Nepal Travel Guide
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Heritage Tour
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The Temples of Pashupatinath

Since thousands of years, the 264-hecate-big complex of Lord Pashupatinath temple by the bank of holy river Bagmati, which shelters around 500 Hindu temples, and also residences of the a thousand or so local people related, have been the centre of creed. Beside being the prime centre of devotion for the Hindus of the Himalayan Kingdom, it has been one of the most adored pilgrimage for the Hindus of India too.

The Pashupatinath Temple area is an abode of rituals and festivals around the calendar. Mahashivaratri is the most widely celebrated festival in the Pashupatinath area. Balachaturdashi, Haritalika Teej, Haribodhini Ekadashi, Harishayani Ekadashi and Mukhastami are some of the local festivals.

The temple is one among the seven major monument zones that makes the Kathmandu Valley a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Apart from the main shrine, the temples of Basuki, Unmatta Bhairav, Kotilingeshwar and some other are inside the temple courtyard. Guheshowri, Vishowrup, Gorakhanath, Ram, Kirateshwar, Rajrajeshowri, Batsaleshowri, Panchadeval, Bankali and Shitala lie around the holy shrine. And the temples of Battais Putali, Jaya Bageshowri, Charumati Bihar, Chabahil Lokeshowr, Chabahil Stupa, Chandra Vinayak, Bhandareshowr Mahadev, Tamreshowr Mahadev are some among other major shrines of the protected monument zone.

Pashpati's lingam

The historical cronicles atest that the form of the lingam, as the idol, have came into existance in as early as by the beginning of the 5th century. However, the present one should not be older than that of 1350 AD as that was the year when a Muslim invader shattered the holy idol into pieces.

All Hindus who have been there to scatter sadbeau light oil lamps in the name of the dead soul on the eve of Balachaturdashi. Though there is no reliable information when this tradition began, people believe that Lord Shiva first commenced the tradition.

According to Pandit Hari Nath Gautam, in the sacred book of Shivapuran, the Sadbeau is the mixture of seeds like lentil, wheat, barley, maze, fruits and sweet potato, among others. The tradition began after the death of Aghori (hermit who eats everything) Balasur. When this baba of Aghorpanthi community turned a man-eater, the other communities had a major tussle. Then the people from other communities convinced a barber, Balasur's childhood friend, to kill him. After the homicide, a conflict broke out between the Aghorpanthi community and other communities, resulting in mass murder. After the violence and murder, both groups realised their mistakes and went to Lord Shiva to forgive them. Lord Shiva then ordered them to scatter sadbeau in the name of Balasur, in every place where Balasur used to wander around.

Pashupatinath
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Pashupatinath Gallery
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Earthquake in Nepal
25 April 2015 M 7.8 Earthquake in Nepal
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Links
External links
Pashupati Area Development Trusts Pashupatinath
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