Reasons to visit Pashupatinath Temple, you ask? Then, if you are a curious-minded folk in terms of religions, culture, and tradition Pashupatinath is the perfect place to witness Hinduism firsthand. It’s a mash-up of religion, art, culture, and history that makes Pashupatinath a must-see.
Pashupatinath Temple, nestled on the banks of the Bagmati River in Kathmandu city, is one of Lord Shiva’s most prominent sanctuaries — not only in Nepal but around the world. It is the oldest temple in Kathmandu Valley and is recognized as the fourth most important historical place in Asia for devotees of Lord Shiva. This is the home of Nepal’s national deity, Lord Shiva’s incarnation Pashupatinath, who is the father of all living creatures in the universe according to Hinduism.
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Pashupatinath Temple complex, spanning both banks of the Bagmati River. It is Nepal’s largest and most sacred Hindu temple. UNESCO is managing this temple as a World Heritage site. This place holds important significance for the Buddhist community as well. In 1979, UNESCO inscribed the Pashupatinath Temple as a World Heritage Site. This vast Hindu temple precinct is a sprawling assemblage of temples, ashrams, statues, and inscriptions constructed over centuries along the banks of the sacred Bagmati River. The temple grounds are a living museum.
You may find reasons stated below to visit the Pashupatinath temple that match your interests:
Historical Importance
One of the reasons to visit Pashupatinath Temple is because of its historical importance which makes it a must-see. The history depicts the legends of Lord Shiva and the extraordinary origin of Pashupatinath Temple.
Mythology states that Lord Shiva and his wife, Parvati, landed on the banks of the Bagmati. They were so captivated by the beauty of the place that they decided to transform into deer and roam around. They opted to spend the rest of their lives on the east bank of the Bagmati River.
When the other gods and saints proposed returning the couple to their cosmic form, Lord Shiva declined. With no other choice, the Gods resolved to employ force to bring them back. In the process the gods snatched one of his horns, compelling him to revert to his divine form. The shattered horn was worshiped as a linga, but it was eventually buried and lost. Centuries later, a herdsman spotted one of his cows pouring milk on the ground, and after digging there, he uncovered the celestial linga of Pashupatinath. The Pashupatinath temple came into existence since then.
In terms of facts, the actual era of the main Pashupatinath temple is unknown, although historians believe it was erected in the 5th century, most likely about 400 BCE. It is considered one of the oldest temples in Nepal.
An inscription dated 753 CE by Supuspa Deva, a Lichchhavi King, claims to have built the first wooden temple. However, according to mythology, the lingam was there before this, and King Supuspa Deva erected a five-story temple atop it.
In the 12th century, a King called Shivadeva is claimed to have rebuilt the temple in wood. The magnificent roof was then created in the 13th century by King Ananta Malla during Nepal’s finest creative period. This wooden temple was later destroyed by termites and completely rebuilt in the 17th century.
For the historians and enthusiasts of history, Pashupatinath temple has a lot of reasons to be visited.
Religious Importance
Reasons to visit Pashupatinath temple can be religious purposes. Hindu worshippers all over the world, Pashupatinath Temple is recognized as one of the most significant and sacred pilgrimage places. Hundreds of thousands of Hindu pilgrims from all over the world visit the temple in Nepal. Several more Hindu and Buddhist deities can be found in the region surrounding the main temple. Hence, the Buddhist community also values Pashupatinath immeasurably.
Lord Shiva is one of the Hindu trinity, along with Brahma and Vishnu. He is the father of all living beings and is also considered the god of destruction by Hindus. Having Lord Shiva as a major god in Hinduism, Pashupatinath holds huge significance in the hearts of every Hindu.
A silver snake binds the major idol, or sacrosanctum, a stone Mukhalinga with a silver yoni base. It stands one meter tall and has four faces that symbolize different parts of Shiva: Sadyojata (also known as Barun), Vamadeva (also known as Ardhanareshwara), Tatpurusha, Aghora, and Ishana (imaginative). Each face features little projecting hands, one clutching a rudraksha mala and the other a Kamandalu. Unlike other Shiva lingams in India and Nepal. This lingam is constantly dressed in its golden Vastram (i.e. dress), except during abhisheka, hence pouring milk and Ganga Jal is only accessible through the major priests during the rite.
The holy Shiva Linga in Pashupatinath is more than a reason for the Hindu community to visit Pashupatinath Temple. It has such significance that any Hindu around the world has Pashupatinath Temple way up on their bucket list.
Unique Nepalese Architectural Design
Hindu worshippers attend the temple for religious reasons. While reasons to visit Pashupatinath temple by international tourists are drawn to the shrine’s miniature temples and sculptures of many gods and goddesses. Wooden sculptures, statues, and many carvings devoted to the Hindu god Shiva, as well as other deities, demonstrate the temple’s artistic richness.
The main temple is designed in the Nepalese pagoda style. The two-story copper roofs are covered in gold. The temple stands on a square foundation platform and is 23m 7 cm tall from base to pinnacle. It features four major doors, all of which are coated with silver sheets. A gilded pinnacle crowns this temple (Gajur). There are two Garbhagrihas (womb chambers) inside the inner Garbhagriha, or sanctum sanctorum, which houses the idol, while the outside sanctum is an open corridor-like room.
There are dozens of miniature Shiva shrines in the garden. which is surrounded by stone terraces and accessible through two footbridges across Bagmati and in front of Pashupatinath temple. Wandering sadhus frequently dwells in these one-room shrines, each of which has a Shiva lingam. Although built in various styles, the temples share features such as Shiva’s sinister manifestation, Bhairab, on the South wall, bullhead water spouts on the North side, and Nandi sculptures on the West side.
Various wooden as well as stone sculptures, pagoda-style temples, stupas, and miniature Shiva shrines can be a sweet treat for art enthusiasts.
Observing Hindu Culture
Reasons to visit Pashupatinath Temple hold cultural importance in the Hindu as well as Buddhist communities. So, to observe such culture can be a reason to visit Pashupatinath temple.
Many festivities are connected to Lord Shiva in the Hindu community. However, in Nepal Pashupatinath reminds every Nepali of the day that everyone has to face, and is unavoidable that is the day when we die. This is because there is an Aryaghat, a location created for cremating Hindu dead as the temple is located on the banks of the holy Bagmati River. Talking about death is considered taboo in Western countries. However, the open-air cremation humbles every Hindu devotee to their core as death symbolizes the existence of power beyond everyone’s understanding. This act gives a positive outlook towards life and boasts appreciation towards what we have.
Several festivals are celebrated massively in Pashupatinath. Among these Maha-Shivaratri is one of the most prominent Lord Shiva festivities. During the Shivaratri celebration, a carnival-like atmosphere may be observed here. On this day, hundreds of thousands of Hindu worshippers from all across Nepal and India go to the temple. Aside from that, people go to the temple on Haribodhini Ekadashi and Teej which Nepali ladies celebrate. Moreover, Hindu ladies worship Shiva to get a husband like Shiva himself. Similarly, Lord Shiva worshipers go to the temple every Saturday and Monday.
How to reach Pashupatinath Temple?
While visiting Pashupatinath temple, reaching there is quite easy and simple for international tourists. After landing in Kathmandu Valley, all you have to do is turn right from the main entrance of the Airport premises. Then continue walking straight for about 15 minutes. And you will see the temple premises on your right side. While walking towards the temple, you do not have to worry a bit because there is no chance on earth that you will miss the Pashupatinath area.
Reasons to visit Pashupatinath Temple, If you are an international tourist then Pashupatinath is a perfect destination for art historians and history as well as architecture lovers. For Religious people, Pashupatinath is a must-visit place once in a lifetime. These are the reasons to visit Pashupatinath temple if you are searching for the reasons.
