Kanifnath is one of the nine nathas (nine gurus) who promoted the ancient sect known as Nathapantha. Information about the life of Kanifnath is found in Nathalilamrita. He was the son of the Kshatriya king of Bhadradesha, Surath. His mother’s name was Bhamini. The son was born to the couple with the blessings of Guru Jaladharnatha, also known as Hadipa in Punjabi. When Kanifnath grew up to adulthood, he renounced the mundane world and began wandering with his preceptor, Jalandharnath. The sect established by Kanifnath was more akin to those of Tantra, one sect of which is known as Vamamarga. The core of this sect is based on the worship of Shakti (female divinity). There is a very interesting episode that explains the spread of this sect in Bengal. When Kanifnath’s Guru, Jalandharnatha, during his pilgrimage, reached Bengal, the king’s mother, Mainavati, was so inspired by him that she became his disciple, and urged her son, King Gopichand to respect the wandering saint. Instead of