Lord of the animals on the holy Bagmati
Worship of Shiva at Pashupati is very old. Licchavi inscriptions of the first millennium mention the god, and the site has been a destination for pilgrims from across the Indian subcontinent for well over a thousand years. The present two-tiered pagoda dates largely from the late 17th century, rebuilt on earlier foundations. Inside is a four-faced linga that only Hindus may see.
For centuries the temple's chief priests have been Bhatta Brahmins from South India, a tradition linked to the reforms of the Malla period. Their assistants, the Rajbhandaris, are local Newar families. The temple was closely linked to Nepal's kings, who worshipped here on major occasions, and the royal family was cremated at Arya Ghat. Today the Pashupati Area Development Trust manages the large complex.
In 2015 the main temple survived the earthquake with little damage, while several smaller shrines and buildings around it were hit. During the weeks after the quake, the ghats were busier than ever as families cremated their dead. The complex has since been restored, and visitor paths, a daily evening aarti and better facilities have changed the east bank, while the temple's core rituals continue as before.
