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Pashupatinath is one of
the four most important religious sites in Asia for Shiva devotees.
Pashupatinath, dedicated to Shiva the Destroyer, is the holiest Hindu
pilgrimage destination in Nepal. Although the Pashupatinath Temple was
only built in the fifth century and later renovated by Malla kings, the
holy site is said to have existed from the beginning of the millennium.
A gold-plated roof, four
silver doors, and wood carvings of the finest quality decorate the
pagoda temple of Pashupatinath. Temples dedicated to several other Hindu
and Buddhist deities surround the temple of Pashupatinath. Nearby is the
temple of Guheshwori dedicated to Shiva's consort Sati Devi. Behind the
temple is the River Bagmati. On the banks of Bagmati are raised
platforms used as cremation sites for Hindus. Only Hindus are allowed
inside the Pashupatinath courtyard.
Pashupatinath is the
other popular name of Shiva. Shiva in the form of Rudra was imagined by
the early Aryans and later was worshipped in the form of a Linga, a
Phallus, a vertical piece of stone placed in an upward position on a
round pedestal. The Indus Valley civilisation in Pakistan has shown that
the peo- ple there worshipped Shiva in the form of a Linga in about the
3rd century BC. Besides south Asia, archaeological excavations in some
ancient cities of Europe have revealed that the linga-worship cult ex-
isted there too.
Pashupatinath, in a
limited sense, literally means the Lord of the Animals. But animal is
also a term that denotes the animal like instincts in human beings.
Capable of destroying instantly every evil force either with his trident
or the third eye, when it comes to his devotees, the Lord Pashupatinath
destroys their igno- rance. Be it an issue of material gain or release
from the cycle of mortal existence he is the height of compassion,
generosity, as well as consciousness.
Shiva has been
worshipped in Nepal from the beginning of the Neolithic civilisation in
the Kathmandu Valley, with scientific archaeological studies and
findings around the temple proving that the god Pashupatinath was
worshipped here from about the beginning of the Christian era. From
about the 7th century onwards it became the first and foremost temple of
Nepal, with kings, aristocrats and the rich offering a great deal of
wealth and land in trust to the god, making it one of the richest
temples in Nepal. Many temples and stat- ues around the temple were
added making it a big complex rather than just a temple. The main God or
the Linga of Pashupatinath is carved on a blackish stone, with four
faces engraved on four sides of the Linga.
Nepal is
constitutionally a Hindu kingdom so non- Hindus cannot enter the temple,
although Buddhists can. But no one is allowed to enter the inner sanctum
except the Bhattas, the main priests who come from the south of India.
The temple starts swarming with devotees around 4am every morning.
However the top of the hill to the east of the temple is the ideal place
for the non Hindu visitor to view the temple, its rich surroundings, and
below on the edge of the Bagmati river the ghats where the dead are
brought to be cremated Situated on the top of a small hill about 15
kilometers east of Kathmandu and only a few miles north of Bhaktapur,
the temple of Changu Narayan is perhaps the best and oldest in the
context of Nepa- lese art and architecture. Built around 239 A.D., it s
not only the temple but the whole complex which is an open air museum -
breathtaking and bewildering in character.
Some important monuments
to see in this area are:
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Gorakhnath
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Rajrajeswari
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Pancha-Dewal
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Bankali
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Arya-Ghat
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Birupakchhya
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