Pashupatinath Temple

Pashupatinath (also Pashu Pati Nath Pashupati Nath or, literally: Lord of life, or even Lord of all living things, nepali: पशुपतिनाथ Pasupatinath ) at Kathmandu in Nepal is one of the most important temple sites of Hinduism.

Shiva Temple

Here Shiva is called Pashupati ( God of life - ' Pashu ' = ' life ') worshiped. The temple is located on the holy Bagmati river, about six kilometers east of Kathmandu. The actual temple is only accessible to Hindus, the outer temple district may, however, be accessed by everyone. It is believed that this was a holy place even in pre-Christian times. The Pashupati Temple was first built in the 5th century and then renewed under the Malla Dynasty, it forms a pagoda with two roof planes, which are covered with gilded copper. The four entrance doors are covered with silver plates. Inside the temple there is a statue of Shiva, which is about 1.80 meters high and has a diameter of about 1.10 meters. It may only be touched by four priests, who must always come from the south of India. For many Shivaites the temple belongs to the most important places of worship of Shiva, the Jyotirlingas. Thousands of Hindus who travel from far and wide to celebrate here every year in the spring, the Shivaratri festival.

Funeral on the Bagmati

The Bagmati divides the system into two major areas. On the left bank of the Bagmati are the Pashupatinath Temple and the pyres that. Arya Ghats ( pyres of the higher castes ) and the Surya Ghats ( pyres of the lower castes ) This place has for many believers as a place for the ' last rites ' special meaning, it is considered desirable to have his body burned here.

The usually wrapped in yellow linen corpse is carried to the pyres where a pyre is built. Before combustion are sprayed the body with the water of the holy river or washes the feet in the water. The body is then covered up with damp straw. If the family can afford it, one used for combustion in addition to normal wood in addition the precious, fragrant sandalwood. The eldest son then walks around the pyre five times clockwise, according to the sacred number five, which represents Hinduism in the five elements of earth, water, fire, wind, and Akasha, the ether. Then he lights (alternatively, the eldest daughter, or a priest ) with a cloth soaked with butter straw tufts on the pyre, which he puts to the mouth of the dead. The legs of the dead are initially slightly over the stake and are then folded with progressive burning on the wood pile. After about four hours, the corpse is burned to ash, which is dumped into the river.

The sanctuary was classified with the other attractions of the Kathmandu Valley as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.