Pashupatinath Temple IN Architecture in ktm

PASHUPATINATH TEMPLE IN KATHMANDU IN ARCHITETURE

Located at the banks of the river Bagmati on the eastern part of Kathmandu, the Pashupatinath Temple is one of the holiest of all Hindu sites. Regarded as the most sacred temple of Lord Shiva, Pashupatinath stands as a symbol of faith, religion, culture and tradition for all Hindus. It is said that the temple was constructed sometime during the 3rd century B.C. under the patronage of the Somadeva Dynasty. The gilt roof was added in 1297 A.D and the temple was further renovated in 1754 by King Bhupalendra Malla. The temple has undergone countless renovations and developments since the Licchavi period.Pashupatinath is an elaborate two tiered temple with a golden gajur (pinnacle), gilt roofs and its four doors entirely covered by silver. In fact, all the elements of a Nepali tiered temple are lavishly present here. The temple houses a chaturmukha (four faced) linga as its main deity, worshipped from the four cardinal directions. To the western door of the temple is a large gilt image of Nandi, the vahana of Lord Shiva. This sacred site is a listed monument zone in the world heritage sites list.Since the 1980’s, due to growing urbanization and pollution, the environment in and around Pashupatinath gradually degraded. The Pashupati Area Development Trust (PADT) was hence established in 1990 to oversee its maintenance and development. Without a proper implementation plan, it was subject to illegal encroachment and vandalism, resulting in the heritage and cultural value of the area being neglected in favour of commercialization. Hence a development plan was created based on the historic condition of the area, having nine gates, nine gods, nine goddesses, nine tap-systems, nine lakes, nine courtyards, nine roads and nine fields. Coincidently this community also comprises of nine ethnic groups! The Pashupati Area Development Master Plan was finally approved by the government in 1999 introducing clear guidelines for the development and conservation of the area. The conservation of Pashupatinath temple is not merely the conservation of an architectural and historic site but rather a conservation of the faith and belief of the people. It affects the sentiments and devotion of the worshippers and the intangible culture and tradition of Nepal as well as entire Hinduism.