PASHUPATI NATH TEMPLE

PASHUPATI NATH TEMPLE-                                                                                                               

Pashupati Nath temple,located about 5 kms east of  the central Kathmandu, is the oldest and most significant hindu shrine in side Nepal. This temple complex is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
This temple, located at the right bank of Baghmati river, is supposed to be a very important pilgrimage centre for Hindus. The importance of  this religious place has been described in  several  religious books.As the name of the Lord reveals itself , Pashupati Nath is the Lord (Nath) of all living beings (Pashu).

The Linga of Lord Shiva at Pashupati Nath temple is "Swayambhu" and there are several beliefs about the discovery of this sacred Linga ,however the common belief is that during the ancient period, a cow from cowshed used to come hear and pour her milk at a particular place. When the Gwala (Dairy Owner) enquired about it,he found  the place where his favourite cow used to offer her milk. There after he started digging that place and found the sacred Linga of Lord Shiva and since then thousands of devotees are daily visiting this religious place.Traditionally, since the time of Adi Shankaracharya, the main four priests of this shrine known as Bhatts are the Brahmin from south India. During monarchy period, the chief priest , known as Mool Bhatt or Raval was only answerable to the king of Nepal. The Raval, during the performance of religious duties and rituals, is assisted by the other priests.
The architecture of the main temple looks like a large Nepalese Pagoda, having  ornamented doors in all the four sides. This temple, which houses the sacred  four faced Linga of Lord Pashupati Nath, stands in the middle of an open courtyard .Several rulers of Nepal ,from time to time renovated and made their contributions in beautifying this shrine. Outside the main temple but within the temple complex,there are beautiful  idols of  several other deities including the Nandi and Vasuki (the mythical snake). It is believed that Vasuki  resides in this temple to guard his Lord ,the Pashupati Nath. Visitors are not allowed to touch the sacred Linga of Lord Pashupati Nath.                                             
 It is believed that a pilgrimage to Pashupatinath temple leads to salvation (Moksha) and after visiting this shrine, the devotees are liberated from the pain and sufferings of repeated births.There are certain restrictions for Non Hindu visitors  and the photography inside the main temple is also not allowed.

While visiting this temple, devotees are also advised to visit  Guheyshwari Devi Shaktipeeth temple near the Pashupati Nath shrine.It is believed that while performing an important YAGYA at Kankhal Haridwar, Daksha Prajapati intentionally did not invited Lord Shiva in the religious gathering ,when this fact came in the knowledge of the Goddess Sati, she felt insulted and sacrificed her life by jumping in to the flames .Afterwards when the whole incident came in the knowledge of Lord Shiva, he instructed his GANAS to destroy the yagya and to punish the Daksha Prajapati. The Guheyshwari Devi temple, is believed to be one of the 51 such Shaktipeeth Sthal where the remains of Sati fell during the ancient time, when the charred body of Goddess Sati  was being carried by Lord Shiva. Guheyshwari Devi is believed to be the Shakti of Lord Pashupati Nath. 

During my visit to Kathmandu, I also got an opportunity to visit an other important religious site known as Budha Nilkanth. This is a unique religious place where  the devotees can  have a glimpse of sacred idol of Lord Vishnu, lying on the Anant Shesh ,the eleven hooded serpent, inside the cosmic ocean .This magnificent huge idol is  about seventeen ft long and carved on a single piece of stone, where the Lord Vishnu holds customarily Shankh, Chakra, Gada and Padama in his four hands.Non hindu visitors, visiting this site, are not allowed to touch  this sacred idol.