Pashupatinath Temple:- Pashupati is considered to be the Lord over all individual souls (Jiva). Pashupati is one of the names of Shiva. Pashupati and Rudra, these are the two names of Shiva from the time of the Vedas.
Pashupati and Rudra, are the two polarities of Shiva: Pashupati is called “Pati”, so guardian of the Pashus, so the creatures. “Pashu” means creature, animal, creature. Shiva is Pashupati, guardian of all creatures. And Shiva is Rudra, the roaring one who transforms everything negative. Pashupati – Lord of all creatures, a surname of Shiva.
Pashupati consists of two words: Pashu – Pashu means an animal, Pashu is also called creature, Pashu is also called individual soul. And Pati means master, Pati is also called a husband, but Pati is above all master and ruler. Pashupati is the master of all creatures, the master of all animals.
That is to say, God is Pashupati and God cares about all creatures. Ultimately, we do not have to worry so much about ourselves, we know, that God is Pashupati, and God cares about us.
Pashupati is the name of Shiva, who was Lord of the Beasts. He is one of the eight Rudras. He is the one who has a fireplace. The name “Pashupati” is also commonly derived from Lord of the creatures. The Rigveda has related Pashupati as protector of the cattle.
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On a seal discovered in connection with the civilization of the Indus Valley, Pashupati was also referred to a figure, probably a deity surrounded by animals. Parallels were also drawn to the Celtic, horned god (Cernunnos).
In the archaeological site of Mohenjodaro in the Indus Valley, a seal was discovered, indicating a possible representation as a “yogi” or a “proto-Shiva figure”. Some observers describe the figure as sitting, in a traditional legged yogic posture, with his hands on his knees. And again, the Pashupati figure is described with three faces, sitting in a yogic posture, knees out, and feet together.
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Pashupati’s posture is considered speculative, it does not seem to be recognizable on the seal. Whether the figure has three faces, sits in a yogic posture, or even whether the figure should represent a human being. It is still possible that there are echoes of iconographic Shiva themes, such as the crescent shapes resembling a bull’s horns.
Pashupati is the surname of Shiva. Especially in the Vedas, Shiva likes to be called Pashupati. And in the earliest depictions of Shiva, he is surrounded by animals, deer, antelopes, etc. Pashupati – Shiva is the guardian of living beings.
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In a way, God is, in any case, God protects us and we can turn to God. You also find this with Krishna, there is Krishna Gopala, he protects the cows. He is also Lokapala, he protects the whole world. So God is also Pashupati, the guardian of all living things. Pashupati is one of the better-known names of Shiva.
Pashupati is the name of Shiva in its friendly aspects. Shiva is sometimes depicted with different animals: deer, cows, snakes, birds. Sometimes with Ganas (ghosts sometimes called “demons”).
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This symbolizes that God cares about everyone: humans and animals. We do not need to “earn” God’s grace – so God is for us. It is also said of Shiva that he fulfills all our wishes – without wondering if somebody “deserves” it.
The name Pashupati also symbolizes that all creatures are children of God, that no creature should prevail over others. Pashupati here has a similar meaning as Jesus as the Good Shepherd.
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A good shepherd takes care of each of his animals, as Jesus himself describes in the parable of the lost sheep. So everyone can feel protected by God. The name Shiva is also called “the good, the loving, the auspicious”. Other names of Shiva in his friendly aspects are Shambhu and Shankara.
God Pashupatinath (God of Animals) is the guardian deity of Nepal. The temple of Pashupatinath is the holiest and the oldest shrine of Lord Shiva. It is situated on the eastern bank of the holy river Bagmati, about three miles northeast of Kathmandu city.
It is a double-roofed pagoda with gold-coated brass. The main gate, including three other gates, is made of silver. The world-famous Lingum (a phallus) of Pashupatinath is located in the temple.
The big gilded figure of Nandi (a bull), the vehicle of Lord Shiva, is in front of the main gate of the temple. It is seated on a stone pedestal flanked by the golden trident.
The pagoda-style temple with golden roofs and silver doors is famous throughout the world. Pashupati is one of many names by which Lord Shiva is addressed. He is also known as Maheshwar, Mahadev, Rudra, Bholenath, etc.
Pashupatinath is considered the god of gods. The importance and position of Pashupatinath in the Hindu religion have been described in all ancient scriptures.
He is worshipped as the symbol of unity by all Hindus of the world. The very name of Pashupatinath is the symbol of culmination (union) of all sects like Vaishnava, Shiva, and Shakti.
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This post is dedicated to the Pashupatinath temple in Nepal, the biggest temple of Lord Shiva in the world. Pashupatinath temple of Nepal is one of the biggest Hindu temples of Lord Shiva in the world. It is situated in the Kathmandu Valley on the banks of the sacred Bagmati River in the eastern part of Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal.
Pashupatinath temple Nepal is considered one of the holiest pilgrimage destinations for all Hindus in the world. The temple served as the seat of the national deity, Lord Pashupatinath until Nepal was secularized. The Pashupatinath temple in Nepal is listed on the UNESCO World Heritage Sites list.
The biggest temple of Lord Shiva in the world is located in the capital of Nepal. The temple of Lord Shiva, Pashupatinath, with a tiered golden roof & silver doors, is famous for its superb architecture.
Sadhus (holy men) from many different countries especially from India, visit the temple to pay homage to Lord Shiva. There are Ghats on the banks of the Bagmati River. Hindus believe that dying and being cremated in Pashupatinath and having one’s ashes scattered in the Bagmati River will give a Hindu salvation and release from the cycles of birth and rebirth.
Have a peek at Hindus’ life, death, and tradition by visiting this holy ground. These are rectangular stone platforms used for the cremation of dead bodies while the square ones are for ritual baths.
It is one of the largest Hindu temple complexes in South Asia with hundreds of Shiva lingams, and shrine icons of various Hindu gods, and goddesses inside.
Pashupatinath temple Nepal is the biggest temple of Lord Shiva in the world. Pashupatinath is the holiest temple in the entire Hindu world. It is also renowned for its wooden and erotic carvings on the struts.
The sculptured figures of the river goddesses Ganga and Yamuna in the Pashupatinath temple are symbols of sacredness. Pashupatinath is the holiest destination for all the Hindu pilgrims in the world.
There are five Lingum images of Shiva, which are collectively called ‘Panchmukhi’. There are statues, shrines, and temples dedicated to other deities in the complex.
This Pashupatinath temple Nepal site occupies an area of about 281 hectares. The main entrance of this Pashupatinath temple in Nepal is on the western side facing a small street of Deopatan market. Entrance to the temple precinct is forbidden to non-Hindus.
Visitors will be permitted to view the temple from the east bank of the Bagmati river, as an entrance into the temple is strictly forbidden to all non-Hindus. In the middle of spring (Feb.-March) every year, the festival called Shivaratri is celebrated.
The word Shivaratri means the holy night of Lord Shiva. On this day many devotees visit Pashupatinath temple to burn the ceremonial fire. Behind the temples are the cremation grounds.
The best view is from the terrace on the wooded hill across the river. The large gilded triple-roofed temple was built in 1696 AD though 300 years earlier there was a structure on this site. The Bagmati River is lined with Dharmasalas and cremation Ghats including a royal Ghat reserved exclusively for members of the royal family.
There is usually a cremation in progress on one of the platforms by the river, regarded as holy as it flows into the sacred Ganges. There are many occasions when the faithful take ritual purificatory baths in the river.
One of the most colorful is the women’s festival of Teej when dressing in their finest red and gold saris hundreds of women, laughing and singing converge on Pashupatinath temple in Nepal.
Most of the devotees spend the night offering prayers to Shiva. This festival attracts tens of thousands of pilgrims from India, besides the locals. Historically, from the pre-Christian era, this temple seems to have its origin way back in the early Kirat period. Stone sculptures found in the vicinity support the antiquity of this place.
The richly- ornamented pagoda, houses the sacred linga or phallic symbol of Lord Shiva.
Chronicles indicate the temple’s existence before 400 A.D, but a shrine may have stood here nearly 1000 years before that. Legend says that Shiva once took the form of an antelope and sported unknown in the forest on Bagmati river’s east bank. The gods later caught up with him and grabbing him by the horn, forced him to resume his divine form.
The broken horn was worshiped as a linga and over time was buried and lost. Centuries later an astonished herdsman found one of his cows showering the earth with milk. Digging deep at the site, he discovered the divine linga of Pashupatinath.
The Pashupatinath temple of Nepal has been renovated and improved over the centuries. Across the river, one can also visit the temple of Guhyeshwori and a classic 6th-century Ek Mukhi “one-faced” linga of Shiva.
Pashupati is a spiritual name
Pashupati is also a spiritual name that aspirants can be given in a spiritual ritual (Nama Diksha). Pashupati as a spiritual name means:
- Be aware, that God cares about you
- Be aware: God cares about all creatures: humans and animals, physical and subtle beings, all are creatures of God
- It is also your task to take care of the creatures: take care of those whom others care less about; Sick people, people in need, animals, etc.
Pashupatinath temple near Kathmandu in Nepal is one of the most fascinating temple complexes. It is one of Hinduism’s most important religious sites known for its beautiful pagoda architecture, lively rituals, and dying and burial culture.
For many Shiites, the temple is one of the most important places of worship of Shiva and belongs to some of the Jyotirlingas. The Pashupatinath Temple Complex comprises a sprawling expanse that stretches along the Bagmati River. Dedicated to this sacred site is a manifestation of the Hindu god Shiva, namely Pashupati, the lord of the beasts.
Many Hindus consider the Pashupatinath Temple one of the holiest places in Nepal. Accordingly, you will meet very many believers and sadhus between the ornate temples, statues, and shrines. (Sadhus are the “holy men” of Hinduism committed to an ascetic life). Shivaist sadhus, usually with horizontal lines on their foreheads, carry a trident in their hands.
Sadhus do not strive for better but strives to grasp the higher worlds. They are not burned at the stake, like others. They are usually dressed in clean, catchy orange clothes. Some demonstrate asanas and collect money from tourists, others quietly listen to a tape recorder with Saiva hymns, others still smoke holy Shivaists hemp and practice yoga.
Opposite the terraces is the playground where Milki Baba, the holy elder, who eats only milk, usually sits. Above it is a plaque in English “The great saint Milha-baba is sitting here” with a brief biography. You may also witness one of the frequent burial rites in which the dead are being cremated on the riverside under the open sky.
The temple is one of the 275 Paadal Petra Sthalams (sacred abodes of Shiva on the mainland). Previously, only those who were Hindu by birth were allowed to enter the temple. The other people had to content themselves with observing the temple from the other side of the river.
However, these rules have been relaxed due to numerous incidents. If he is in the destiny of the individual, he will begin and complete his journey until reaching these steps without encountering obstructions. In his way, he considers himself to be under the loving grace of Rudra.
A ramble through the sprawling complex leads past centuries-old temples and shrines where the Hindu god Shiva is worshiped. The imposing main temple of the complex is unfortunately only accessible to Hindus. But also from the outside worth, the view of the over-decorated carvings of Hindu deities façade, the gold, and silver clad portal, and the two-story pagoda roof.
All other temple buildings may also be visited by visitors of other religions. Be sure to pay a visit to the temples of Vasuk and Brahma, which were built in the 9th century. You should also see the Dharmashila, a ritual stone on which believers make holy vows.
In the Pashupatinath temple, Hindu traditions are lived, so you will run across faithful pilgrims who offer their offerings. And meet colorfully dressed sadhus meditating in colorful robes in front of the temples. At the stone steps on the riverbank, the so-called ghats, you can watch the faithful at the ritual bath and local women washing clothes.
In addition, there are often pyres that are piled up by the families of the deceased according to the Hindu rituals for cremation. The dead are then prepared right by the riverside for relatives to cremate in the open air.
Every year, many elderly Hindus make a pilgrimage to Pashupatinath Temple to spend the last weeks of their lives there. They too are then cremated on the riverbank.
Thousands of Hindus arriving from far away celebrate the feast of Shivaratri every spring. The sanctuary was classified with the other sights of the Kathmandu valley as early as 1979 as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. And because of the uncontrolled building in 2003, the temple complex itself was added to the Red List of Endangered Objects.
The Temple of Pashupatinath is one of the largest and holiest temples in Nepal. Recognizable by its golden roof, the temple of Pashupatinath is at the center of a complex that includes other temples, along with other cultural treasures of the Kathmandu Valley.
Traversed by the sacred Bagmati River, on whose banks the faithful perform cremations. This temple is one of the most incredible in Nepal, due to the all-fulfilling fervor that alone is worth a visit.
On the west bank of the river are the main temples, and the entrance to the large temple courtyard is closed to non-Hindus. But the complex is visible from the other side of the river, and funeral ceremonies can be observed.
At the temples, there is a house waiting for death, where old people come. And they live there for the last weeks under the supervision of astrologers, who precisely determine the moment of their death.
The temple district of Pashupatinath is located on the banks of the opening on the Koshi in the Ganges Bagmati River. About 4 km (drive) east of Kathmandu at an altitude of about 1315 m. It is believed that a sacred site existed here already in pre-Christian times.
The Pashupati Temple was first built in the 5th century and – after its destruction in 1343 by Shamsuddin Ilyas Shah. Later founder of the Sultanate of Bengal – under the Malla Dynasty (1201-1769) renewed. During the earthquake of 2015, some smaller auxiliary shrines collapsed or were damaged.
Here Shiva is worshiped as Pashupati (Pashu = “life”, pati= god). The actual temple is accessible only to Hindus, but the outer temple district may be accessed by anyone. The temple forms a pagoda with two roof levels covered with gilded copper.
The four entrance doors are covered with silver plates. In the Cella (garbhagriha) inside the temple, there is an approximately 1.80 m high four-faced Shiva Lingam with a diameter of about 1.10 m. It may only be touched by four priests (bhattas), who must always come from the south of India. There are also numerous low-ranking priests (bhandaris) entrusted with auxiliary tasks.
The almost naked or dressed in orange and covered with ashes sadhus are among the emblematic figures of the temple. These men have renounced life in society. As believers among the faithful, they focus solely on their prayers to the god Shiva.
In the forest that overlooks the temple and on the edge of the Gaths, a myriad of monkeys have chosen their homestead. And are begging passers-by for food, adding to the mystical character of the place. In the depths of the park on the hill is the Gokarna Nath temple, guarded by police, forbidding tourists to retreat from the path to the right and left.
Then to the river around the bend is a large complex of Guheshwari (the vagina temple, it is believed that the vagina of Sati-the first wife of Shiva had dropped here and emerged as the temple).
The Bagmati divides the plant into two large areas. On the right bank of the Bagmati are the Pashupatinath Temple and the Cremation Sites, the Arya Ghats (cremation chambers of the higher castes). And the Surya Ghats (cremation chambers of the lower castes). This place has special significance for many believers as a place for the “last rites”. It is considered desirable to have his body burned here.
The corpse, usually shrouded in yellow shawls, is carried to the cremations where a pyre is set up. Before the incineration, the body is sprayed with the water of the sacred river, or the feet are washed in the water. The body is then covered from above with damp straw. If the family can afford it, the precious scented sandalwood is used in addition to normal wood for combustion.
The eldest son then walks around the pyre five times clockwise (pradakshina), corresponding to the sacred number five, which in Hinduism represents the five elements of earth, water, fire, wind, and akasha, the ether. , he (with the priest) lights the pyre near his head with a straw tuft soaked in liquid butter (ghee).
But also other places on the pyre are lit. The dead man’s family and friends remain nearby while the corpse burns, while a man in a white robe with a stick repeatedly straightens the pyre to burn everything. The dead man’s feet first extend beyond the pyre and are then pushed into the fire as the burn progresses. After about four hours, the body is burned to ashes.
The ashes and incompletely burned logs are pushed into the river. Unburnt jewelry etc. is removed from the ashes before. Behind the fires, there are caves for hermits. Women come to the caves and bring food. On the other side of the temples is a shelter organized by Mother Teresa, where beggars and homeless people receive food.
At the shelter are several posh – Indian temples in the form of candles. Behind the main thing is the place where Hagar Baba and his students feed the animals every day. Pashupatinath – a favorite place where sadhus gather – errant yogis. On the other side of the river are 11 small temples of Shiva with lingas, behind which there are galleries of Shavian linga and yoni.
There are 108 lingas in the complex. You climb the stairs to the monkey park, where hundreds of monkeys jump and hang on the branches. Pashupati is the patron of animals, so the monkeys are comfortable at the temples of the complex.
In earlier times, sometimes more or less voluntarily, the widow of a deceased man followed her husband to death at the stake (sati). However, this practice, already handed down in Roman sources, has been banned since the 19th century.
The Pashupatinath Temple is the most important Hindu shrine for all Hindus in Nepal and also for many in India and the rest of the world. If you are already in the area, you should also pay a visit to the bustling market square surrounding the temple complex. There, enterprising merchants offer various religious items – from incense sticks to prayer beads to handmade god figures.
History of Pashupatinath
The tradition claims that this place is revered from time immemorial. And the lingam, which stands in the temple, is miraculous and emerged from the earth by itself. There are other legends about its appearance. It is about three feet high with four faces.
All these faces have different names and meanings. The four faces depicted in the Bhu lingam (appearing with itself), also called Chatur-mukh, look at the four directions of the world. It is believed that there is a fifth face located above the four faces. The fifth face is invisible, with eyes without eyelids, also known as Nirakar(shapeless). The names of each face of the god Pashupati:
1) Aghor – south-facing face
2) Tatpurusha or Jagannath – face facing east.
3) Vamadeva – a face facing the north.
4) Sadhyojata – a face facing west.
5) The fifth face of the god Pashupati is known as Ishan. This face is invisible. This face is the main face of the god Pashupatinath. This person is also known as Shiva-Shakti.
These faces are also defined as the symbol of the four dharmas (from the most famous pilgrimage sites for Hindus) and the four Vedas (the holy books of the Hindus). Images of Vishnu, Surya, Devi, and Ganesh are also placed in the shrine of the temple.
In the annals, Pashupatinath is first mentioned in 477 and included in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1979. The modern main temple was built in the XIX century, on the site of the earlier ones. The Shiva bull, Nandi, is 300 years older, and the stone lingam is even older.
But not older than the 14th century, because at that time the temple and lingam were destroyed by the Moguls. On the territory of the complex, you will find more ancient monuments, such as a statue of the Buddha of the 7th century (at the end of the cremation ghats, near the Raj Rajeshwari temple). Or lingas of the 5th century (on the terraces of the eastern bank of the river).
Also in the complex are 108 small linga-temples. In the northeast corner of the temple courtyard, there is a small pagoda, Vasuki temple, king of the Nagas. Vasuki above the waist has the shape of a Naga (mythical snake), while the lower part is a tangle of snake bodies.
Be prepared for the fact that you will not find such a several Shivalingas, symbols of Shiva, in any other temple in Nepal. The lingam, or linga, is the male sexual organ, which serves as symbolic support for Hindus and embodies the creative power of a deity.
It is not known for sure when Pashupatinath was founded. According to tradition, it was built by King Pashupreksha of the Somadeva Dynasty, in the 3rd century BC. But the earliest historical records date back to the 13th century. The Shiva-Pashupata sect is likely related to the foundation of the temple.
Pashupati was a tutelage deity of the ancient rulers of the Kathmandu valley. In AD 605 Amshuvarman was favored for having touched the feet of the god. At the end of the Middle Ages, many imitations of the temple had already been built. Such as one in Bhaktapur (1480), another in Lalitpur (Patan, 1566), and another in Benares (early nineteenth century).
The original temple was repeatedly destroyed and rebuilt. The current main building was erected in 1697 by King Bhupatindra Malla after the former was destroyed by termites.
Around this two-story building, there are countless smaller temples. These include the complex of Vixnite temples with a 14th century Ram temple and the Guhyeshwari Temple which is mentioned in an 11th-century manuscript.
The priests who carry out the services in this temple are Brahmin priests of South Indian origin for more than 350 years. The priests of Pashupatinath are called Bhattas and the high priest is called Mool Bhatt or Raval.
The high priest reports only to the king (although there is no king in Nepal) and had to inform him about matters related to the temple regularly. It is said that this tradition was initiated by the sage Shankaracharya in the eighth century, who sought a unification of the different states of Bharatam (Unified India) promoting cultural exchange.
It was also given place to the Nambudiri Brahmins of Kerala to practice the rituals. The Maharaja of Travancore selected a priest and sent him to Pashupatinath.
The unique characteristic of this temple is that only four priests can touch the deity. However, this tradition was broken after the historic political revolution in Nepal, with the demolition of the monarchy and the establishment of a secular republic.
The new government allowed the Nepalese priests to worship in the temple, thus abandoning centuries of the old tradition. There were widespread protests on this issue and many thought it was against the religious tradition.
Beliefs of its origin
Several stories deal with the origin of Pashupatinath. One of them says that Shiva and Parvati arrived in the valley of Kathmandu and on their trip they rested on Bagmati. Shiva was so impressed by its beauty and by the nearby forest that they decided to become deer and take a walk through this forest.
Many places in the Kathmandu valley are identified as places that Shiva visited during this time as deer. After a while, the people and the gods began looking for Shiva. Finally, and after several complications, they found him in the forest, but he refused to abandon it.
What he did announce is that the place where he lived on the shores of Bagmati in the form of a deer would be known as Pashupatinath, the Lord of all Animals. It is said that everyone who came to the place and saw the lingam that appeared there would not be reborn as an animal.
It is also said that the other gods, in their attempts to bring Shiva back to his usual state, attempted to capture the antelope. In their attempts, a part of the antelope’s horn broke and was buried in the ground.
Years later, a cow from one of the region’s herders began to soak the land, where a part of Shiva was buried with her milk. When the earth in the area was excavated, a Shiva lingam (representative symbol) was discovered. This divine part of Lord Shiva became an object of worship and soon a temple was established in the area.
According to Gopalraj Vamsavali, the oldest chronicle in Nepal, the temple was built by Supuspa Deva, the king of Linchchhavi. According to the stone inscription erected by Jayadeva XI in the courtyard of Pashupatinath in 753 AD, he was the ruler of 39 generations.
Another chronicle reports that the Pashupatinath Temple had the form of a Devalaya (Hindu temple) before Sapulpa. Should have had the five-story temple built on the same site. As time passed, there was a need to repair and reanimate the temple. It is known that the temple was rebuilt by a medieval king named Shivadeva. It was then renovated by Ananta Malla, who added a roof.
Another story is about the incarnation of Parvati as Sati, who gave up her life because her father did not respect Shiva. Afflicted by this loss, Shiva wandered the world carrying her body.
In those places where a piece of her body fell, a temple was established, including one in Guhyeshvari next to the Pashupatinath complex. This procedure is also followed by other temples around India, which were sanctified by Shankaracharya.
One version of other legend is told in Nepalamahatmya and in Himvatkhanda. Shiva fled from Varanasi and the other gods and went to Mrigasthali, the forest on the other side of the Bagmati River. He fell asleep with his consort Parvati in the form of a gazelle.
When the gods discovered him and tried to take him back to Varanasi. Shiva jumped to the other side of the river, where he divided into four pieces one of his horns. After this, Shiva became manifest as Pashupati (Lord of the Animals) in a four-sided lingam (chaturmukha).
A legend similar to this involves a cow granting desires called Kamadhenu. This cow had his shelter in a cave of the Chandravan mountain. And every morning went down to the place where the lingam was buried and poured her milk to the ground.
After ten thousand years, some people saw Kamadhenu pouring milk to the ground every day in the same place and began to wonder what that would be. So they dug the earth and discovered a beautiful shiny lingam. After they had stared at him, the people disappeared into the lingam, freeing themselves from sin and the cycle of rebirth.
With time, more and more people disappeared from the lingam, which motivated a great concern in Brhama.
In the form of Buddha, Vixnu came from Saurashtra (northeastern India) and meditated on the Mandihatu mountain amid four fires and with the sun as the fifth fire above his head. The meditation was so intense that it created the Manimati River.
Buddha also delighted Parvati, who appeared to him in the form of the Buddhist goddess Vajrayogini and offered the Buddha a gift. Buddha wished there were always Buddhist people in the sacred land of the Kathmandu valley.
Parvati gave the Buddha’s blessing and said that in this holy land of Nepal the devotees of Shiva and Buddhists would live in harmony. Then Parvati asked the Buddha to place a link at the confluence of the Bagmati and Manimati rivers. And Buddha then established the Karunikeshvara there.
The gods built a large gold building to stay near Pashupatinath and called it Maheshvarepuri. The city of gold and rubies was called Pashupatipuri and in its center had the lingam of Pashupatinath shining brightly. At the end of the Dwapara Yuga, the city of gold became stone, wood, and earth. In the Kali Yuga, the lingam had buried deep in the ground and the gods returned to live in its skies.
Temple architecture
The Pashupatinath complex lies in the center of the suburban town of Deopatan. The main temple, Pashupatinath proper, stands in the middle of an open courtyard. It is a square pagoda, with two ceilings, 23.6 meters high, built on a single-level plinth.
All the characteristics of the so-called Nepalese pagoda style are found in Pashupatinath. The area of Pashupathinath covers 264 hectares, including 518 temples and monuments. The main temple is located in a fortified courtyard protected by Semi-Military police
Architecturally the temple is built in a Nepalese pagoda style, and all the features of a Nepalese pagoda can be seen here as the cubic construction on the beautifully carved wooden beams with wooden reliefs representing members of the family of Shiva.
Such as Parvati, Ganexa, Kumar, and the Yoginis, as well as Hanuman, Rama, Sita, Lakshmana, and other gods and goddesses of the Ramayana. The two levels of ceilings are copper coated with gold. The temple has four main doors, all covered with silver plates, and a golden pinnacle (Gajur), which is a symbol of religious thought.
The western gate has a statue of a great bull or Nandi, which is plated in bronze. On each side of each door, there are niches of various sizes, which contain gold-painted images of guardian deities. It contains a 1.8-meter black lingam with four sides (chaturmukha), with representations of Pashupati and images of Vishnu, Surya, Devi, and Ganesa. Vasukinath is located east of Pashupatinath.
In the vast complex of Pashupatinath, there are many more temples, shrines, and statues, some the ancient and important. To the south of the main temple, for example, is Chadeshvar, a lingam with inscriptions from the Licchavi period, dating from the seventh century.
To the north, there is a temple of Brahma of century IX. On the south side is Dharmashila, a stone where sacred oaths are given and where there are statues of several Shah kings.
In the northeast corner of the temple, the courtyard stands the small pagoda temple of Vasuki, the king of the Nagas. Vasuki is shaped like a naga (the mystical serpent) from the waist up, while the underside is composed of a tangle of snake bodies.
According to local belief, Vasuki came to reside there to protect Pashupati. It is common to see devotees walk around and venerate Vasuki before entering the main sanctuary.
The preferred place for women to bathe is Gauri Ghat, located to the north. On the left bank of the Bagmati, opposite the main temple, there are 18 votive shrines, the Shivalaya Pandra, built to hold lanyards in memory of the dead between 1859 and 1869. In the complex, there is a nursing home for the Missionaries of Charity, the Catholic congregation founded by Mother Teresa of Calcutta.
Daily Rituals of Pashupatinath Temple are as follows:
- At 4:00 am: The west door opens for tourists.
- 8:30 am: After the arrival of priests, idols of God are bathed and cleaned, and clothes and ornaments are changed for the day.
- 9:30 am: breakfast is offered to the Lord.
- 10:00 am: Then those wishing to worship are welcome. It is also called pharmayashi worship, under which people ask the priest to perform a special pooja for their specific reasons. Pooja continues until 1:45 pm.
- 1:50 pm: Lunch is offered to Lord in the main Pashupati temple.
- At 2:00 pm: The morning prayer ended.
- 5:15 pm: In the main Pashupati Temple, the evening Aarti started.
- At 6:00 pm: Ganga Aarti is the center of an attraction along the banks of the Bagmati. This aarti can be seen only on Saturday, Monday, and on special occasions. Ganga Aarti, along with Shiva’s tandava hymn written by Ravana, is done on Ganga Aarti evening.
- 7:00 pm: The door is closed.
Abhishek in Pashupatinath temple
Abhishek in the Pashupatinath temple starts from 9 am to 11 pm. This time the temple is opened by all four doors. For Abhishek, devotees have to pay for a slip of 1100 rupees which can be taken from the counter. It includes many prayers including Rudrabhishek.
The special thing is that Abhishek is done in the same direction in which direction the face of the deity is visible. It is written in the ticket about which line to be used for the Abhishek in the temple. If the ticket is written in advance, then the devotees have to stand in line in front of the Eastern entrance. At this time priests will consecrate the eastern face of Shivling.
Entrance to Pashupatinath temple
The holy Pashupatinath temple has four gateways in four geographical directions. The main entrance is situated in the west and there is the only one which is opened every day while the other three doors are closed during the festival. Nepalese migrants and Hindus are allowed to enter the temple premises only.
The practice that protects Jain and Sikh communities with Indian ancestors, does not allow the entry of the temple complex along with other non-Hindu tourists from the Hindu West. Other tourists are allowed to visit the main temple from the adjoining shore of the Bagmati river and a small fee is charged for the small temples that beautify the outer premises of the Pashupatinath temple premises.
Any devotee is not allowed to go to the innermost sanctuary. However, they are allowed to see the idol from the premises of the exterior sanctuary.
Interesting Facts about the Pashupatinath temple
1. Pashupatinath temple is not only religiously important. It is historically in existence since 400 A. D.
2. Pashupatinath Temple is located on the west bank of the Bagmati river. This temple is considered a masterpiece of Hindu architecture. There is a building in the main temple that has golden peaks. It is a cube in shape and four main doors are covered in a silver sheet. Apart from this, a two-storeyed roof was constructed from gold-covered pure copper. The main attraction of this temple is the huge image of Shivling and Shiva’s bull Nandi.
3. This is considered to be the human form of Lord Shiva. It is seen in the form of an incomplete statue that is tuned to the earth below the waist. Every year this idol rises above the waist and it is believed that if the statue gets elevated above, the world then will be destroyed.
4. The priests here are called Bhatt. Bhatta is also called Bhatt here. Bhatt is a highly educated Vedic of Karnataka, a Dravidian Brahmin scholar. Unlike other Hindu temples, the priest of Pashupatinath is not hereditary. In the Rig Vedic texts started by Kashi Math in Pashupati Yoga, priests are selected from a group of scholars educated by Sri Shankaracharya Dakshinamanya Sringeri, and the education of Samveda is taken from Haridwar.
After passing through a severe test on Ved and Shiv Agavs, after being selected by the Raj Guru of the Pashupatinath temple for the priest. And fulfilling all those norms, they are rewarded and then the selected priest is sent to Kathmandu. This pujari will perform the worship of Lord Shree Pashupatinath.
5. There are many distinctive artistic paintings and sculptures in different parts of the temple. On each side of the temple’s doors, there are pictures of many deities and apsaras. Almost all these paintings have been done in gold.
6. The Arya Ghat has special significance in the Pashupatinath temple. Because it is the only place near the Ghat temple, which is considered sacred. Apart from this, this Ghat is considered very auspicious and therefore a funeral is performed here for the members of the Royal Family of Nepal.
7. Due to the earthquake in Nepal on April 25, 2015, many of the surrounding structures and the tourism sites included in the UNESCO World Heritage list turned into dust. But there is no flame on the Pashupatinath temple and the temple still stands like this. Just a few cracks appear on the walls. Local people and devotees consider it a sign of divine power. While others argue that the architecture and the strong base of the temple are the main factors that helped the Pashupatinath temple to face the effects of an earthquake.
8. This temple, situated on the banks of the Bagmati River, has spread to 240 hectares of land.
9. According to mythology, after the battle of Mahabharata, the Pandavas asked for measures to be free from the sins that they had by killing their relatives with Lord Krishna and Bhishma. Knowing only after seeing Lord Shivani, they will be free from their sins. They went to the Himalayas.
Seeing Pandavas, Lord Shiva disguised as Buffalo and concealed himself in their flocks. Bit Pandavas recognized him. So Lord Shiva buried himself deep in the ground.
As Pandavas grabbed the tail of the buffalo, the tail emerged as Kedar ath in India and its head emerged as Pashupatinath in Kathmandu. This way, Pandavas by touching the tail freed from their sins. Since Lord Shiva emerged as good in the form of an Animal, he is called Pashupatinath.
10. According to one legend, before the construction of the five-storeyed Pashupatinath temple, the shrine of the shivalinga was present as a delayed. As time passed, the work of maintenance of the temple was increasing. Therefore, the medieval king of Nepal, Shivdev, rebuilt the temple of Pashupatinath. Later, the Mallas built the major of the temple.
11. Pashupatinath has a statue of birupakshya on the back of the temple. This idol is also known as the statue of Kali n Nepal. This statue is also one of the old idols of Nepal. He is considered to be the human form of Lord Shiva.
12. Pashupatinath temple is considered the main center of the system of learning. It is believed that the four Vedas’ principles also came out from here. It is believed that Shiva Ji lives in this temple.
13. Regarding the philosophy of this temple, it is believed that if a devotee sees the Lord Shiva jyotirlinga before seeing the Nandi in the temple. He will never be born as an animal in the next life. But if a devotee sees Nandi before Jyotirling, then it is certain to be born in the form of an animal. Thus, the importance of the philosophy of this temple is also to be born again and again in the human form.
14. One of the 12 Jyotirlingas located in different parts of India is situated in Jyotirling, Nepal’s Pashupatinath temple. 12 Jyotirlingas are considered to be the body of Lord Shiva and the head is Pashupatinath Jyotirlinga.
15. The temple of Pashupatinath of Nepal is also one of the 8 major religious places of the Hindu religion. According to Shiva Purana, this Jyotirlinga is capable of fulfilling all the desires of human beings.
16. It is believed that the Jyotirlinga of Pashupatinath temple of Nepal is like the stone of Paras, which has the properties of turning iron into gold.
Pashupatinath Crematory Temple in Kathmandu and Cremation Ritual
It is important to understand that cremation in the strict sense of the word in Hindu culture is not a funeral ritual. After all, every person lives many lives, passing through different stages of “samsara” (multiple rebirths).
And if a person lived correctly, then in the next life, he proceeds to the next stage. Most of all, Hindus dream one day not to be born, going into the state of “moksha” – the completion of this cycle of rebirth and liberation from the material world. Moksha is practically synonymous with Buddhist nirvana: the highest state, the ultimate goal of human aspirations.
It is believed that one of the ways to increase the chances of reaching moksha is a burial in the right, the most sacred place. In India, this place is the city of Varanasi, and in Nepal – the temple of Pashupatinath in Kathmandu. Because of this, it attracts Hindus from different parts of the country and the world (quite often there are cases when Hindu bodies are brought from the USA or the UAE for cremation).
For reincarnation to happen correctly, the soul must be freed from the flesh, and that soul must be adequately destroyed. This is very important because otherwise, the spirit of the deceased will be relentless.
And his evil fate (the eternal wandering between the worlds of the living and the gods) will affect the members of the whole race. Therefore, the process of body burial is very important and has many details and nuances.
Interesting facts about cremation in Nepal:
1. Cremation is so attractive to Hindus because it carries the remnants of the body into all five elements important to Hinduism: water, air, earth, fire, and the ether (spirit). That is why the ash remaining after the cremation is partially dispelled and partially washed into the river.
2. Not all Hindus are subject to cremation – for example, it is not used for small children (since it is believed that children are already sinless). And they are simply lowered into the river or buried. Also, the bodies of saddle hermits are not cremated (they are also simply buried).
3. Cremation is a rather expensive treat. The price goes up to $ 200, which is a completely overwhelming amount for the vast majority of Nepal residents. The high price is due to the popularity of the place, as well as the high cost of firewood. Those who cannot afford cremation in Pashupatinath are cremated with less pathos, in less holy places. There is also a practice when the poor collect the remnants of firewood from foreign funeral pyres. In turn, representatives of wealthy families can use expensive tree varieties for cremation (for example, sandalwood).
4. It is not enough to pay money – you also need to wait for your turn for cremation, since there are many more dead than burn sites. Therefore, an electro-crematorium was built on the territory of the complex not so long ago, the creation of which is ten times cheaper. However, it is not very popular, since such cremation loses its basic meaning, which is to return the body to the five elements that generated it.
5. The bodies of the deceased representatives of the higher castes are burned north of the bridge over Bagmati. And there is a special pedestal for members of the royal family. To the south of the bridge are pedestals for the lower castes – they are depicted in the main photograph of the post.
6. In Pashupatinath, unlike the famous Indian Varanasi, cremations are still on a smaller scale, so there is no such feeling of horror and other reality. The smell of burnt meat is almost invisible.
7. The color of mourning in Hinduism is white, so all participants wear clothes made of white fabrics. As a sign of mourning for a year after the death, the “main relative” of the deceased wears white clothes.
The cremation ritual is quite complex and includes a chain of successive events.
1. It all starts with the washing of each member of the funeral ceremony. According to tradition, bathing should be performed in the river, but it is rather dirty and silted. So each gatha has special taps with water, under which all participants of the procedure are rinsed.
2. While the body is waiting for its turn to be cremated, relatives put it near the water so that it touches the feet of the deceased. It symbolizes cleansing from the sins that he amassed during his lifetime.
3. After washing the deceased, the clothes are cut off and wrapped in white cloth. Remnants of clothes are let down in Bagmati, from where local boys happily catch them.
4. By the beginning of the ceremony, all-male participants are dressed in white clothes. Women usually do not take part in the active part of the process and act only as observers.
5. The deceased, who had previously been wrapped in a bright yellow fabric, opened his face, and his relatives poured water on him five times. One of the men of the family shaves his head, leaving only a strand of hair at the back of his head, and is dressed in white clothes.
If the father has died, it is done by the eldest son, if the mother is the younger son, if the wife is the husband. He sets fire to branches from the sacred fire and walks them around the body five times (because the body goes off in five elements). After which the relatives sit next to the platform to look at the fire.
6. It is possible to kindle fire only in a natural way (that is why the electro-heater is not popular). If a woman died, they do not completely burn her pelvis, if a man – they leave a rib.
The shaven man lets this charred part of the body in Bagmati and extinguishes embers from the bucket through his left shoulder when it is over. Then he collects the remains of the ashes of the deceased, enters the river, and disperses them with a shovel through water or buries it in sludge.
7. Usually the professional “body burner” is always involved in the procedure – it belongs to the untouchable caste, the rajah house podcast. Their fate – unclean types of work, which include the burning of corpses. Unlike other untouchables, the caste of house-raja has money, which even the element of raja in the title hints at.
8. For a fire, firewood is laidespeciallyially, to which rice straw is necessarily added. It is this straw that provides strong smoke, but it is an obligatory element of the ritual.
9. Every day, these people clean the territory, sift and wash ash, coal, and burned soil through a sieve to find jewels that relatives have no right to remove from the deceased.
10. With the right approach, the body burns completely on the fire in 3-4 hours. Relatives may not stay until the end, and often only the hired representative of the house-raja caste watches the end of the cremation. The remains of ash and firewood are washed into the river.
11. After the funeral ceremony, the relatives of the deceased should not talk to anyone, meet, or even touch each other. Since all of them for a while become “dirty”, untouchable. Only after the ritual of cleansing and absolution in 11 days will they be able to return to ordinary life. The ritual is held here, in Pashupatinath, in specially designed chambers.
The procedure itself takes place quite graciously, relatives with care and love perform all the actions described above. Thereby expressing their love for the dead and putting their whole soul into it.
Festivals
The Pashupati area is considered one of the most important places of pilgrimage for followers of Hinduism. Thousands of devotees, both from the country and abroad, arrive at the site every day.
On special occasions like the Ekadasi, Sankranti, Mahashivratri, Teej Akshaya, Rakshabandhan, Grahana (eclipse), or the Poornima (full moon day) the atmosphere of the place becomes festive and people congregate in greater numbers.
During the celebration of the Shivaratri festival, the Pashupatinath temple is illuminated with oil lamps and remains open throughout the night. Thousands of devotees take ritual baths in the Bagmati River during the day of the festival and observe fasting throughout the day. On the occasion of Maha Shivaratri, hundreds of sadhus (sages) from different parts of Nepal and India come to this place.
The Hindus came en masse to the ancient Pashupatinath temple in Nepal to celebrate the Shivaratri. According to the authorities, 150,000 Indian pilgrims visit the temple along with devotees from Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, Bhutan, and Sri Lanka.
During the festival, the temple experiences an increase in sadhus, or sacred Hindu people, from India and other parts of Nepal. Sadhus are a special attraction in the temple. People will not only pray but also see them.
On the occasion of Shivratri (the night of Lord Shiva), the temple is decorated in the best possible way with flowers and garlands of flowers on all the doors, passages, and balconies of the temple. A large number of ascetics come from all over Nepal and adjacent India, gathering on the temple grounds to worship the Lord of the temple.
Pilgrims also fast all day, perform ritual dives on the Bagmati River and pray to God for happiness and prosperity. Another special occasion celebrated here is the Teej festival, which is frequented mainly by women who arrive in the temple, usually wrapped in red sarees, to pray for a long and happy married life with their partners.
The controversy of the year 2009
The priests in the temple are known as Bhattas, and the High Priest is known as Mool Bhatt or Raval. This fact and the allegations of corruption in the temple have caused a malaise among a large Nepalese population. In January 2009, after the forced resignation of the main priest of the Pashupatinath temple, the government of Nepal led by the Maoists hired new priests to lead the temple.
This appointment was challenged by the Bhandari of the temple, who were not against the new appointment of priests, but on the way to do it. Finally, the appointment was revoked by the Supreme Court of Nepal. However, the government ignored the court’s decision and continued its wishes.
This led to public outrage and protests over the lack of transparency. A Maoist paramilitary group attacked protesters and as a result, there were more than a dozen people injured. Legislators and activists from opposition parties joined the protests, declaring their support for the Bhandari of the temple.
After long dissatisfaction and the protests of Hindus, both from home and abroad. The government was forced to reverse its decision, which had been declared illegal by the Supreme Court, and the Brahman priests were reinstated.
Tourism and exclusivity
There is a lot in store for tourists visiting the Pashupatinath temple. The main building of the temple is built using the Nepalese pagoda architectural style with a two-layered roof of copper-clad in gold. At the top, the temple has a massive gold tower.
Although non-Hindus are not allowed within the main temple or internal countersuits of other temples, they can proudly anywhere else in the temple complex. The complex’s ascetics are usually tourists and, with their interesting costumes, are often photographed by tourists and foreign photographers.
Tourists can also watch the Hindu ramifications ceremonies on the Eastern margins of the Mamgami River. As Pashupatinath is considered the Lord of all animals, deer and monkeys can walk without fear in a nearby deer park and the gardens of the temple, and no damage is inflicted to such creatures by anyone.
Tourists, however, are advised to keep their objects of the value of the monkeys in the area. Other unique attractions in the temple include the dharmashila, a sacred oath that takes the stone, an imposing statue of a giant bull, a statue of four faces, and several small and large temples.
Threats and Conservation
The Hindus believe that the temple of Pashupatinath is since it is the abode of the supreme deity, Lord Shiva, who is responsible for the destruction of the world itself. When the 2015 earthquake in Nepal left temple complex buildings virtually unharmed, other buildings in the vicinity collapsed. Hindu devotees believed it to be a divine miracle.
Currently, the temple complex is well maintained by the Pashupati Area Development Trust. The popularity of the temple in the Hindu world and among international tourists. And its high revenue-generating capacity motivates the Nepalese government to repair and renovate temple buildings regularly to maintain its popular status.
Birupakshya Statue of Pashupatinath Temple and the interesting story
The meaning of birupakshya is kurup which means ugly or deformed. The statue of birupakshya can be seen at the ghat of Pashupatinath. It is made of stone and can be seen as half-buried in the ground.
There’s an interesting story related to this statue. It is said that birupakshya was born in a very poor family. As soon as he was born, his father went out of his home to earn some money. Here his mother alone raised her son with great difficulties.
When he reached 7 years old, he asked his mother about his father. He then decided he would also go and search for his father. If he is alive, he will bring him back but if he is dead he will conduct all the rituals and then only will return home.
Time passes and he turned from a child to a seventeen years old teenager. But he still couldn’t find his father. One night, he took shelter in one of the caves in the jungle. There he finds one middle-aged lady whose face he couldn’t see in the dark.
Both of them were drowned in lust and slept together. In the morning, when he woke up he turned to see with whom he had sex last night. He was devastated when he saw his mother.
It turned out that his mother also came to the jungle looking for him. He then went to Pashupatinath in deep remorse. And asked the Lord Pashupatinath to show him the way with which he can free himself from the guilt. But at the time, Lord Pashupatinath was intoxicated with ganja and bhang. He told birupakshya to drink molten copper.
Birupakshya did as said by the Lord. But as he pulls the lid of the vase in which he was melting copper. His face was burnt totally. That’s why he was called birupakshya. He was very furious with Pashupatinath so he went cursing and kicking the lingas of the Lord in Pashupatinath.
One time he saw Lord Buddha meditating in Pashupatinath. He went to Buddha and again asked him the way to his remorse. Buddha has a string of mala and asked him to mutter with the mala till it tears on its own. He sat in the place where at present there is a statue of birupakshya.
A long time passed but the mala didn’t tear. He then threw the mala away. He saw a small child eroding a sheet of iron. He went to the child and asked him the reason. The child told him that his clothes are torn, he would erode the sheet, make needles and sew his clothes.
Seeing this patience of a little child, he too decided to resume his task. But the people who saw him buried him in the ground because he was cursing Pashupatinath before.
And so it is believed that as soon as birupakshya will completely come above the ground. He will take revenge on people by destroying the Earth. Then Lord Shiva will come and kill him ending kalyuga and beginning satyuga.
It is believed that from the day he accidentally had sex with his mother, Kaluga began.
Pashupatinath temple and the features that are found in this vast area all come with some incredible legends. As you hear these stories, each story forces you to believe in them and hold you spellbound.
The Bagmati River and the surrounding area
The surroundings of the temple are also of great beauty: stone bridges, golden domes, temples, hanging houses, and beautiful nature. Many pilgrims of Hinduism and holy men or sadhus come to this temple. The saddhus submerge in the river to purify themselves.
The Bagmati River (for its religious value, similar to the Ganges of India) has a somewhat gloomy aspect for the visitor since there is great contamination. We must highlight the ashes of the funeral pyres and an atmosphere marked by the charm, surprise, and mystery of these wonderful places.
Guheshwari temple in Pashupatinath Temple
Guheshwari Temple was built in honor of the wife of Shiva, the goddess Sati (Parvati). The interesting name of the temple is a combination of two Nepalese words: guys (literally – female sexual organ 🙂 and Aishwarya (goddess). Guhyeshwari Temple is one of the venerable holy temples in Kathmandu, Nepal.
This temple is dedicated to Adi Shakti. The temple is the Shakti Peetha next to the Pashupatinath of the Temple. It is said that this temple is the source of Shakti(energy) of the Pashupatinath of the Temple. King Pratap Malla constructed this temple in the 17th century.
The name of the temple comes from the Sanskrit words Guha (Secret) and Ishwari (Goddess). In Lalita Sahasranama, the seven hundred and seventh name of the goddess is referred to as Guhyarupini (the form of the goddess is beyond human perception, and this is a secret. Another argument is that the secret is the 16-syllable Shodashi Mantra).
It is believed that parts of Sati Devi’s corpse fell in another region when Shiva took her and roamed around the world in sorrow. The Guhyeshwari temple is located about 1 km east of Pashupatinath and is near the Bagmati embankment.
Temple-like shakti peeth
The mythology of Daksha Yagya and Sati self-immolation was of paramount importance in the formation of ancient Sanskrit literature and even had an impact on the culture of India. This leads to the development of the concept of Shakti Peeth and there to strengthen Shaktism. Huge mythological stories in the Puranas took Yagya of Daksha as the reason for its origin.
Shakti Peetha shrines or divine sites of the Mother Goddess. These are places that are believed to be enshrined in the presence of Shakti. Due to the fall of body parts of the body of Sati Devi, when Lord Shiva carried her and wandered throughout Aryavartha in sorrow.
There are 51 Shakti Peeth references to 51 Sanskrit alphabets. Each temple has shrines for Shakti and Kalabhairava. Shakti Mahashira and Bhairava are Kapala. This temple is worshiped by tantric practitioners and tantric rituals are performed in this temple.
Worship
During the Navratri festival, the king of Nepal, accompanied by his family, worshipped here after taking the holy bath in the Bagmati River. There is much belief related to the temple. It is believed that if the marriage takes place in the temple of Guhyeshwari, couples will be soul mates for another 6 births.
Sati (goddess) married Shiva and was resurrected as Parvati on her next birth. Women worship in the Guhyeshwari temple to improve the health of their husbands. Worship done here leads to victory over enemies.
Conclusion
Pashupatinath temple is a legend in itself. Each shShivainga, each mini temple, each structure, and feature present on the premises of Pashupatinath temple say some legend. The legends force us to believe in the story. The legends force us to believe once again in spirituality, in God.
The only drawback that is being seen in the Pashupatinath temple is that it has been about the business. Many times when we visit the temple, it is visible that the one who can pay a minimum of 1000rs does not have to stand in line with other devotees. He can instantly worship the Lord. Similarly, a devotee in his great devotion takes the milk from his home. But he is not allowed to offer anything on Shiva Linga.
We have to pay pujari who then offers the milk on the linga. Around the premises, the small traders sell the milk, flowers, garlands, and coconut at a very high price. There used to be numerous beggars on the premises of the temple who sometimes are seen harassing the tourists and people. However, they have been now removed from the premises.
There is still a belief that non-vegetarian items should not be sold around the premises. But today we can see the stalls selling Momos and sausages.
Bagmati river which for Hindus are so sacred. But it has been polluted vastly. However, the Bagmati purification project has been in operation now. It has been cleaned partially which is a positive development.
Pashupatinath temple will always be the most sacred shrine for all the Hindus all over the world.
Official Website of Shree Pashupatinath Temple Nepal
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