Pashupatinath A Holy Place Of Shiva

Where: Nepal, Kathmandu

Best time to visit: No such best time, but visiting on Mahashiv ratri is pleasure.

Shiva, the Lord of gods! The master of universe, rhythm creator and also known for destruction. Shiva is known as primary form of gods. The iconographical features makes him unique, the third eye on forehead, snake around his neck, the crescent moon, the trident and musical instrument ‘Damaru’.

Pashupatinath a Hindu temple, situated on Bank Bagmati River in village-3km far from Northwest part of Kathmandu. The Temple is named after ‘Lords of Animal’- Pashu-pati. The temple attracts thousands of pilgrims each year. The temple as barred to non-Hindus , but now the norms has been changed.

Pashupatinath A Holy Place Of Shiva

History of Pashupatinath

The temple was constructed 17th century back, by the ‘King Bhupatindra Malla’. The temple also consist of ‘Viashnav’ temple (Ram temple) from long back 14-century. Also the priest of this temple has to be Bhat-Brahmin sort of from South India. This trait is followed from 350 years ago. The priest are known as Bhattas, while chief priest of temple are known as Mool Bhatt. These chief priest are only person answerable to King of Nepal.

Origin:

To get into the root of this temple, there are several stories involved in this. But the very popular story that follows is Shiva and his wife Parvati stayed in Kathmandu valley, they took rest at Bhagmati while on journey. Shiva was very much impressed with the beauty of nature, such that he transformed himself into deer and walked across forest.

While after that God started to search for Shiva, and after several search they found him in forest. All God refused to leave him, but (finally) ultimately he announced that he lived by the banks of Bhagmati in form of deer. So today, the place is known as ‘Pashupatinath’, ‘Lord of Animals’. It’s been said that one who visit this sacred temple will not reborn as an animal.

Finding Shiva Linga

Shiva ling a sacred and blessed, it is said that wish fulfilling cow called ‘Kamadhenu’ took shelter on Chandravan mountain. It was observed that each day, Kamadhenu went down to the place and poured milk, where the lingam was deep sunken into the soil. Then after 10,000 years people pouring milk at same spot, wondered many people. Then the people decided to dig and remove the soil, and found a beautiful Shiva Lingam.

Architecture note:

The temple is constructed with classical style of Nepalese pagoda. Beautifully wooden carved. The roof has two layers of roof, one with copper and other with gold. The temple has four main door, all door are covered with sliver sheet. To have a religious tought, the temple has a Gajur. Gajur is a gold pinnacle or apex.

At the entrance is a statue of ‘Nandi’, 6-feet high. It is situated on entrance of temple to the east of Pashupatinath.

The temple is one of the oldest temple recorded under Hindu temple. The Pashupatinath is said to god of all living as well as non-living beings around. To get on the roots of the temple, the temple is dated back from 400 AD. The holy temple of Shiva is highly ornamented with rich pagodas.