Why did a legendary yogi stop the rain? May 1 marked Guru Gorakhnath Jayanti, the birth of Gorakhnath—a medieval master of haṭhayoga whose teachings continue to shape yoga traditions today. Counted among the Eighty-Five Mahasiddhas (advanced practitioners) featured in this spectacular image from our collection, Gorakhnath is revered by both Buddhists and Hindus across the Himalayas, and beyond. In Patan, Nepal, this day falls in the middle of the chariot festival of Macchendranath, who was Gorakhnath’s own teacher. According to legend, when Gorakhnath once came to Nepal, he was met with disrespect. In response, he trapped the rain-bringing serpent spirits—known as nagas—beneath his meditation cushion, causing a devastating drought. To restore the rains, King Narendradeva and his priest, Bandhudatta, devised a plan: they traveled to India to bring Macchendranath back to Nepal. The moment Gorakhnath saw his guru arrive, he rose to pay his respects—releasing the nagas and ending the ...