Location
Province: Province 3
In the Gaushala Pashupatinath region of Kathmandu Metropolitan City, the purest Hindu shrine of Pashupatinath is located. The area of Pashupatinath extends across 264 hectares of land, and it is considered to be the ‘Aradhya Dev of Nepal’.
There are other temples, lakes, stone-water sources, Devalayas, pilgrim homes, and more than thousands of Shivalingas. The main temples of Pashupatinath are: Guheshwori, Gorakhnath, Bishwarupa, Rajrajeshwori, Vatsaleshowri, Bhubaneshwar, Dakshinamurti, Bajreshowri, Bankali, Jaybagishwori, Kirateshwori, Tamreshwori, Bhandareshwori, Chandra Binayak (Chabahil Ganesh), among others.
The Pashupati area was enlisted in the World Heritage List in 2036 B.S. (1979 A.D.). And for the construction and preservation of the area, Pashupatinath Kosh (Fund) was established in 2044 B.S. This temple stands 4,500 feet above sea level (1371.6 metres), and it is constructed in pagoda style. It is two-storied with one door on every four sides, and the pinnacle (gajur) is said to be made of gold. The doors are laminated with silver, and in front of the main entrance, there is a statue of Mahadev’s cow Nandi, 15 feet in height (4.57 metres).
How to reach
This holy shrine is located centrally in Kathmandu, thus there is no difficulty in transportation. Kathmandu is connected from most of the places across the country, while the temple is very close to the international airport. Thus, it is easy and accessible even for foreign devotees.
Significance and Traditional Beliefs
Although the exact date of Pashupatinath’s origin cannot be traced, it is said to be more than two thousand years old. There are many legends and theories behind the belief of the temple. In ancient times, it is said that the ‘Sleshmantak forest’ is where God Shiva appeared as a deer. As legend goes, God Shiva stayed in the Sleshmantak and visited God Brahma, Vishnu and Indra as a light.
At the Temple’s North-West side, Devi Parvati is believed to have worshiped God Shankar, another name for God Shiva by offering the water from a nearby pit. She used to bathe on the same pit, ate leaves from the nearby trees, and meditated for a long time, after which God Shankar became contented with her determination and appeared before her.
Subsequently, the earliest Nepal civilisation, Kiratis, worshiped Shiva as their deity. It is believed that in the Mahabharata, Nepal is referred to as Shiva-Bhumi, Shiv’s country. Pashupatinath has been mentioned in Skanda Puran, Shiva Puran, Varah Puran, and Kautilya’s Treaties (Arthashastra).
पुण्यं पाशुपतं क्षेत्रं गुह्यायाः पीठमुत्तमम् ।
उभयं सिद्धिदं लोके भुक्तिमुक्ति प्रदायकम् ।।
The Pashupati Kshetra and Guheyshwori Peeth area is known to be special amongst the other peeths as devotees visit these locations to overcome difficulties and achieve peace and prosperity.
According to Gopal Vamshavali (Manuscript), it is believed that when Sleshmantak forest was still intact, a cow named Brahmi was shearing milk on the river bank. When the herders dug up that particular space, they found the light of Pashupatinath, also known as Jyotirlinga. There they were said to have established the Pashupatinath Temple.
Furthermore, a Shilapatra, stone-script present in the Pashupatinath Temple, which Jayadev Ditiya wrote in 780 B.S. (723 A.D.) mentioned that King Sushupta (Supuspa) Dev constructed the Pashupatinath Temple. His 39th descendant was King Namdev. The present temple was re-constructed during the 17th century, 1682 B.S. (1625 A.D.), by Bhuptindra Malla and Siddhi Laxmi Malla. There is also a seal in the temple, scripted on a wood panel, which is said to be done by King Jay Malla in 1682 B.S.
Traditionally, being cremated in the Pashupatinath Area is said to wash away all the mortal sins, and the dead shall reach Shiva’s world called Shiv Lok so there are many cremations that take place at Pashupati Temple.
Main Festivities and Jatras
Baishak Shukla Ashtami, there will be Dhanjo Chaitya Jatra, (May 8, 9).
Special festivities
• Panchamrit Snan in Baishak (April/May),
• Dashhara Parva in Jestha (May/June),
• Guru Purnima in Ashad (June/July),
• Pavitrahoran in Shrawan (July/August),
• Baikuntha Chaturdashi in Kartik (October/November),
• Mahapuja and Bala Chaturdashi in Mangsir (November/December),
• Khichadi Bhog in Poush (December/January),
• Chaturdashi Chaya Darshan in Magh (January/February),
• Maha Shivaratri and Krishna Chaturdashi in Falgun (February/Mar).
Then from Chaitra Shukla Purnima to Baishak Shukla Purnima, (April/May)
Other than that, on Ram Navami (April), Ganga Dashhara, Shrawani Purnima (August), Shree Krishna Janmashtami (August), every Monday of Shrawan month (July/August), Rishi Panchami (August/September) and Poush Shukla Purnima (January) and on Shukla Chaturdashi of Kartik month (December).
The main festival of Pashupatinath is Maha Shivaratri. It is believed that during this period the Jyotirlinga is said to have appeared. There is a 16-step ritual, also known as ‘Shodashopchar’ of God Shiva, which is conducted during this time.
Then from Chaitra (March/April) Shukla Purnima to Baishak (April/May) Shukla Purnima, for one month, 125 pots of water are taken to bathe the Pashupati. This is also called offering water. And on every Purnima (fullmoon), Mahasnan, special bathing is done in the evening, and a special meal prepared by the priests is taken. That meal is known as Maha Bhog. While in the month of Kartik (November/December), Maha Bhog is taken on Chaturdashi.
On Shukla Chaturdashi of Kartik (October/November) month, Buddhist followers conduct Chaya darshan. They worship Pashupatinath, believing it to be one of the Bodhisattva paths to Buddhism.
