Pashupatinath Temple is a famous and holy Hindu temple. It is located on the banks of the Bagmati River in the eastern part of the Kathmandu Valley, the capital of Nepal. Pashupatinath Temple dedicated to Lord Shiva is one of the four most important religious places in Asia. The temple was built in the 5th century and then renovated by the Malla kings. This site existed for millennia. Shiva Lingam was discovered at that time. The main pagoda style of Pashupatinath Mandir has a gold roof, silver covered on four sides and wood carvings of the finest quality.
This temple has about 492 temples, 15 Shivalayas (Temples of Lord Shiva) and 12 Jyotirlingas (Phalik shrines). Apart from this, many temples dedicated to Hindu and Buddhist deities are around the temple of Pashupatinath. Pashupatinath Mandir is one of the 8 UNESCO Cultural Heritage Sites of Kathmandu Valley. It is a cremation site. Where Hindus are cremated. There is a temple of Guheshwari near Pashupatinath. Which is dedicated to Sati Devi, the wife of Shiva. Hindus are cremated on platforms built on the banks of the river.
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History of Pashupatinath Temple
The exact date of construction of Pashupatinath temple is not available. But Pashupatinath is the oldest temple in Kathmandu. According to history, the temple was built by Pashupreksha of the Somdev dynasty in the 3rd century BC. The main complex of the Pashupatinath Mandir, last built in the late 17th century, was destroyed by termites. Do not know how many times the original temple has been destroyed. But the temple was given its present form by King Bhupalendra Malla in 1697.
Best Time To Visit Pashupatinath Temple
Pashupatinath Temple Pilgrims can visit at any time of the year. But during the festivals of Mahashivratri, Teej and Bala Chaturthi, the temple has the largest crowd of devotees to participate in the festivals. If you also want to join those occasions. So bring it for a few days. Otherwise, you can come here in any season to visit. There is no problem in that.
Tips For Going To Pashupatinath Temple
It is important to follow some tips to avoid trouble in visiting and traveling in the temple.
Before going to the temple, keep in mind that there are many monkeys here.
For that reason, keep your belongings safe from monkeys.
Here you need to hire a guide.
Here the fee for hiring a guide is Rs 1000.
The guide will walk you through the traditions and rituals of the Pashupatinath Mandir.
Entry To The Pashupatinath Temple
The Pashupatinath temple has four entrances in four geographical directions. The main entrance is located on the west and there is only one. Which is opened every day. But the other three gates remain closed during the festival. Nepalese expatriates and Hindus are only allowed to enter the temple premises. Practicing Hindus protecting the Indian Jain and Sikh communities do not allow non-Hindu tourists from the West to enter the temple premises.
Other tourists are allowed to visit the main temple from the adjacent bank of the Bagmati river. A nominal fee is charged for visiting the small shrines that adorn the outer premises of the Pashupatinath temple complex. No devotee is allowed to enter the innermost sanctum. But allows them to see the idol from the premises of the outer sanctum.
Daily Rituals Of Pashupatinath Temple
The west gate opens at 4:00 am.
The idols of the Lord are bathed and cleaned at 8:30 am.
Baal Bhog is offered at 9:30 am.
Those wishing to worship are welcomed at 10:00 am.
Food is offered at the main Pashupati temple at 1:50 am.
Sandhya Aarti begins at 5:15 pm in the main Pashupati temple.
The Ganga Aarti, which takes place on the banks of Bagmati at 6:00 pm, is the center of attraction.
The door closes at 7:00 pm.
Pashupatinath Temple Abhisheka
Abhisheka at Pashupatinath Mandir takes place from 9 am to 11 am. At that time all the four sides of the temple are opened. Devotees have to cut a slip of Rs 1100 for Abhishek. He can take it from the counter. It involves many pujas including Rudrabhishek. Abhishek is done in that direction. The direction in which the face of the deity looks. In which line should be taken for Abhishek in the temple. It is written about it in the ticket.
Priests Of Pashupatinath
This is the most extraordinary feature of the temple. That the main idol can be touched only by four priests. Two priests perform daily rites and rituals in the temple. In this, the first is called Bhandari and the second is called Bhatt Pujari. Bhatt is the only deity. Who can touch the idol. And can perform religious rites on the idol, while the Bhandari is the caretaker of the temple.
Architecture Of Pashupatinath Temple
The main complex of Pashupatinath Temple is built in Nepali pagoda architectural style. The roofs of the temple are made of copper. and are overlaid with gold. But the main doors are plated with silver. The temple has a golden spire. It is known as Gajur and two sanctums. The idol of Lord Shiva is installed in the inner sanctum. The outdoor area is an open space. which looks like a corridor. The main attraction of the temple complex is the huge golden statue of Nandi the bull, the vehicle of Lord Shiva.
The main deity is a mukhlinga, with a serpent covered in silver. which is made of stone. The Shiva Lingam is one meter high and has four faces in four directions. Each of them represents a different aspect of Lord Shiva. or Sadyojata or Varuna, Tatpurusha, Aghora, and Vamadeva or Ardhanaresvara. Each face is said to represent the five primary elements. It includes air, earth, ether, fire and water.
Story of Pashupatinath Temple
According to legend, Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati once transformed themselves into deer. and set out to visit the dense forest on the eastern bank of the Bagmati river. Impressed by the beauty of the place, Lord Shiva again took the form of a deer. The gods soon came to know of his mischief and grabbed one of the horns of the deer and beat him severely. His horn broke in the process. This broken horn was worshiped as a Shivling. He was buried a few years later.
Centuries later, the shepherd saw a Kamdhenu cow offering its milk on the ground. The shepherd saw that Kamdhenu pours milk every day at the same place. And when he started digging the place, the shiny Shivling came out. Since then the worship of Shivling has started in the form of Pashupatinath. In the second story, according to Gopalraj Alok Vamsavali of Nepal’s oldest period, the Pashupatinath Mandir was built by Sushupa Dev. He was one of the Lichchavi rulers. Who ruled before King Mandev.
Importance Of Pashupatinath Temple
Pashupatinath Temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva. It is one of the four most important religious places in Asia for the devotees of Shiva. This temple was built in the 5th century and later renovated by the Malla kings. The site is said to have existed since the beginning of the millennium. When a Shiva Lingam was discovered.
Festivals In Pashupatinath Temple
Many festivals are celebrated in the temple throughout the year. And thousands of devotees attend that festivals. The most important festivals are Mahashiv Ratri, Bala Chaturthi festival, and Teej festival. Teej is one of the most famous festivals in Pashupatinath temple. It is celebrated by Hindu Nepalese women for a long time for the happiness of their husbands. It is believed that keeping fast on that day strengthens the relationship between husband and wife.
Temples And Shrines In Inner Courtyard Of Pashupatinath Temple
Unmat Bhairav Temple
Vasuki Nath Temple
Budhneelkanth Teerth
Surya Narayan Temple
Kirtimukh Bhairav Tirtha
184 Shivling Temple
Hanuman Temple
How To Reach Pashupatinath Temple
The Pashupatinath Temple can be reached by public and private transport buses from Kathmandu. The nearest Tribhuvan International Airport is located in Kathmandu. It takes 10 minutes to reach the temple by taxi from Tribhuvan International Airport and Boudhanath Stupa. Pashupatinath Temple is located just 5 km away from the valley of Kathmandu. There are many buses and taxis here. Which will take you from Kathmandu to Pashupatinath Mandir. You can take buses from City Bus Station or Ratna Park in Kathmandu.
Pashupatinath Temple Map And Location
Video of Pashupatinath Mandir Nepal
Interesting Facts
Pashupatinath Temple is situated on the west bank of the Bagmati River.
This temple is located at a distance of 5 km from Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal.
This Hindu temple is a huge collection of temples, ashrams, sculptures and inscriptions.
Only Hindus are allowed in Pashupatinath temple.
The unique feature of the temple is that only 4 Bhatt priests can touch the deity.
There are many distinctive artistic paintings and sculptures in different parts of the temple.
Every day, open-air cremation takes place on the banks of the Bagmati river next to the Pashupatinath temple.
FAQ
Q .Who Is Lord Pashupatinath?
Pashupati (Sanskrit Paopati) is incarnated as the “Lord of the Animals” of the Hindu god Shiva. He is revered throughout the Hindu world. Particularly in Nepal, where he is unofficially considered a national deity.
Q .How Old Is Pashupatinath Temple?
According to Gopalraj Alok Vamsavali, the oldest in Nepal, this temple was built by the Lipchhavi king Supesa Deva.
Q .Why Pashupatinath Temple Is Famous?
Pashupatinath Temple. Dedicated to Lord Shiva is one of the four most important religious places in Asia for the devotees of Shiva.
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