The Pashupatinath temple (Four face Linga)

 

                                            

Why the Name Pashupati ?

The Lord who can make the Pashu(Animal) free through their  Pasha (type of weapon ) and grant free  so call the name Pasupatinath means  the protector of animal .It is very important place for Hindu and Buddhist followers.  

One of them  remaining 12 Jyotirlingas is  called the head of Shiva . Four faced, Black stone Idol, about 6 feet height. Remaining  all 11 Jyotirlingas are Spread in neighbor country  surrounded 3 side of nepal and one side republic Country China .

 When was the Pashupatinath temple built : Gopalraj Vansavali was written oldest temple of pasupati was bult by Supus Padeva, Linchchvi King , which is written on stone inscription erected by Jayadeva 11 in 753 AD , who was 39 ruler , Mandeva between 464 – 505 AD . which is located bank of  Bagmati river , in the eastern part of Kathmandu , the capital of Nepal .

 

Where is the temple of Pashupatinath? 

The recent temple know as "The temple of Living Beings" constructed by King Bhupendra Mall  is double-storied  , Nepalese Pagoda architecture followed , four silver doors which are dedicate the universe , the temple roofs   are made with copper and  carved wooden strips or rafters support , with  gold  plated , pinnacle is pure gold  .

 The visitor entered the west gate and find the back of the huge big bull call Nandi with brass towards the west face of Linga .

 Main Door of Pasupati Temple 

How old is Pashupatinath temple?

According to stone script the temple was built on 5 to 6  century , later our Hindu master of Adi Sankaracharya   start to the Vaishnav Sect. Bhatta Brahmins of South India , who allowed to touch the Main Shivalinga , start ritual worship where other  only assistant the main Bhatta help to carry the follower to easy finish their worship and secure the main Lingam inside the   Chamber of temple 

 

   Things that should not be done while entering the Pashupati Temple are as follows.

•  Leather items such as shoes, slippers (belts, purses, etc. are not allowed) are to be deposited at the storage table next to the temple.
• While  enter the main gate taking photos with cameras and mobile phones is not allowed, carrying items like lighters, pistols, knives, explosives are completely prohibited.
• Only Hindu, Buddhists are allowed to enter. For others, the guard sitting at the gate will identify them and send them back.

Time Table of Daily Rituals and rights  .

S.N.	Time
1	4:00  AM	West gate Open for hindu devotee
2	8:30 AM	Four faced  Jyotirlingas with Honey , Sugar, Cow milk , curd and ghee bath , new clothes and jewelry with change for day  by main Bhatta .
3	9:30 AM	Special Ball Bhog offered to Pasupati .
4	10:00 AM to 1:45 PM	Devotee puja  who come all over the hindu.
5	1:50 MP	Food  offer main Pashupati  Temple .
6	2:00 PM	All door closed .
7	5:15 PM	Open with Arti for devotee
8	7:00 PM	All door of Temple  are closed .

The small temples inside the temple that should be visited are named as follows.

• In the Pasupatis inner sanctum (four-faced Mukhlinga Shiva Linga, each face is considered to represent a different deity, air, water, fire and earth).
•  There is a small temple of Hanuman beside the big Nandi.
• The large statue of Nandi, the vehicle of Lord Shiva, is made of brass.
• The temple of Radha Krishna who is the symbol of love and harmony is worshiped in this temple.
• Especially on the occasion of Kaal Bhairav, couples pray in this temple to pray for long life of their son or husband.
• The King of Nagas, Sri Vasuki Nath, is freed from the snake dosha, and since Mahakal Shiva stays close to his neck, devotees do special puja to Vasuki Nath, saying that their wishes will be fulfilled soon.
• There is a temple of Bishnu Narayan and Mata Lakshmi next to the west gate. There is a temple that visitors should not miss.
• Coming out of the Diksha gate of the temple, there are 108 Shiva Ligams and it is also called Bhul Bhulaiya. According to the old belief, the one who comes out safely will come out from all the problems in life.
• For meditation and kirtan, the bhajan congregation is sitting on a high place towards the north.

Outside the Pashupati temple, the names of the temples that should not be missed are     as follows.

1) The temple of Mata Guhyeshwari is located on the bank of Bagmati in another part of the temple of Sati Devi and non-Hindus are prohibited from entering it. To know about this temple please click on this link

2) After crossing the Goretto bridge, the temple of Gorakhnath is located in the forest area on a high hill. Along with bird sparrows, deer, deer can also be observed.

3) While crossing the bridge, it is seen that the dead bodies brought from different places of Nepal are being cremated at the crematorium on the west side. It is written in various records that if you perform the last rites at this place, you will live directly in heaven.

4) They have built small caves for meditation, there is an old belief that if you sit in it and meditate, you will get complete meditation in a short time.

5) There is a Buddha image made in the 7th century.

6)  Raj Rajeshwari Temple is located there.

    Have a good day . Thank you for reading my blog .

Ganga Arti :

Start at 6:00 Pm, Other Side of  Bagmati Ganga Aarti , along with shiva’s Tandava, Bhajan, shore , Crowed has gaining lots of devotee moreover  hindu festival, like Ekadasi , Sankranti , Mahashivaratri , Teej, Raksa Bandhan , Grahan ( Eclipse) , Poonrima (full moon day )  Performed special  On Saturdays , Mondays  . 

Visitor who come to explore the place can allowed have a look Ganga Arti and death ceremony along side of bank of Bagmati river where they take picture, make film , site seeing . During the night temple glow with ghee lamps and different types of electric lights, whole night the remains temple open at night .

 Death Ceremonies.

Beside of Pasupati Temple the holi river Bank of Bagmati river continuously the human dead body cremated for the last rites of the Hindus for believers eases entry into paradise.

In Hinduism,funral rituals are intended for the peace and salvation of the deceased . The funeral is  done at the Arya Ghat on the banks of the Bagmati, in which the eldest son lights the physical body of the deceased and burns the body of the deceased .

Immediately the sons shave their heads, wear  white blankets and follow a limited diet for 13 days and physically isolate themselves from everyone .

 

On the 13^th day, the procession of the deceased is celebrated as if it were celebrated in the other world . Activities are organized on the same day of every month to recognize their memory and remember their souls . Finally , on the first and upcoming death anniversaries , an annual “ Shradhanjali” is held to ensure that the deceased’s journey to the afterlife is not forgotten .

 

There are many Aryaghats all over the country, but among  all the Aryaghats of Pashupatinath, this one is considered the holiest. Pashupatinath has 2 main Ghats, one is western and Eastern Ghats . Western Ghats are considered the most sacred.

 It is believed that Lord Shiva spent a lots of time on these banks of the Bagmati , in his deer form , so anyone who is cremated is sure to be reborn as a mortal in their next life .

 

There are two footbridges to reach this side of the Ghat from the Pashupatinath temple . Pashupatinath is a holy places for senior citizens where all their sins will be forgiven and they will get a new chance at life in any mortal form of their act.

 

Near the Western Ghats is an old age home at Pashupatinath , Where the senior citizens get a chance to live close to their Lord and die a holy death. Tha old age home , known as Pancha Deval .

Hinduism glorifies a happy life as much as good death and Pashupatinath is the means o achieve this . 

 

One of unique Festival  Trishul Jatra : 

The is the culture rituals  which is celebrated Newari culture , on Bhalbhala Ashtami ,at huge mass of people gathered at Pashupati premises as a witness . around 10 to 12 young , with tight the "Khat " its made with wooden carry on shoulder , two  people climb top of khat with hold a child perform like Shiva weopon (Trishul) 

After the  mass of people finished round all over place ,child , young ,old cried and finish the Jatra. 

Video -1  

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Important festival related Pasupatinath .

 

Mahashivarati Special . the Hindu Mythology  when Lord Shiva perform “ Shiva Tandav “ for Cycle of Creation ,Preservation, and Destruction of universe at  month of Falgun ,14^th day of the dark fortnight ,   special Nepalese girl do fast ,worship to four face Jyotirlingas .

 

At night so many meditator, Jogi, sadhu santha , Aghori , Naga Baba , who come from india and Nepal .they are set the fire and pry (Bhajan,Kirtan,mantra chanting for peace and well health.   

 

Teej Festival at  Pasupati 

On the occasion of Haritalik Teej festival, there is a throng of devotees at Pashupatinath temple and other temples across the country.

Gaurishankar Parajuli, Head of Culture Preservation Division of Pashupati Area Development Fund, informed that all four doors of the temple were opened at 3:00 am for the devotees coming to Pashupatinath temple on Teej festival.

Four queues have been arranged for the devotees coming to the Pashupatinath temple. Pashupatinath regular pilgrims were given darshan before Kosala at 6:00 am. According to the fund, after 6:00 am, only women Bertalu were allowed to enter the Pashupatinath main temple.

In the Pashupati area, security arrangements have been made in coordination with all the four security agencies. In the morning, the devotees have returned after waiting in the queue for half an hour. Services such as health camps, free water distribution, and search centers have also been arranged in the Pashupati area.

Today, small and big temples including Makhan Mahadev temple area known as small Pashupatinath temple located in Gokarneshwar, Doleshwar, Nageshwar, Vasantpur in Kathmandu valley are crowded with devotees.

Haritalika (Teez) festival celebrated on the day of Bhadra Shukla Tritiya is being celebrated today by worshiping Devadidev Mahadev. It is a religious belief that if you fast and worship Shiva Parvati on Bhadra Shukla Tritiya, you will get family happiness, peace and well-being.

It is believed that this fast started with the belief that Parvati, daughter of the Himalayas during the Satya Yuga, got the boon of Sri Mahadev's husband by doing penance at Gaurighat. Legend has it that Himalaya, Parvati's father, tried to marry Vishnu against Parvati's wishes and told his friends about his problem.

After knowing that Parvati was in trouble, her friends abducted her and hid her in a place where no one would see her and where her friends had hidden her.There is a religious belief that Parvati fasted and got Mahadev as her husband.

Thus, the day when Parvati was killed by her friends was the day of Bhadra Shukla Tritiya, so there is a religious opinion that the practice of observing Haritalika (Teez) fast started from that time. Haritalika is a combination of two Sanskrit words 'Harit' and 'Alika'. In which the word 'Harit' means deprived and the word 'Alika' means friend.