment of Gorakhpur University.
The establishment of Gorakhnath Hospital is to provide state-of-the-art treatment at affordable prices to the common people, rejuvenation of Vantangian villages, relief of flood victims by taking risks, helping farmers suffering from arson or natural calamity and other works of public interest are examples.
The thinking of the people of Gorakhnath temple and its related Shakti Peetha Devipatan Balrampur and the announcements made for the poor in view of Corona on Saturday is the same for public welfare. It is known that Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath is also the Peetadheeshwar of Gorakshit.
According to Kidwantis, the Gorakhnath temple in Gorakhpur was established by the Siddha Guru Gorakshanath in the Treta Yuga. According to the belief, Guru Gorakshanath at that time went to the famous Jwala Devi temple in Himachal's Kangra district. There Goddess invited him for a meal. Seeing the Tamasi food at the venue, Gorakshanath said, "I receive the rice and pulses from the begging there." On this Jwala Devi said that I offer water for heating. You should bring rice and pulse to begging.
Guru Gorakhnath went to Gorakhpur situated in the foothills of the Himalayas from here. Here, seeing a captivating place at the confluence of the Rapti and Rohini rivers, he kept his Akshaya beggar there and became absorbed in spiritual practice. Later on, he established the monastery and temple there, since then it has remained the center of reverence for millions and crores of people from all over the country, especially North India.
This reverence is also seen in the Khichdi fair which takes a month from Makar Sankranti. Apart from the students of Sanskrit College located in the temple premises, it is also given to other needy people. Gorakshpeetha has once again created history by cutting the temple in the public interest.
