Pashupatinath Temple

Kathmandu is the capital of Nepal, and the largest population of Nepal lives here. Nepal is a holy land. Great men have been born in Nepal at different times. For example, Balmiki, Gautam Buddha, Bhagwati Sita, Lord Shiva, the two sons of Lord Ram, Love, Kush, and many other sages were born in this place and have performed spiritual practice for their knowledge. And have also achieved success in different devotional feelings, so Nepal is also called a country of natural sources.

Nepal is a country with Sanatan Dharma. In Nepal, Hinduism is about 81.19 percent, Buddhism is 8.21 percent, Kiratism is 3.17 percent, Prakritiism is 0.35 percent, Banuism is 0.23 percent, and Jainism is 0.01 percent. If we calculate the percentage of all these Sanatan Dharma families, it will be about 93 %. All these religions refer to themselves as OM. This is referred to as the Sanatan Family in Nepal.

History of Pashupatinath Temple

Pashupatinath Temple is considered to be the main home of the Sanatan Family, and Lord Pashupatinath is believed to have existed since the beginning of the earth. It is believed by all religions, Hindus, Buddhists and Kirats. Pashupatinath is not only a temple but also the only holy place of Mahadev-Shiva. Millions of people visit this temple every year. Large religious events are held here at various times. The temple is located on the banks of the Bagmati River, and according to Hindu and OM tradition, there is also a Pashupati Aaryaghat, where the dead are cremated next to the temple. This temple is very mysterious. It is said that this temple has survived all major earthquakes. The entry of non-Hindus into the temple is prohibited.

Pashupatinath Temple is one of the main temples of Lord Shiva and Hinduism. This temple is located in central Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal. The name of this temple, Pashu, means “animal” or beast; this earth is common to all and refers to living beings. Pati means “master, protector, and owner.”

In one word, Pashupatinath means “master and protector of all beings.”

Brief information on Shri Pashupatinath Temple

1. Name: Pashupatinath Temple	9. Country: Nepal
2. Religion: Hindu/OM Family.	10. Geographical coordinates: 27°42′35′′N 85°20′55′′E
3. District: Kathmandu.	11. Architecture: Pagoda style.
4. Region/Province: Bagmati Region	12. Date of Establishment: 5th century.
5. Deity: Shiva (Pashupati)	13. Area: 246 hectares (2,460,000 sq m).
6. Mealy Festival: Mahashivratri, Teej etc.	14. Temples: 519 pagodas.
7. Temple Location: On the banks of the Bagmati River.	15. Elevation: 817 m (2,680 ft).
8. Temple tree: Old birch tree

Pashupatinath Temple was included as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979. This temple is considered a huge home for Hindus. Near this temple, there is a large collection of very old man-made and natural temples, a spiritual heritage or retreat, statues, and inscriptions. Pashupatinath Temple is spread over a large area, in which there are also 518 smaller temples. Pashupatinath Temple is built in the pagoda style. 

We hear from the news that different types of temples are still being found in the Pashupati temple. According to the Skanda Purana, the Pashupatinath temple is the most sacred place of Shiva. The Shiva Purana explains everything about Pashupatinath.

Pashupatinath Temple is considered the capital of the world. It is believed that the body of Shiva is also in Kashi Bishwanath, India. It is also believed that the head of Lord Shiva is in Pashupatinath. According to the story of the Mahabharata, the Kedarnath, Rudranath, Kalpeshwar, Madhyamaheshwar, and Tungnath temples are also considered to be related to the Pashupatinath Temple. Vedic Dravidian Brahmin scholars of Karnataka are present in the Pashupatinath Temple.

Pashupatinath Temple is considered the main place of Lord Shiva. This temple represents all animals and living beings. Pashupatinath has four doors. The idol inside also has four faces. Only Hindus, Buddhists, Kirats, and Jains are allowed to enter this temple; people of other religions are prohibited from entering it. It is located on the Bagmati riverside.

Understand the historical significance of Pashupatinath

No one knows how long the Pashupatinath Temple has existed. There are various legends about its origin. In particular, the Aryan community and ancient cultures are associated with this temple.

Looking at the information about Pashupatinath in the Himawatkhand region of Pashupatinath and the various genealogies found so far, after the “Nagadaha” submerged the Kathmandu Valley, the Jyothilinga of Pashupatinath was also submerged. Similarly, it seems that the Pashupatinath Temple reached its present state after overcoming many difficulties in different periods. Sometimes, the temple was submerged and buried, and sometimes it was raised. But even after many major earthquakes, this temple has not suffered much damage. Hindus believe that Pashupatinath itself is the abode of Lord Shiva. It is said that by the grace of Pashupatinath, the Bagmati River originated and started flowing with Shivpuri as its main source.

Physical structure and architecture of Pashupatinath

The Pashupatinath Temple is built in the Nepali pagoda style, in which various wooden carvings reflect different scenes.

Now, let us also learn about some of the main features of Pashupatinath.

1. Pashupatinath has two floors, which are made of gold and copper; the main spire of the temple is also made of gold.
2. This temple has four doors, which are spread in the east-west and north-south directions.

The story of this temple is also associated with Lord Krishna and the five brothers, the Pandavas. When the Pandavas defeat and kill a hundred brothers, the Kauravas, they realize that they have committed a very big sin. We have committed kinship murder. Then, to get rid of this, Lord Krishna tells them to go to Lord Shiva. The Pandavas go to the Himalayas. After seeing the Pandavas coming, Lord Shiva took the form of a buffalo and hid in the area of ​​​​present-day Pashupatinath.

However, the Pandavas recognize the buffalo as Lord Shiva. They approach to catch the buffalo disguised as Lord Shiva, but Lord Shiva starts crawling under the ground. But when the Pandavas touched the buffalo, a part of Lord Shiva is said to have appeared in Kedarnath. The other part is said to be Pashupatinath; it is said that the head of the buffalo is Pashupatinath of Nepal, and the tail is Kedarnath. Since it appears in the form of an animal, it is called Pashupatinath, and there is also a popular belief.

If we look at history, it is said to be the oldest temple in Nepal. According to Gopalraj Genealogy, this temple was built by the Lichchhavi King Supushpa Dev. Pashupatinath was known as Acceptance or Formless since the Vedic period.

With time, this temple was rebuilt in various ways. The medieval king Shivadev had completely rebuilt this temple. Then, the Malla king installed Gajur in this Pashupati temple.

Hindu funeral rites at Pashupatinath

Aaryaghat (Cremation ground) in Pashupatinath is also a famous place of worship for Hindus. Although there is no historical evidence of this, it is also called Pashupati Aryaghat because people are cremated here. It is located on the banks of the Pashupatinath Temple and the Bagmati River. Almost 100 people are cremated here every day.

Where is Pashupatinath Temple located?

Pashupatinath Temple is located on the banks of the holy Bagmati River, about 5 kilometers east of Kathmandu, in central Nepal. and near by Tribhuban international airport. 

Temple coordinates: Latitude: 27.7104° North and Longitude: 85.3486° East.

How to reach Pashupatinath Temple?

Pashupatinath Temple is the main Hindu temple of Nepal. If you are 4.5 kilometers away from our company, Nepal Hiking Adventure, it will take about 15-25 minutes to reach Pashupatinath Temple from Thamel. If you want to take a taxi, it will take about 45 minutes to 1 hour. This is a holy temple of Hinduism. Many tourists come here to research and visit.

Festivals are celebrated at Pashupatinath

Since Pashupatinath is purely associated with Lord Shiva, festivals are also associated with Shiva. Mahashivaratri and Teej are the main festivals in this temple.

Mainly on Shivaratri, devotees of Lord Shiva come from abroad in thousands, mostly from India, Thailand, Bhutan, and Tibet, among many more places and countries. And they light lakhs of lamps and enjoy it for all Hindu People.

Pandits (scholars) also stay in these temples to see marriages, engagements, and other Hindu traditions, and marriages are also performed.

Who built Pashupatinath Temple, and when?

The Pashupatinath Temple in Kathmandu, Nepal, has a rich history of centuries. It is believed that in the 500 year ago, it was recorded with early evidence of its existence.

1. According to historical stories, the temple was originally built by a Lichchavi king named Prachandev.
2. Over time, they rebuilt the temple and renewed many.
3.  1100 years ago: King Shvadev (1099–1126) is credited with the reconstruction of the temple during this period.
4. In the 1200s AD, King Anant Malla linked a roof to the temple, which increased the architecture.
5. In the late 1600s: In 1692, the temple was rebuilt in its current form when the previous structures were damaged by landslides and earthquakes.

Conclusion

Pashupati Nath is a Hindu temple. Various pujas, meditations, and music are performed in this temple. That is why this temple has a lot of importance. We are optimistic that this article will be very important for you. It will definitely be useful for you. 

FAQ

What is the historical and religious significance of Pashupatinath Temple, and why is this temple called the ‘Lord of All Creatures’?

Pashupatinath Temple is a very sacred and historical site dedicated to Lord Shiva. The temple is believed to have existed since ancient times and is described in ancient texts such as the Skanda Purana and the Shiva Purana. The word ‘Pashupatinath’ means ‘Lord of all beings’—where ‘pashu’ means being and ‘pati’ means lord or protector. This describes Lord Shiva as the protector of all beings.

What is the architecture of Pashupatinath Temple, and what are the main structural features of this temple?

Pashupatinath Temple is built in the traditional Nepali ‘pagoda style.’ It has a two-story roof made of gold and copper, and the main spire is decorated with gold. The temple has four doors facing east, west, north, and south. The Shiva statue inside has four faces, which represent the form of Lord Shiva looking in all directions. The temple is spread over an area of ​​246 hectares and has 519 smaller temples and statues.

How are the stories of the Pandavas and Lord Shiva connected in the ancient legends associated with the Pashupatinath Temple?

According to a famous legend, the Pandavas felt guilty after killing their relatives (the Kauravas) and sought forgiveness from Lord Shiva. Lord Shiva took the form of a buffalo to escape from the Pandavas and hid in the forest of the present-day Pashupatinath area. The Pandavas recognize him and try to catch him. At that time, Shiva was about to land on the ground, but the Pandavas caught his tail. Shiva’s head appeared at Pashupatinath in Nepal, while his tail appeared at Kedarnath in India. This is why these two places are considered mythologically connected.

Who is allowed to enter the Pashupatinath Temple, and why are followers of other religions prohibited from entering the temple?

Only those who believe in the Sanatan Dharma — Hindus, Buddhists, Kirats, and Jains — are allowed to enter the main sanctum sanctorum of Pashupatinath Temple. People of other religions are prohibited from entering the temple so that the ancient religious traditions and the sanctity of the temple are maintained. This rule is to preserve the dignity of a very sacred place like Pashupatinath and to ensure that traditional worship is not disturbed.

What are the major festivals celebrated in the Pashupatinath area, and what is the atmosphere like in the temple on the occasion of Shivaratri?

The main festivals celebrated at Pashupatinath Temple are Mahashivaratri and Teej. On the day of Mahashivaratri, thousands of devotees from Nepal and neighboring countries like India, Bhutan, and Tibet visit the temple. Devotees light lamps, chant mantras, meditate, and perform pujas throughout the night. The gathering of saints and sages from various parts of South Asia makes the temple area very spiritual and mysterious.

Sources: Google, Wikipedia,