Pashupati

Pashupati (Sanskrit पशुपति PasuPati m. "Lord of cattle " ) is a form of Hindu god Shiva, who was already worshiped in the Vedic period.

Nature

In the Veda, Pashupati is a name of Rudra and later as Rudra also regarded as a form of Shiva. In the Atharvaveda was referred to as a protector of cows, horses, humans, goats and sheep and glorified in the Atharvashiras Upanishad as the principle of all things.

Pashupati is the national deity of Nepal. He is worshiped at Pashupatinath Temple Grounds in Deopata at Kathmandu in Nepal, where his cult is attested since the 8th century. During the Shivaratri festival of the Nepalese king appears with his entourage in the temple and worshiped the Pashupati.

After God, the Shaivite Asketensekte the Pashupatas names. This suggests the word pashu »Cattle " also known as "soul", so like the name of God as " Lord of Life " is reinterpreted as Pashupati, as it frees the soul from its shackles, as the tethered cattle at the stake.

Origins

A Seal of the Indus Valley Civilization from the archaeological site of Mohenjodaro shows a seated, surrounded by animals figure, which was interpreted by the excavator John Marshall as a proto- Shiva, the animals at Pashupati, the " Lord of the Animals " remind. This interpretation is no longer maintained today, among other things, because Pashupati is the protector of pets while on the seal wildlife - are depicted - buffalo, elephant, rhino, tiger and antelope.

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