Pashupatinath Temple, Kathmandu – The
Temple
The area
of Pashupatinath encompasses 264 hectares of land including 518 temples and
monuments. Main pagoda style temple is located in the fortified courtyard
within the complex guarded by Semi-Military Nepal
Police and Military Force Nepal
Army and has a police outpost along with living quarter
within. It is located on the Western bank of Bagmati and is considered a
masterpiece of Hindu architecture. In front of the western door, there is a
huge statue Nandi bull, in bronze. Many temples and shrines of both Vaishnava and Saiva tradition can be
found in the Temple complex.
The Temple
courtyard has 4 entrances in all directions. The western entrance is
the main entrance to the temple courtyard and rest three entrances are only
opened during regular time. Temple security (Armed Police Force Nepal) and
Pashupatinath area development trust are selective regarding who is allowed
entry into the inner courtyard. Practising Hindus and Buddhist of Nepali
diaspora are only allowed into Temple courtyard.
Practising
Hindus of western descent are not allowed into the temple complex along with
other non-Hindu Visitors with an exception to Sikh and Jain groups if they are
of Indian ancestry. Others can look at the main temple from adjacent side of
the river and has to pay a nominal fee of $10 (1000 Nepali rupee) for
visiting hundreds of small temples in the external premises of the temple
complex. The inner temple courtyard remains open from 4 am to 7 pm for the
devotee but the Inner Pashupatinath Temple where the Lingam of Lord
Pashupatinath is established is open from 5 am to 12 pm for the morning ritual
and viewing and from 5 pm to 7 pm for evening ritual.
Pasupathi
Temple stands in the center of the town of Deopatan, in the middle of an open
courtyard. It is a square, two-tiered pagoda temple built on a
single-tier plinth, and it stands 23.6 meters above the ground. Richly
ornamented gilt and silver-plated doors are on all sides. The struts under
the roofs, dating from the late 17th century, are decorated with wood carvings
of members of Shiva's family such as Parvati, Ganesh, Kumar or the Yoginis, as
well as Hanuman, Rama, Sita, Lakshman and other gods and goddesses from
the Ramayana.
The
Temple premises include many other old and important temples, shrines and
statues. South of the temple, for instance, is Chadeshvar, an inscribed
Licchavi Linga from the 7th century, and north of the temple is a 9th
century temple of Brahma. On the south side of Pasupathi temple is
the Dharmashila, a stone where sacred oaths are taken, and pillars with
statues of various Shah kings. Unlike many other Saiva temples, devotees are
not allowed to enter in the inner-most Garbhagriha but are allowed to
view from the exterior premises of the outer Garbhagriha.
Numerous
religious buildings are also located on the eastern bank of Bagmati, most of
them are devoted to Shiva. The majority of these buildings are small single
storey constructions made from stone. From the outside these buildings are
reminding crypts, but in reality, these are sacral buildings, created for
holding the symbol of the deity Shiva – lingam (erect phallus). Lingams can be
found all over the complex.
Sanctum:
For
brief details, please refer below link;
Some of
the temples and Shrines in the inner courtyard are;
Budhanilakantha Shrine:
This
Shrine is dedicated to Budhanilakantha (also known as Narayanthan). It is
located in the inner courtyard of Pashupatinath Temple. Its name does not come
from the Buddha; Budhanilkantha stands instead for “Old Blue Throat”. The
statue symbolizes Lord Vishnu, who is regarded as one of the 'Trimurti', along
with Brahma and Shiva.
184 Shivalinga shrine:
This
shrine houses 184 Lingams and located inside the inner courtyard of
Pashupatinath Temple.
Surya Narayana Temple:
This
Temple is dedicated to Sun God Surya. This Temple is located in the inner
courtyard of Pashupatinath Temple.
Vasuki Temple:
In the
northeast corner of the temple courtyard is the small pagoda temple of Vasuki, the King of the Nagas. Vasuki
has the form of a Naga (mythical snake) from the waist upwards, while the lower
parts are an intricate tangle of snakes' bodies. According to local belief,
Vasuki took up residence here in order to protect Pasupathi. One can often see
devotees circumambulating and worshipping Vasuki before entering the main
sanctum.
Kirtimukha Bhairava shrine:
Kirtimukha Bhairava is
the most dangerous and hideous forms of Bhairava. This Bhairava was
created by Lord Shiva to
fight with Rahu but
only a sight of him was enough to scare off Rahu. This Temple is located in the inner courtyard of
Pashupatinath Temple.
Unmatta Bhairava Shrine:
There is a shrine for Unmatta Bhairava, one of the
eight forms of Bhairava the angry form of Shiva. There is a huge metallic image
of Unmatta Bhairava towards the south of the main temple of Pashupatinath. It
is a ten-handed muscular image of Unmatta Bhairava with his male organ fully
erected. It is believed that if an issueless woman touches his organ, she is
blessed with a child. Unmatta Bhairava is also known as one of the Chetra Palaka
of Lord Pashupatinath. Before worship of Lord Shiva, he should be worshipped
first.
Kama Deva Idol:
It is one of the masterpieces of sculpture placed
in the eastern wall of the main courtyard of the Pashupatinath temple.
Hanuman Shrine:
Hanuman
Shrine is dedicated Lord Hanuman, located in the inner courtyard of
Pashupatinath Temple.
Shankaracharya Temple:
It is located near the main gate of the
Pashupatinath temple. It houses a marble statue of Shankaracharya in sitting
posture with his disciples. He made a rule that head priest of the
Pashupatinath must be a Brahmin only from south India. This tradition is still
followed here.
Nandi:
A gigantic image of Bronze Nandi, the bull vehicle
of Lord Shiva can be found immediately after the temple main entrance. It is
about three meters long and five meters high. It is located in front of the
western door. It sits in a graceful
manner facing Lord Shiva. It is essential to take his blessings before entering
into the temple.
Some of
the temples and Shrines in the outer complex are;
Guhyeshwari Temple:
For
brief details, please refer below link;
Bachhareshwari Temple:
Bachhareshwari
Temple is situated very near to the cremation ground on the on the west bank of
Bagmati River. The Temple is dedicated to Goddess Parvati. The Temple is
believed to be built during 6th Century AD. The temple is decorated
with Tantric figures, skeletons and erotic scenes. It is said that human
sacrifices were once made at this temple as part of the Maha Shivaratri Festival.
Birupakshya Temple:
Birupakshya
Temple is a small temple located on the northern banks of Bagmati River in
Pashupatinath Temple Area. Birupakshya is the holy god of Kirat
people's located in Kathmandu erected by Kirati kings of ancient Nepal, believed to be an ancestor. It is also known
as Kirateswor Mahadev. Kirat people are diverse and therefore their
beliefs and deities vary. It is said that; this statue keeps on coming out from
the ground as it is buried. After the idol completely comes out, it is said
that the Kali Yuga will end.
Ram Temple:
Ram
Temple is situated on the southern banks of Bagmati River. This Temple is
believed to be built during 14th Century AD.
Virat Swaroop Temple:
Virat
Swaroop Temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu, situated on the southern banks of
Bagmati River.
Gorakhnath Temple:
Gorakhnath
Temple is dedicated to the 11th Century yogi who founded the
Shaivite monastic tradition and invented Hatha yoga. The Temple survived the earthquake
with minor damage.
Pandra Shivalaya:
Across
the Baghmati River are 15 votive shrines, the Pandra Shivalaya, which were
built to enshrine Lingas in memory of deceased persons of royalty between 1859
and 1869. It was made by Jung Bahadur Rana in memory of kot and bhandarkhal
massacre.
Paanch Devalaya:
The
western bank of Bagmati also hosts the so called Paanch Devalaya (Five temples)
complex, which once was a holy shrine but now serves a shelter for destitute
old people.
Ghats:
Arya
Ghat, dating from the early 1900s, is of special importance because it is the
only place where lustral water for Pashupatinath Temple can be obtained and it
is where members of the royal family are cremated. The main cremation site is
Bhasmeshvar Ghat, which is the most-used cremation site in the Kathmandu
Valley. The preferred bathing spot for women is the Gauri Ghat, to the north. Along
the right bank of Baghmati numerous platforms for funeral pyres are built. The
cremations on these platforms are a common activity.
Bagmati River:
The Bagmati River, which
runs next to Pashupatinath Temple, has highly sacred properties. Thus, the
banks are lined with many Ghats (bathing spots) for use by pilgrims. Renovating
or furnishing these sites has always been regarded as meritorious.
Mrigasthali:
Mrigasthali is located just above the banks of Bagmati
river at Pashupatinath area. Mirgha means Deer in Nepali. It is a small
sanctuary for the Deers in the hills of Pashupati Conversation Area. You will
find more monkeys than deer itself. There is lack of proper care for the Deers
as it is not maintained well by the staffs who operate it. Mrigasthali Deer
Park is next to Arya Ghat and is located in Bagmati Zone, Central Region, Nepal. Mrigasthali Deer
Park has a length of 1.5 Kms.
great work. well covered
ReplyDelete