Pashupatinath Temple, Kathmandu – Legends

Pashupatinath Temple, Kathmandu – Legends

Pashupatinath:

According to a legend recorded in local texts, especially the Nepala Mahatmya and the Himavatkhanda, the Hindu god Shiva once fled from the other gods in Varanasi to Mrigasthali, the forest on the opposite bank of the Bagmati River from the temple. Shiva was so impressed by its beauty and the surrounding forest that he and Parvati changed themselves into deer and walked into the forest. Many spots in the Kathmandu Valley have been identified as places where Shiva went during his time as a deer. After a while, the people and gods began to search for Shiva. Finally, after various complications, they found him in the forest, but he refused to leave.

The gods later caught up with him and grabbing him by one of his horns, forced him to resume his divine form. The broken horn was worshipped as a Shivalinga. Ultimately Lord Shiva announced that, since he had lived by the Bagmati river in a deer's form, he would now be known as Pashupatinath, Lord of all animals. It is said that whoever came here and beheld the lingam that appeared there would not be reborn as an animal. Over time, this Shiva Lingam was lost.

Rediscovering of Lost Shiva Linga:

It is said that the wish-fulfilling cow Kamadenu took shelter in a cave on the Chandravan mountain. Everyday Kamadenu went down to the place the Lingam was sunken into the soil and poured her milk on top of the soil. After a few thousand years some people saw Kamadenu pouring milk on that same spot every day, and started to wonder what that would be. So, they removed the soil and found the beautiful shining lingam and started worshiping it.

People worshipped Lord Shiva here:

Indra and all Devas are believed to have worshipped Shiva here. Arjuna, the Pandava Prince is believed to have worshipped Shiva here, and obtained the Pashupata Astram.