Updated 3 November 2026
- Both are remembered as rulers who gave up thrones for the Nath path
- Bhartrihari is linked with Ujjain and with famous verse collections
- Gopichand is remembered in ballads sung across Bengal and beyond
- Nath lore connects both names with the mountain of Girnar
Nath tradition loves a story of renunciation, and none is told more often than that of the king who walks out of his palace. Two names above all: Bhartrihari and Gopichand.
Bhartrihari, king and poet
Bhartrihari is traditionally remembered as a king of Ujjain who became a poet and then a yogi. Verse collections on worldly life, love and renunciation, known together as the Shatakatraya, are attributed to him, though scholars debate how much he wrote and when he lived. Nath tradition counts him among its great figures and tells of his discipleship under Gorakhnath.
The legends dwell on a moment of disillusion — a love that proved false — which turned a ruler toward the path of renunciation.
Gopichand, the prince of Bengal
Gopichand is remembered as a king of Bengal whose mother, Maynamati, urged him to take up the yogi’s life. In the songs about him he leaves wealth and wives behind to follow his teacher, Jalandharnath, and wanders as an ascetic. His ballads were carried far beyond Bengal by itinerant singers and remain one of the most affecting parts of Nath folklore.
What the stories share
- A crisis that exposes the emptiness of power
- A teacher who appears at the right moment
- A hard training, often with begging and silence
- A return — sometimes to the family — that shows how much has changed
These are tales told for their meaning. Historians treat the details cautiously, and versions differ by region.
The Girnar connection
Both names are remembered in the lore of Girnar, together with the Navnath and the 84 Siddhas who are said to have walked its slopes. That is part of why the mountain’s highest peak bears the name of Gorakhnath. Before you climb, you can read the story of Gorakhnath’s own guru, and for a quiet room at the foot of the hill call +91 96274 27283.
Frequently asked questions
Who was Bhartrihari?
A king of Ujjain remembered as a poet who became a Nath yogi, with the Shatakatraya traditionally attributed to him.
Who was Gopichand?
A king of Bengal remembered in ballads for renouncing his throne to follow the yogi Jalandharnath.
Are these stories historical?
They are legends with variants; scholars debate details such as dates and authorship.
More from the notebook
Planning a stay near Girnar?
Ring the office for rooms and dates at Bhavnath Taleti.
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