The Significance of Tantric Sects for Drum Practice in the Central Himalayas

Gorakhnāth is a tantric figure revered by a number of Hindu Shaivite sects. These sects exist particularly in Nepal, but are also found elsewhere in, or near, the Himalayas in parts of northern India and Bengal. In addition, others in the Himalayas see Gorakhnāth as particularly influential for their religious lives. For instance, Maskarinec (1995:7) mentions that shamans in Nepal regard Gorakhnāth as the "highest" spiritual authority. The suffix '-nāth' literally means "lord" or "master" and thus is used in many contexts. Most broadly this suffix is used in association with the names of specific temples and their principal deities, such as Kedārnāth, Tungnāth, or Bodināth, highlighting the reverence people hold for these places of worship and their deities. In addition many people more generally refer to "Nāths" as those who follow the teachings of Gorakhnāth. They are also referred to as Gorakhpanth - meaning the sect(s) ('panth') of Gorakhnāth.