Kathmandu’s picturesque valley is home to a number of spectacular temples and structures, earning it the name “City of Temples”. The presence of these great structures has enhanced Nepal’s splendour. Pashupatinath temple is one such landmark with a lengthy history.
Pashupatinath is a Pagoda-style temple dedicated to Lord Shiva and is located in the heart of Kathmandu—Gaushala. Pashupatinath is one of the seven monuments in Kathmandu Valley certified as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1979 AD. This expansive Hindu temple is a massive assemblage of temples, ashrams, statues, and inscriptions built throughout the centuries along the banks of the revered Bagmati River. The temple’s site is a representation of spiritual energy and is hence among the top tourist destinations in Nepal. Shoes, belts, and cameras made of leather are not permitted inside the temple complex and must be left outside as a sign of respect and tradition. It is highly forbidden to take pictures inside the premises of the temple.
Pashupatinath’s two-level copper roofing has a gold coating. The temple is supported on a platform with a square base and a height of 23 metres from base to pinnacle. There are four major doors, and each one is coated with silver sheets. The temple’s pinnacle (gajur) is made up of gold. There are two Garbhagrihas inside: the inner Garbhagriha, also known as the sanctum sanctorum, contains the idol, while the outer sanctum is an open area that resembles a corridor.
History
Legend has it that gods and goddesses often took the form of animals, birds, or humans to experience life on Earth. In one of their expeditions, Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati also did the same and took the form of deer. They reached Nepal’s forested areas and were enthralled by the land's beauty. They decided to make Nepal, especially the banks of the Bagmati River, their home. Even when other gods insisted they return to their cosmic duties, Lord Shiva resisted, which compelled them to use force, which turned into a violent battle. During this battle, Lord Shiva, masquerading as a deer, lost one of his antlers. The initial lingam as Pashupatinath temple was this particular antler.
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The lingam is speculated to have been found by Mother Earth after being lost for a long time. One day, Kamadhenu, a cow-headed deity, descended to earth, irrigated the surrounding soil with her milk, and found the lingam. A wooden temple was then built around it.
Although the precise date is still unknown, it is believed that the temple has been in this exact location since 400 AD. The five-story wooden edifice that now stands atop the temple was constructed during that time by Sasusapa Deva King. The temple was rebuilt in the fifth century and again in the 13th century by the then-kings of Kathmandu. In addition to the primary temple, the current complex was built in the 17th century.
All things religious
Pashupatinath Temple stands for an old Hindu principle that says sex and death shouldn’t be denigrated. As a result, the temple has sensuous artwork on its roof as well as a ritual cremation place on the bank of the revered Bagmati River.
It is said that the sins a soul commits while living on earth will be forgiven if they worship Pashupatinath. This might also be one of the reasons why many religious people make it a point to visit this once in their lifetime for spiritual redemption. Not just that, some even prefer to spend their last seconds in the temple premises as it is believed that people who pass away at the Pashupatinath Temple are said to be reborn as humans, regardless of any wrongdoing that may make their karma worse.
A pilgrimage haven
Lord Shiva is said to have appeared as a pillar of light that pierced the universe. The places where the light came in contact with the earth are known as Jyotirlingam. Twelve of the 63 Jyotirlinga that were initially thought to exist are considered very lucky and sacred. Each of the twelve Jyotirlinga, which are scattered around the world, is now a Shiv Mandir. One of them is the Pashupatinath temple, which is regarded as a very pure pilgrimage site.
Pashupatinath is the main temple in the premises, but there are 492 other smaller temples in the complex, including Guhyeshwari Temple, Vatsala Temple, Ram Temple, and Sati’s Gate.
The idol in the main temple may only be touched by four priests. Bhatta and Rajbhandari, two sets of priests, perform the daily rituals. While Rajbhandaris are assistants and temple keepers who are not authorised to perform puja rituals or touch deity, Bhattas carry out the daily routine and are permitted to touch the lingam.
Photo Credit: Rebika Bishokarma
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