Nath Yogis’ Encounters with Islam

Far from modern ideologies focusing on fixed ascriptive religious identities, the Shaivite ascetic sect of the Nath Yogis had a long tradition of close relationships with Islam. This article will focus on two levels where this lack of concern for encompassing religious labels manifests: the doctrinal vernacular texts and the Nath hagiographic tradition. A surprising text edited under the name of ‘Mohammad Bodh’ by contemporary Nath authorities will be presented. It is composed of short elliptical verses, which have to be recited during the month of Ramadan and are thus intended for Muslim Yogis. However, more familiar to the mainstream Nath Yogis are the many narratives that function as carriers of sectarian identity. Several of them present heroes characterised by a somewhat ambiguous relation to Islam; they may be blessing Muslim rulers or be granted a dual identity (like Ratan Baba and Raja Bakshar), a shifting identity (like Guga), or come from a Muslim background (Han?i Bha?ang). In conclusion, we may even think that fluid boundaries with Islam were part of the religious identity of the Nath Yogis.