Exclusive Pictures of The Pashupatinath Temple

Pashupatinath is the most sacred temple of Lord Shiva located situated on the shore of the Bagmati river on the eastern part of Kathmandu.Only the Hindus (believers of Hinduism) are allowed to enter the temple whereas the non-Hindus are only allowed to have a look from the other bank of the Bagmati river.The present temple was built by King Bhupalendra Malla in 1653.The temple is of pagoda architecture with gold plated roof, four silver doors and fine quality wood carvings on it.There is a gold plated statue of a large bull (Nandi bull) on the western door of the temple.The deity, Chaturmukhlinga (Linga with four faces) of Pashupatinath is black in color and is 6 feet tall.It is one of the most venerated Lingas in the whole world

History:
According to the legend once Lord Shiva got tired of everyone and came to Kathmandu Valley in Slesmantak Forest without telling anybody.Before other gods discovered him,he disguised himself into a one-horned stag to get rid of his duties.And when Lord Vishnu grabbed him by his horn, it broke off ,which then became the Pashupatinath Linga. As time went by, the temple was buried and forgotten for a long period.Later a cow (Kamdhenu cow) was found dropping her milk over a mound .The cow herders dug the spot and found the lost Linga and built the temple again.

The view of the whole temple from across the Bagmati River

The main entrance of the temple. Only the Hindus can enter the temple whereas the non-hindus are allowed to have a look from this entrance only.

This is the picture of the main temple.It is a square, two-tiered pagoda temple with such silver doors on all four sides of the temple.The priests of Pashupati temple are called BHATTA.

The gold plated statue of the Nandi Bull

This is a temple at another corner which is surrounded by hundreds of Shivalingams

The Arya Ghat (cremation ground) on the bank of Holy Bagmati River.

The cremation pyres on the bank of Bagmati River.The Hindus believe that to be cremated here brings salvation and releases the dead body from the cycle of rebirth and death.

The votive shrines one behind another which could be seen at once through the first arc.I find this very interesting .

The sadhu Babas. With their unique outfit like of Lord Shiva they stay around the temple area all the time.

The only old age home run by the government since many years.We do have other private old age homes too.

Children swimming in the Bagmati River.

The Pashupatinath area.The temple has quite a large area .

Cows grazing around the Pashupatinath Area

The way to the temple where people sell flowers ans every necessary items for worshiping .