Warning: content could be considered disturbing for some people!!
Initially, I decided that I wasn't going to post about Pashupatinath because I thought some people would be disturbed by it. However, I am going to post about it because it is one of the most significant Hindu temples in the world. It is regarded as the most sacred temple of Lord Shiva.
According to Wikipedia:
Pashupatinath Temple's existence dates back to 400 A.D. The richly-ornamented pagoda houses the sacred linga or holy symbol of Lord Shiva.
Legend says that Lord Shiva once took the form of an antelope and sported unknown in the forest on Bagmati river's east bank. The gods later caught up with him, and grabbing him by the horn, forced him to resume his divine form. The broken horn was worshipped as a linga but overtime it was buried and lost. Centuries later an astonished herdsmen found one of his cows showering the earth with milk. Digging deep at the site, he discovered the divine linga of Pashupatinath.
Only Hindus are allowed inside the temple, so we had to view it from the outside.
The actual temple isn't what I thought would be disturbing to people. It is what else that happens at Pashupatinath. Located on the banks of the holy Bagmati River, Hindu cremation ceremonies occur here 24/7.
The cremations are performed on the banks of the river on platforms that are prepared in advance.
Pashupatinath is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. If you are going to Kathmandu, it is worth seeing if only for the architecture. However, it's not a place where I would want to visit again. We felt an uncomfortable eeriness the whole time we were there. It's one of those places that we can check off our list, but not go back to again.
Initially, I decided that I wasn't going to post about Pashupatinath because I thought some people would be disturbed by it. However, I am going to post about it because it is one of the most significant Hindu temples in the world. It is regarded as the most sacred temple of Lord Shiva.
According to Wikipedia:
Pashupatinath Temple's existence dates back to 400 A.D. The richly-ornamented pagoda houses the sacred linga or holy symbol of Lord Shiva.
Legend says that Lord Shiva once took the form of an antelope and sported unknown in the forest on Bagmati river's east bank. The gods later caught up with him, and grabbing him by the horn, forced him to resume his divine form. The broken horn was worshipped as a linga but overtime it was buried and lost. Centuries later an astonished herdsmen found one of his cows showering the earth with milk. Digging deep at the site, he discovered the divine linga of Pashupatinath.
Only Hindus are allowed inside the temple, so we had to view it from the outside.
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| Entrance to the temple. We only get as close as the red carpet. |
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| View from outside looking into the temple at the large golden bull. |
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| Lingas |
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| Sadhus (holy men). Their business is having photos taken of them. |
The actual temple isn't what I thought would be disturbing to people. It is what else that happens at Pashupatinath. Located on the banks of the holy Bagmati River, Hindu cremation ceremonies occur here 24/7.
The cremations are performed on the banks of the river on platforms that are prepared in advance.
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| Whole families come to watch and mourn. |
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| People watching a body being prepared for cremation. The body will be draped with flowers and carried down to the riverbank. There family members will pay their last respects and sprinkle the body with holy water from the Bagmati River. |
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| The men of the family prepare the body for cremation. |
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| The sons perform the cremation. The oldest son leads the others and they circle the body clockwise three times. |
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| Then he lights the fire. |
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| They cover the body with wood and straw. |
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| The men tend to the body making sure the fire stays lit and it is burning properly. |
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| Spectators include both foreigners and Hindus. |
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| Notice the boys swimming in the river across from where the cremation is taking place. |
Pashupatinath is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. If you are going to Kathmandu, it is worth seeing if only for the architecture. However, it's not a place where I would want to visit again. We felt an uncomfortable eeriness the whole time we were there. It's one of those places that we can check off our list, but not go back to again.
2 comments:
Very interesting, Allison. I am sure you felt spirits of some sort....would be interested to see what a theologian had to say about this. Keep the posts coming. Living through your experiences!
Tracy
Thanks for the post. It's fascinating. I think it's good that you shared it, even if you would never want to experience it again.
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