Pashupatinath Temple

Pashupatinath Temple
श्री पशुपतिनाथ मन्दिर
Pashupatinath Temple, associated with Shiva as 'the lord of all beings'
Religion
AffiliationHinduism
DistrictKathmandu
ProvinceBagmati Province
DeityShiva (as Pashupati)
FestivalsMaha Shivaratri, Teej
Features
  • Temple tank: Bagmati River
  • Temple tree: Ancient Banyan Tree
Location
LocationKathmandu
CountryNepal
Pashupatinath Temple is located in Nepal
Pashupatinath Temple
Location in Nepal
Geographic coordinates27°42′35″N 85°20′55″E / 27.70972°N 85.34861°E / 27.70972; 85.34861
Architecture
TypePagoda
Date established5th century CE
Specifications
Site area2,460,000 m²
Temple(s)519 Pagodas
Elevation817 m (2,680 ft)
CriteriaCultural: (iii)(iv)(vi)
Designated1979 (3rd session)
Part ofKathmandu Valley
Reference no.121bis-006

The Pashupatinath Temple (Nepali: पशुपतिनाथ मन्दिर) is a Hindu temple dedicated to Pashupati, a form of Shiva. It is located in Kathmandu, Nepal near the Bagmati River. The temple was classified as a World Heritage Site in 1979. This "extensive Hindu temple precinct" is a "sprawling collection of temples, ashrams, images and inscriptions raised over the centuries along the banks of the sacred Bagmati river", and is one of seven monument groups in UNESCO's designation of Kathmandu Valley.[1] The temple, considered one of the holiest pilgrimage sites for Hindus, is built on an area of 246 hectares (2,460,000 m2)[2] and includes 518 mini-temples and a main pagoda house.

Pashupatinath temple is given a status of one of the most sacred Shiva Kshetras (abodes of Shiva) in Skanda Purana, and is also one of the Paadal Petra Sthalams (Tamil Tevara Sthalam) of Tevaram.[3][4] The temple is considered to be the other half of Kedarnath Temple, both complementary to each other.[5][6][7] The main temple priests are, as a tradition, Vedic Dravida Brahmin scholars from Karnataka educated by Śrī Śaṅkarāćārya Dakṣiṇāmnāya Pīṭha, Sringeri.

  1. ^ "Pashupatinath Temple expects over 7 Lakhs Devotees on Mahashivratri". news.biharprabha.com. Indo-Asian News Service. Archived from the original on 25 July 2014. Retrieved 23 February 2014.
  2. ^ Board, Nepal Tourism. "Pashupatinath Tour". ntb.gov.np. Retrieved 12 June 2024.
  3. ^ Dubey, Yashika (21 December 2023). "Pashupatinath Temple: The Celestial Abode of Lord Shiva in Nepal". Amar Granth. Retrieved 22 June 2024.
  4. ^ "Pashupatinath Temple in Nepal reopens after 9 months: Check out the darshan timings and other details". www.timesnownews.com. 16 December 2020. Retrieved 16 June 2024.
  5. ^ Webdunia. "चारधाम यात्रा : केदारनाथ यात्रा पर जा रहे हैं तो जानिए 10 रहस्य की मुख्य बातें". hindi.webdunia.com (in Hindi). Retrieved 26 June 2024.
  6. ^ srikubereshwardham.com (21 March 2024). "Pashupati Ashtakam With Meaning In Hindi | पशुपत्यष्टकम". Retrieved 26 June 2024.
  7. ^ Peak, Prayer (17 May 2024). "Pashupatinath Temple: Discovering The Divine". Retrieved 26 June 2024.