Pashupatinath Attractions
Pashupatinath
The Pashupatinath Temple with its hallowed lingam is situated on the sacred Bagmati River 4 km (21/2 mi.) east of Kathmandu. Not only is Pashupatinath the principal Hindu shrine in Nepal, it is one of the foremost temples to Shiva on the Indian subcontinent.
Shiva is worshipped here as Pashupati, lord of beasts, who as protector of all living creatures is also the patron deity of Nepal. Temples, ashrams (hermitages), dharamsalas, shrines and ghats spread over a wide area along the Bagmati embankment. Pashupatinath is one of the UNESCO protected cultural monuments.
Legend relates that Shiva once transformed himself into a gazelle to enjoy the delights of the Shleshmandaka grove on the river's bank. The other gods, searching for Shiva, recognized him in the handsome single-horned gazelle with three eyes. They seized it by the horn to make the god reveal himself, but the gazelle escaped, leaving the horn behind in its pursuers' hands. The horn became the lingam now worshipped as Shiva. From his shrine beside the sacred Bagmati, Shiva/Pashupati watches over all creatures. It is said that any man or beast or living thing who worships here is delivered from the cycle of rebirth.
Although the Pashupati cult can be traced back to the 2nd c. bc, the shrine on the Bagmati was probably founded in the 3rd c. ad. The oldest inscription in Pashupatinath dates from ad 477. Numerous architectural fragments from the Licchavi period show the shrine to have flourished from an early date.
Pashupati has been patron deity of the Kathmandu Valley since the early 7th c. At the time of the three city-kingdoms Pashupati shrines were erected in Bhaktapur and Kathmandu; in Patan an existing shrine, the Khumbeshvara Temple, becamed linked specifically with the god. The pilgrim route from Kathmandu's palace to Deopatan was also marked out at this time. Since then the temple has remained in continuous use with the exception of a brief period of Buddhist expansion.
The cult was revived by the greatly beloved Indian teacher and holy man Shankara Charya who, in his seventh incarnation, went on a pilgrimage to Pashupatinath and found the temple empty of priests. He dispatched Brahmins from southern India to look after the shrine and is said to have been a priest there himself. Bhatta priests from the south of India have maintained the Pashupatinath Temple ever since.
The Pashupatinath Temple with its hallowed lingam is situated on the sacred Bagmati River 4 km (21/2 mi.) east of Kathmandu. Not only is Pashupatinath the principal Hindu shrine in Nepal, it is one of the foremost temples to Shiva on the Indian subcontinent.
Shiva is worshipped here as Pashupati, lord of beasts, who as protector of all living creatures is also the patron deity of Nepal. Temples, ashrams (hermitages), dharamsalas, shrines and ghats spread over a wide area along the Bagmati embankment. Pashupatinath is one of the UNESCO protected cultural monuments.
Legend relates that Shiva once transformed himself into a gazelle to enjoy the delights of the Shleshmandaka grove on the river's bank. The other gods, searching for Shiva, recognized him in the handsome single-horned gazelle with three eyes. They seized it by the horn to make the god reveal himself, but the gazelle escaped, leaving the horn behind in its pursuers' hands. The horn became the lingam now worshipped as Shiva. From his shrine beside the sacred Bagmati, Shiva/Pashupati watches over all creatures. It is said that any man or beast or living thing who worships here is delivered from the cycle of rebirth.
Although the Pashupati cult can be traced back to the 2nd c. bc, the shrine on the Bagmati was probably founded in the 3rd c. ad. The oldest inscription in Pashupatinath dates from ad 477. Numerous architectural fragments from the Licchavi period show the shrine to have flourished from an early date.
Pashupati has been patron deity of the Kathmandu Valley since the early 7th c. At the time of the three city-kingdoms Pashupati shrines were erected in Bhaktapur and Kathmandu; in Patan an existing shrine, the Khumbeshvara Temple, becamed linked specifically with the god. The pilgrim route from Kathmandu's palace to Deopatan was also marked out at this time. Since then the temple has remained in continuous use with the exception of a brief period of Buddhist expansion.
The cult was revived by the greatly beloved Indian teacher and holy man Shankara Charya who, in his seventh incarnation, went on a pilgrimage to Pashupatinath and found the temple empty of priests. He dispatched Brahmins from southern India to look after the shrine and is said to have been a priest there himself. Bhatta priests from the south of India have maintained the Pashupatinath Temple ever since.
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Pashupatinath Temple
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The Pashupatinath Temple, sitting quietly on the river bank, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. However, the temple is only open to Hindus and for all else must be viewed from outside the gate.
Buddha Statue
A particularly delightful 6th c. statue of Buddha can be seen in front of steps on the east side of the Raja Rajeshvari Mandir near the outer wall. The calm, benign features recall similar Buddha figures at Chabahil and Swayambhunath.
Gorakhnath Mandir
A trident and the bull Nandi embellish the shikhara-style Gorakhnath Mandir at the top of the hill, reflecting the celebrated yogi's close association with Shiva.
Kailash Hill
Beyond the Pashupatinath Temple the ground on the west side of the Bagmati rises to form Kailash Hill. Named after the sacred mountain it is thought to have been the site of an old royal fort. Sundry stone columns and other fragments have been incorporated into the long series of steps from the temple up the hill.
Lingams
Directly opposite the Pashupatinath Temple stand a row of 11 stone chaityas containing lingams. Beyond them is a classic single-faced lingam (ekmukhi) attributed to the 6th c. The carved figure is particularly appealing, the features being gentle and serene.
From the terraces there is a view across the river to the main temple.
From the terraces there is a view across the river to the main temple.
Monumental Lingam
The massive lingam in front of the Raja Rajeshvari Mandir is estimated to be 1500 years old. It is said to have replaced a fountain in whose water a person might see their next incarnation reflected. Fearing this could cause unrest among his people the king had the fountain filled in and the large lingam set up instead.
Mrigasthali
Mrigasthali, the hill on the opposite, east bank of the Bagmati, was the site of the grove where Shiva dallied as a gazelle. Its terraces and temple complexes mostly date from the 19th c. Amid the newer, but already sorry-looking buildings are some much older, more noteworthy sculptures. Steps built during Jung Bahadur's reign ascend Mrigasthali Hill. Devotional images of Shiva abound.
Raja Rajeshvari Mandir
Downstream of the second bridge stands the Raja Rajeshvari Mandir, the southernmost of Pashupatinath's temple complexes on the west bank of the Bagmati. Like the temple, the ghat in front of it is dedicated to the goddess Raja Rajeshvari. Non-Hindus are barred from the temple court. The ghat is in almost continuous use for cremations.
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