Pashupatinath Temple
The word Pashupati means “Lord of
the Beasts”. The Pashupatinath Temple is a famous temple of Hindu religious
people. Pashupatinath is located at 5 kilometres north-east of Kathmandu Valley
in the eastern city of Kathmandu (the capital city of Nepal), on the bankside
of the Bagmati River. This temple complex is on UNESCO World Heritage Sites
list since 1979. This "extensive Hindu temple precinct" is a
"sprawling collection of temples, ashrams, images and inscriptions raised
over the centuries along the banks of the sacred Bagmati River". The
temple is one of the 275 Paadal Petra Sthalams on the continent. Kotirudra
Samhita, found on the North, in shiva purana is mentions this Shivalinga as the
best over of all wishes. One of the major Festivals of the temple is Mahan
Shivaratri on which day over 700,000, Peoples (devotees) visit here.
The temple was erected anew in the
17th century by King Bhupatindra Malla after the previous building had been
consumed by termites. Countless further temples have been erected around this
two -storied temple. These include the Vaishnav temple complex with a Ram
temple from the 14th century and the Guhyeshwari Temple mentioned in an
11th-century manuscript.
The area of Pashupatinath is at 264 hectare of land including 518 temples and monuments. Main pagoda style temple is located in the fortified courtyard within the complex guarded by Armed police Force and has a police outpost post along with living quarter within. In front of the western door there is a huge statue Nandi bull, in bronze. Along with many temples and shrines are made by Vaisanava & Saiva Tradition.
Temples and shrines in the inner courtyards:
ૐ Vasuki nath temple.
ૐ Unmatta Bhairav temple.
ૐ Surya narayan temple.
ૐ Kirti mukh bhairav shrine.
ૐ Budanil kantha shrine.
ૐ Hanuman shrine. & others,
ૐ 184 shivaling shrine. etc.
Temples and shrines in the outer complex:
ૐ Ram mandir.
ૐ Virat swaroop temple.
ૐ 12 jyotirlingha.
ૐ Guhyeshwari Temple. etc.
About Entrance gates and time of opening and closing:
Temple courtyard has 4 entrances in all directions. The western entrance is the main entrance to the temple courtyard and rest three entrances are only opened during big festival. The massive doors are silver plated and intricately carved with images of deities and auspicious signs. The main idol, or Jyotirlingam, carved on black stone has four faces facing in four directions, and a fifth one is believed to be facing upwards. The four faces
are named as Tatpurush in the east, Aghor in the south, Bamadeva in the north and Sadojat in the east. The Shiva linga is believed to be seven centuries old as the former one was supposedly disgraced by the Muslim invader, Sultan Shamshuddin from Bengal, who attacked Kathmandu in 1346. To the west of the temple are the figures of two bulls; the smaller one facing east towards the temple was constructed during the Malla period. The second one, a massive size bull made of brass and also facing the temple was built by Rana Prime Minister Jung Bahadur’s son, Jagat Jung, as an offering to Lord Pashupatinath. The bull known as Nandi is the baahan (carrier) of Shiva. It may be interesting to note that all Shaiva temples have Nandi, the bull, seated facing the temple. Temple security (Armed Police Force Nepal) is selective regarding who is allowed entry into the inner courtyard. Practicing Hindus and buddhist of Indian and Tibetan descent are only allowed into temple courtyards. Practicing Hindus of western descent are not allowed into the temple complex along with other non Hindu Visitors. Sikh and Jain groups are allowed into the temple compound if they are of Indian ancestry. Others can look at the main temple from adjacent side of the river and has to pay a nominal fee of $10 (1000 Nepali rupee) for visiting hundreds of small temples in the external premises of the temple complex. The inner temple courtyard remains open from 4 am to 7 pm for the devotee but the Inner Pashupatinath Temple where the Lingam of lord Pashupatinath is established is open from 5am to 12 pm for the morning ritual and viewing and from 5pm to 7 pm for evening ritual. Unlike many other Saiva temples devotees are not allowed to enter in the inner-most Garbhagriha but are allowed to view from the exterior premises of the outer Garbhagriha.
Water and liquid offerings to the Shiva linga flows down the sacro sanctum to a place called Brahma Naal, a rectangular stone slab on the bank of the River Bagmati where those who are on the verge of death are laid down to breathe their last in the belief that dying at this spot at the foot of the Lord would assure them a place in Heaven.
As a mark of reverence and tradition, leather items that include shoes, belts and cameras are forbidden within the temple complex and must be left outside. Photography is strictly prohibited inside.
The area of Pashupatinath is at 264 hectare of land including 518 temples and monuments. Main pagoda style temple is located in the fortified courtyard within the complex guarded by Armed police Force and has a police outpost post along with living quarter within. In front of the western door there is a huge statue Nandi bull, in bronze. Along with many temples and shrines are made by Vaisanava & Saiva Tradition.
Temples and shrines in the inner courtyards:
ૐ Vasuki nath temple.
ૐ Unmatta Bhairav temple.
ૐ Surya narayan temple.
ૐ Kirti mukh bhairav shrine.
ૐ Budanil kantha shrine.
ૐ Hanuman shrine. & others,
ૐ 184 shivaling shrine. etc.
Temples and shrines in the outer complex:
ૐ Ram mandir.
ૐ Virat swaroop temple.
ૐ 12 jyotirlingha.
ૐ Guhyeshwari Temple. etc.
About Entrance gates and time of opening and closing:
Temple courtyard has 4 entrances in all directions. The western entrance is the main entrance to the temple courtyard and rest three entrances are only opened during big festival. The massive doors are silver plated and intricately carved with images of deities and auspicious signs. The main idol, or Jyotirlingam, carved on black stone has four faces facing in four directions, and a fifth one is believed to be facing upwards. The four faces
are named as Tatpurush in the east, Aghor in the south, Bamadeva in the north and Sadojat in the east. The Shiva linga is believed to be seven centuries old as the former one was supposedly disgraced by the Muslim invader, Sultan Shamshuddin from Bengal, who attacked Kathmandu in 1346. To the west of the temple are the figures of two bulls; the smaller one facing east towards the temple was constructed during the Malla period. The second one, a massive size bull made of brass and also facing the temple was built by Rana Prime Minister Jung Bahadur’s son, Jagat Jung, as an offering to Lord Pashupatinath. The bull known as Nandi is the baahan (carrier) of Shiva. It may be interesting to note that all Shaiva temples have Nandi, the bull, seated facing the temple. Temple security (Armed Police Force Nepal) is selective regarding who is allowed entry into the inner courtyard. Practicing Hindus and buddhist of Indian and Tibetan descent are only allowed into temple courtyards. Practicing Hindus of western descent are not allowed into the temple complex along with other non Hindu Visitors. Sikh and Jain groups are allowed into the temple compound if they are of Indian ancestry. Others can look at the main temple from adjacent side of the river and has to pay a nominal fee of $10 (1000 Nepali rupee) for visiting hundreds of small temples in the external premises of the temple complex. The inner temple courtyard remains open from 4 am to 7 pm for the devotee but the Inner Pashupatinath Temple where the Lingam of lord Pashupatinath is established is open from 5am to 12 pm for the morning ritual and viewing and from 5pm to 7 pm for evening ritual. Unlike many other Saiva temples devotees are not allowed to enter in the inner-most Garbhagriha but are allowed to view from the exterior premises of the outer Garbhagriha.
Water and liquid offerings to the Shiva linga flows down the sacro sanctum to a place called Brahma Naal, a rectangular stone slab on the bank of the River Bagmati where those who are on the verge of death are laid down to breathe their last in the belief that dying at this spot at the foot of the Lord would assure them a place in Heaven.
As a mark of reverence and tradition, leather items that include shoes, belts and cameras are forbidden within the temple complex and must be left outside. Photography is strictly prohibited inside.
