Pashupatinath Temple

Pashupatinath Temple
Name:	Pashupatinath Temple
Date built:	At least 1500 years back
Primary deity:	Pashupatinath
Architecture:	pagoda
Location:	Kathmandu, Nepal

Pashupatinath temple (पशुपतिनाथ मन्दिर) is a Hindu temple located on the shore of the Bagmati river on the eastern part of Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal.

It is regarded as the most sacred temple of Shiva (Pashupati) in the world. Thousands of pilgrims from
all over the world, particularly from Nepal and India pay
homage to this temple everyday. "Shivaratri" or night of lord Shiva is an especially
important day in this temple when tens of thousands of people throng here for
the annual celebration.

Locals have long regarded Pashupatinath temple as a very important part of
the city, both religiously and culturally. Thousands of locals begin their day
by visiting the temple and receiving blessings from lord Shiva early in the
morning. Along the shores of the Bagmati river near the temple lies "Arya Ghat",
the most widely used place of cremation for the deceased in Nepal, especially in
and around the Kathmandu valley. There is also a large market in the streets
surrounding the temple. Vendors sell souvenirs to tourists, but also cloth,
dyes, and religious supplies.

Believers of the faith Hinduism
are allowed to enter the temple. Non-Hindu visitors are allowed to have a look
at the temple from the other bank of Bagmati river

The unique feature of this temple is that only four priests can touch the
idol. The priests are always from south India. This tradition is supposed to
have started by Sage Shankaracharya in 6th century, ostensibly to stop human sacrifice which
was prevalent in that temple.

The more official view of Indian priests being stationed at Pashupatinath is
because when the King passes away, the entire Nepali people are supposed to stop
religious services and enter a year long period of mourning. As the
Pashupatinath needs to be eternally worshipped, Indians were brought to make
sure that the Pashupatinath is worshipped even at the time of official
mourning.

The temple is of pagoda architecture.
The two level roofs are of copper with gold covering. It has four main doors,
all covered with silver sheets. The western door has a statue of large bull or
Nandi, again covered in gold. The idol is of black stone, about 6 ft in height
and about 6ft circumference.

The priests are called Bhattas and
the chief priest is known as Mool Bhatt or Raval. The chief priest
is answerable only to the King of Nepal and reports to him on the matters
of temple on periodic basis.

East of the temple is the Vasukinath.

One of the most known Chief Priest was Raval Padmanabha Shastri Adiga
(1927-2005). He started as a priest in 1955 and was promoted as Chief priest in
1967. In his time, he started a movement to use the temple funds for local
development. He retired in 1993 and moved back to his home town Udupi. Nepal is said to be run by Pashupatinath.Everytime
in history when Nepal has bad rulers bad government the country is still run and
still exists.Recent times with all corrupt leaders and mad king , strikes,
bandas, nepal is still governed by Pashupatinath.jay sumbho.

Gallery

Pashupatinath Temple	Pilgrim in Pashupatinath	Dye seller outside Pashupatinath	Shiva temple in Pashupatinath
Entrance to main temple, forbidden for Non-hindu's. Shiva's Nandi bull can be seen from the rear	Cremations on Bagmati riverbank	Sadhu at Pashupatinath	A holyman crosses Bagmati river with a plank of wood