There are many sites that show the rich culture and history of religion. Learn more in this Essay on Pashupatinath temple.
Essay on Pashupatinath Temple
The Pashupatinath Temple is one of the most sacred holy temples of the Hindus. It is a site that is enlisted by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. This temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva, and thousands of devotees from all over the world come to pray and ask for blessings. It is an important site for devotees as well as researchers who want to know the history and construction of the temple.
The temple is a pagoda-style temple located northeast of the Kathmandu Valley. The windows and doors are beautifully designed. The roofs of the temple are plated with gold and copper. There are four doors, all covered with silver sheets, and at the top of the temple is a gold pinnacle. There are many statues showing the art and architecture of the time. One of the most notable being the huge golden bull statue, Lord Shiva’s vehicle, Nandi. Only followers of Hinduism can enter the main temple, but other temples are accessible to all.
The exact date of the construction of Pashupati isn’t clear, but the evidence of the temple dates back as far as 400 A.D. In Accordance to the oldest chronicle of Nepal, Gopalraj Aalok Vamsavali, the temple has been said to be built by Prachanda Deva, one of the rulers of the Lichhavi dynasty. In the 17th century, the main temple was rebuilt due to the damage caused by the termites. The temples around it were built near the banks of Bagmati in the last few centuries.
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One of the most popular legends surrounding the creation of the temple is that Lord Shiva visited the forest near Bagmati and was enthralled by its beauty. He was disguised in the form of an antelope, and when other gods found out about it, they forced him to return to his true form, breaking his horn in the process. It was found many centuries later by a herder, who found his cow showering that place with milk. When he dug the earth, he found out the linga of Pashupatinath.
There are two groups of priests, the Bhatta and the Rajbhandaris. The Bhatta are highly educated Brahman scholars who perform the daily rituals. The main idol can only be touched by 4 priests, all of them being the Bhatta. The Rajbhandaris are caretakers of the temple, assisting the Bhatta in performing the rituals and cleaning the temple. They are not allowed to perform rituals on their own or touch the idol. There are also Sadhus around the temple. They are sages who wish to be liberated from the cycle of death and rebirth.
From 9 am to 11 pm, all four doors are opened for devotees to see the Shivalinga. This time is called Abhisheka. There are many festivals celebrated in the Pashupati area, with Teej and Maha Shivaratri being the most prominent ones. During festivals, Hindu devotees from around the world visit Pashupatinath temple. There are many monkeys around the temple. They are quite unfriendly and can become aggressive when they feel threatened.
On the banks of the Bagmati River, there are a number of cremation platforms. All Hindus want to be cremated on the riverbanks of Pasupati, believing that in their next life, they will reincarnate as a human and be cleansed of all their sins from previous lives. People go there to pray, to be blessed, and after they die they will be cremated in the very temple. Their ashes are swept up by the river, believing that they will reincarnate.
The temple is a sacred site for all Hindus worldwide. Due to mismanagement, the temple is polluted and dirty. Nevertheless, it is a place of great importance due to its rich history, stunning architecture, and religious rituals.
Hopefully, you’ve learned more through the essay on Pashupatinath Temple!