Gorakhnath is considered a mahayogi, or great yogi, and is credited with founding the Kanphata yogis, an order of ascetics who placed a strong emphasis on the disciplines of Haṭha Yoga; a school of body mastery exercises for spiritual perfection.

Originally, it is said that Parvathi dyed a cloth red-ochre with her blood, and gave it to Gorakhnath as his loincloth. Legend has it that after emerging from the lotus, a terrified Visnu went to Patala where Gorakhnath was to implore his aid to create the world from the waste of the waters. Gorakhnath gave him dhuni (ashes) from his eternal fire, after which Visnu, Brahma and Shiva became his first disciples.

Gorakhnath and his disciples had the biggest effect and inspiration on the long-standing Nath tradition. The tradition began from Adi Nath, Lord Shiva himself by giving it to his bride, Parvati Nath on the seashore. Afterwards, Shanmuk Nath, Ganesh, and Nandi Nath received it from her. Meanwhile, Lokeshwar, disguised as a fish, who came to be known as Matsyendranath, Gorakhnath's guru, overheard it and continued to spread the original sayings of Adi Nath.

His belief was that the pursuit of Truth is vital for spiritual development and the discovery of one's own spiritual truths. Gorakhnath is also credited with producing the earliest books on Laya yoga, a kind of yoga in which the individual dissolves and merges with the Supreme Consciousness. Laya is a Sanskrit word that means "dissolve." These practices lead the yogi to samadhi, which is the greatest state of union with the Divine.

Kanphata Yogis were an Indian religious order that worshipped Shiva. Kanphata means "ear split" because they put large earrings (kundals) in the hollows of their ears, causing them to enlarge. They blended aspects of mysticism, magic, and alchemy into their worldview. They were well-known for their Haṭha Yoga practice. Haṭha literally means "force," referring to the set of physical methods or asanas of this style.

During the last phases of a yogi's initiation as a kanphata, their gurus used a double-edged blade to split the hollows of their ears. It is stated that by doing so, a nadi of the cartilage splits, which aids in the attainment of yogic mystic abilities. Their kundal earrings would weigh up to sixty grammes and measure around seven inches in diameter, and were fashioned of clay, gold, and occasionally rhinoceros horn. They travel all over Central Asia with a rudraksha bead and rosaries around their neck, a langoti (loin cloth) knotted around their waist with sheep wool, a janeo or holy thread worn on their torso, and khappar (a bowl) fire tongs, and satchel. They have the tripund on their foreheads with a pagdi (turban). Women were numerously seen in this tradition.

These yogis are casteless, with just two divisions within the order: the Aughars, who are in the early phases of their initiation before becoming Yogis and believe that initiation should take place while they are young, during the auspicious months of Math, Phagun, and Cait according to Hindu calendar.

Kanphatan Yogis can be seen today, scattered throughout India and some parts of other nations. Their norms today vary greatly between each other but tethered by the original tradition we call yoga today.