Question
The story behind Pashupatinath temple in Nepal
Answer
The Pasupatinath ShivaLinga is described in Koti Rudra Samhita of Shiva Purana in chapter 11 'Pasupatinath Linga':
नयपालाख्यां तु प्रसिद्धायां महितले ।
लिङ्ग पशुपतिशाख्यं सर्वकामफलप्रदम् ।।
शिरोभागस्वरुपेण शिवलिङ्गं तदस्ति हि ।
तत्कथां वर्णयिष्यामि केदारेश्वरवर्णने ।।
A Linga named Pasupati became established in Nepal and it is able to fulfill all desires. The Linga as the form of the head and it's story will be narrated with the greatness of Kedareshwara.
The story hinted above is in Koti Rudra Samhita chapter 19 where Kedareshwara Linga is described:
तद्दिनं हि समारभ्य केदारेश्वर एव च ।
पूजितो येन भक्त्या वै दुःख स्वपनेऽपि दुर्लभम् ।।
यो वै हि पाण्डवान्दृष्ट्वा माहिषं रुपमास्थित ।
मायामास्थाय तत्रैव पालायनपरोऽभवत् ।।
धृतश्च पाण्डवैस्तत्र ह्यवाङ्मुखतया स्थित ।
पुच्छं चैव धृतं तैस्तु प्रर्थितश्च पुनः पुनः ।।
तद्रुपेण स्थितस्तत्र भक्तवत्सलनामभाक् ।
नयपाले शिरोभागो गतस्द्रुपतः स्थितः ।।
Whosever adored Kedara Shiva in the past they never came across any suffering or grief even in the dreams. He is the one, who on seeing Pandavas assumed the form of a he-buffalo, using his magical powers and tried to run away. But when he was caught by Pandavas by the tail, he stood there lowering his neck. They held his tail, who prayed him again and again. Then Shiva who is well disposed towards his devotees, established himself there in the same form. The portion of head appeared in Nepal.
One of the special feature of Pasupatinath ShivaLinga is that five heads are formed in the linga itself. The east facing Tatpurusha, the north facing Ardhanarishwara (Vamadeva), the west facing Sadyojata and the South facing Aghora. The upward facing Ishana is Nirakara (formless) whereas other faces are present in Linga itself.
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