The Holiest Hindu Temple- Pashupatinath Temple

This temple is one of the famous Hindu temples in capital of Nepal which is Kathmandu. This temple is the symbol of religion, faith, tradition and culture. The architecture of the temple is so beautiful and fascinating. Pashupatinath temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva, many devotees came to this temple for the worship of lord Shiva. From all over world 1000 of pilgrims came to pay homage to this temple this is the reason this temple is also famous with the name “The Temple of Living Beings”

There are many things to see in the temple. Few of them are listed below.

• Chaturmukha which is the four faced statue
• Images of guardian deities which is gold painted
• An inscribed Licchavi linga which is named as Chadeshvar from 7th century
• Dharmashila is a stone where scared oaths are taken
• Temple of Brahma
• Gauri Ghat where holy bath is taken
• Arya Ghat
• Temples of Vishwarup and Gorakhnath
• 15 shrines which is also famous with the name of Pandra Shivalyas
• Guhyeshwari temples
  
• Surya Ghat and Kirateshwar Mahadeva Mandir

Architecture
The architecture of the temple is really beautiful and astonishing as four doors of the temple are adorned with silver and roofs of two levels of a temple are embellished with gold. The temple is built in pagoda style because of which also it is famous for. At the western door of a temple a statue of Nandi which is a large bull is situated. The statue of Nandi is one of the beautiful statues of temple which is 6 ft high and in circumference and the whole statue is also decorated with gold. The renovation of this temple was done by Queen Gangadevi which is the present architecture of the temple.

Legends
There are many legends behind this temple some of them are mentioned below

The Cow Legend
Once upon a time Lord Shiva change himself in antelope and sported in the forest of east bank of Bagmati River unknowingly. After some time gods caught him and also grab him by horn and forced him to resume his original divine form. During this the horn was broke and that broken horn then worshiped as Linga but with the time passes it was buried and lost. After many centuries one herdsman found that one of his cow showering her milk on the earth. He starts digging the earth and he found the Linga of Pashupatinath which was buried in the earth.

The Linchchhavi Legend
This legend says that this temple was built by Supus Padeva which was the Linchchhavi king in 753 AD.

The Devalaya Legend
This legend says that before constructing Supus five stories temple of Pashupatinath, this was in the form of Linga shaped Devalaya. With the time the need of renovating and repairing of temple has arise. It is said that there was a king names Shivadeva in mediaeval time that reconstructed this temple and renovated by Ananta Malla by adding roof to the temple.

Festivals
Pashupatinath temple is one of the famous temples for Hindus, devotees from all over world came for worship and to pay at homage. You will see fair of people on some special occasions like Sankranti, Ekadasi, and Poornima which is also called Full Moon, Mahashivratri, Rakshabandhan, Teej Akshaya, and Grahana which is also called eclipse. People came on these occasions to worship Lord Shiva.

Shivaratri is the festival during which the whole temple lit with ghee lamps and the temple remain open for whole night. People used to visit at this temple to take holy bath in Bagmati River and also they fasting whole day. Sages from all over world used to came at this temple on this festival.

Auspicious Days to Visit
In the month of August on the occasion of Teej women from all over world used to visit to temple for taking holy bath in Bagmati River. This is the ritual meant for women for their long and happy marriage. Women used to dress them as a bride on this day. New moon and Full moon are also auspicious days to visit at Pashupatinath temple.

Good to know
As per legend which is recorded in local text, especially in Himavatkhanda and Nepalamahatmya the lord Shiva fled from all other gods to Mirgasthali in Varanasi, which is the forest on the Bagmati River’s opposite bank.  There he slept with Parvati in the form of gazelle. After some time gods found him there and they try to back him to the Varanasi. Lord Shiva leapt across the river and one of his horns broke there in to four pieces. After this incident Lord Shiva became Pashupati i.e. Lord of animals in a Chaturmukha i.e. four faced Linga.

How to Reach
To reach at Pashupatinath temple is very easy as regular bus service from Kathmandu to Patan is available. The bus will take approximately 45 minutes to reach at Goshala which is the stop for Pashupati.

Battery operated Safaa tempos are also available near the Ratna Park Office that drop pilgrims at ring road which is in west of Pashupatinath