History and architecture of pashupatinath temple

• Umesh Thapa
• Oct 30, 2025
• 127 views

History and architecture of pashupatinath temple

Pashupatinath Temple, Nepal: There are hundreds of temples and pilgrimage sites in Bholenath. It is world famous for its miracles and piety. Although there are many temples of Lord Shiva, one is the Pashupatinath Temple. People consider this temple to be one of the 12 Jyotirlingas of Shiva.

People say that Lord Shiva is still present in this temple today. Pashupatinath Temple is located on the banks of the Bagmati River in Devpatan village, 3 km northwest of the capital of Nepal, Kathmandu.

Located on the banks of the Bagmati River and built in the 17th century, Pashupatinath Temple is one of the major temples for devotees of Hindu Lord Shiva in Nepal. Therefore, it is important to understand that the heritage of Pashupatinath Temple began many centuries before its construction.

There are many mythological stories associated with this place, and many of them are very interesting to know, whether you are a follower of Hindu customs or not. This Pashupatinath Temple is located in the Kathmandu Valley of Nepal, which has 7 World Heritage Sites on record.

Located near a busy market, this temple offers panoramic views of the Bagmati River. In the words of every religious tourist, it is a power field and therefore, one of the best tourist destinations in Nepal.

Pashupati Darshan

We have visited Pashupati many times. Some are preparing to go for darshan, but according to the information given by Pandit Narayan Prasad about how to do it, after completing the rituals, first of all, you should get clean and reach the Pashupati temple premises.

There, you should take off your shoes and slippers, go through the security check, and enter the main temple through the west gate. There is a temple of the Guru at the west gate of the temple. Which is open only on the day of Guru Purnima.

You should first have darshan of it and enter. The original Bhattas of Pashupati also enter the temple only after worshiping the Guru. Then you should visit Ganesh and Skanda Kumar near the west gate. Offer dubo and laddu to Ganesh.

After visiting the Changunarayan temple above the Dhara, and after visiting Rudrakarshwaro, you should visit the West Main Dhola. Then, after visiting Bajrangbali Hanuman, visit Nateshwar. Then visit the Trishul and visit the Annapurna Mata, who is with him.

After that, visit Chandeshwar and see the sun in the east. And only after seeing Lal Ganesh should one go to see Basuki. To see Basuki Naga, one should offer sesame seeds, barley, curd, milk, ghee, and honey.

For that, special worship ranging from 1100 to crores is done. Devotees who do not do special worship can offer the entire Belpat to the priest. After visiting the Shree Yantra located nearby, visit Santhanabhareshwar.

Rest here for some time. Then visit Shri Krishna and break the coconut brought. This is the only place where coconuts can be broken inside the Pashupati Temple premises. After seeing Shri Krishna, visit Bhairav.

Then, after having the darshan of Unmatta Bhairav, one should visit the Shahasra Linga.
One should offer betel leaves, sesame seeds, barley, curd, milk, ghee, and honey to the Shahasra Linga.
Then, after visiting Nava Durga, one should worship the Navagraha.

One should offer sesame seeds, barley, curd, milk, ghee, and honey to the Vanagraha located on the southwest side of the Pashupati Temple. Then, one should visit Nandishwar Hanuman and Nandi.
Now, after entering the temple from the south gate, one should go east again, enter there too, and go south to the east gate.

One should visit the Tatpurush located next to the east gate and then go west again by turning right.
Now, after having the darshan of Bamdev in the north, one should descend the temple stairs and not climb the steps again.

One should go east from outside and have a good darshan from the east gate.
Meditate on Shiva, have a darshan of Narayan, have a darshan of Gajur, and remember the real form of Shiva.

After doing this, the worship and darshan inside the Pashupati Temple premises are complete.
It is believed that visiting the temple on the days of Shivaratri and Purnima is especially auspicious. It is believed that if you worship on the day of Purnima from morning to evening, you will get a glimpse of Shivaji in person.

If you do not perform special worship, bring flowers and leaves that have not been plucked from the Basuki and Pashupati temples and offer them to the Bhatta’s assistants.
No one except the Bhattas is allowed to enter the main temple of Pashupati to worship and visit.

A special aarti is held inside the Pashupati temple from 5:30 pm to 8 pm. This aarti is performed by the Bhattas of the temple. At this time, all four doors of the temple are open. Similarly, a special puja is held at night in the month of Poush.