ADINATH :1ST NATH OF NATH SAMPRADAY

Nāth tradition has it that the great yogī Goraksh  nātha founded the Nāth yogī order  disseminated his teachings through 12 panths and 9 naths are the core  yogis of the nath panth forming the base of the same. There is no clear distinction between shiv and Gorakh amongst yogis. The tradition of nine Nāths to which today’s Nāth Sampradāya traces its origins has more names in common with those found in early lists of siddhas than in early lists of Nāths. The siddhas were semidivine humans who had become perfected (siddha) as a result of their mastery of yoga, alchemy ( rasāyana), and other esoteric means.

First in most of the lists of nine Nāths is Ādinātha (“First Nāth”), who is identified with Śiva. While the Nāth tradition is and always has been predominantly Śaiva, recent centuries have seen an increased emphasis on this aspect of their identity. Shiva ( Śiva, meaning "The Auspicious One"), also known as Mahadeva ("Great God"), is one of the main Gods of Hinduism. He is the ADINATH , one of the three most influential denominations in contemporary hinduismHe is one of five forms of God in the Destroyer" or "the Transformer" among the trimurti, the Hindu Trinity of the primary aspects of the divine.At the highest level, Shiva is regarded limitless, transcendent, unchanging and formless. Shiva also has many benevolent and fearsome forms.In benevolent aspects, he is depicted as an omniscient yogi who lives an ascetic life on kailash.

 Nāths depicted in medieval miniatures do not sport the archetypally Śaiva rudrākṣ seed necklaces and tripuṇḍraash forehead markings that are commonplace today. Gorakhnāth nowadays is often identified with Śhiva, supplanting Ādinātha. A popular Hindi Nāth → mantrais oṃ śiv gorakh.

The Sanskrit term Adi Nath means "first" or "original Lord," and is therefore a synonym for Shiva and, beyond mental concepts, the "Supreme Reality" as originator of all things. G.W. Briggs noted, "although Adinath may have been a yogi preceding Matsyendranath,(this is just citataion but according to belief  he is shiva) he is now identified with Shiva, and the name is used to trace the origin of the (Nath) sect to the greatest of yogis, the god Shiva