24 Sep 2025 HYN
The Pashupatinath Temple is built on the edge of the Bagmati River in Kathmandu. Its location is of such importance that Pashupatinath is the spiritual center of the nation while simultaneously being a UNESCO World Heritage Site. As such, the Pashupatinath Temple Complex has served as a retreat for many seekers and sadhus for many centuries, devoting their lives to the inquiry of higher planes of existence. Thus, for the people interested in the practices of yoga and meditation, Pashupatinath is not a normal tourist site, Pashupatinath is considered a unique site for teachings on the principles surrounding the cycle of childbirth, death and moksha.
When you enter through the gates of Pashupatinath Temple, you encounter the reality of yoga in the form of a living artwork. In it, the almighty Shiva is the focal point and the throne of the devotion, while simultaneously being the timeless guardian of India.
The Pashupatinath: The Lord of all beings
Among the many Pashupatinath temples, the most revered is the Jyotirlinga Pashupatinath. It is the Pashupatinath which dedicates himself to the Pashupat, his incarnation of the Lord of all beings, which is the most fundamental.
This refers to the Pashu subduing the base instincts through the inner Pati Pashu, the latent inner Pati Pashu – the divinity. The Pashu yogi seeks to subdue the mind and the senses to actualize the inner divinity who is peaceful in order to attain Self realization. The sacred mandir, with exquisite pagoda style architecture and gilt rooftops, possesses the holy lingam. Although entry to the inner sanctum is permitted only to the Hindus, the powerful aura of the Pashupatinath resonates throughout the entire complex, manifesting a sense of sanctity that is available to all.
A Living Lesson in Impermanence and Detachment
A less distracted and bare influence of this Pashupatinath, and the most captivating part, is the open-air rest ghats and the cremation sites along the Bagmati River. While the funeral pyres and the ceremony to the dead might appear to be intense light, it is a clear direct lit glimpse of the yoga philosophy, divided into Eastern and Western sides, of Non-attachment, and the Philosophy of Illusion.
The sages of the ancient days used to say that to understand life, you must understand death. Watching the cycle of life and death at the ghats acts as a powerful motivator to live a purposeful life, practice detachment in devotion so as to unfold the squeezing that encloses the inner light and open to the more vibrant life beyond. You can see your practice Ram on the yoga mat yoga principles in action.
Sadhus: Paradigms of Renunciation
Your visit to Pashupatinath will most probably make you encounter the Sadhus: Hindu ascetics who left the material world in search of spiritual liberation. These ascetics, caked with ash, matted hair, and covered with colorful robes, are extreme wandering monks and are rubrics of the utmost commitment and devotion to their practice.
Interacting with a Sadhu, with the utmost care and in the proper manner, can be a fascinating encounter. The mere fact of their existence is a lesson in Vairagya, dispassion, and in Tapas, austerity, and their presence urges many to disengage from the ordinary and engage with the timeless.
A Place of Stillness and Contemplation
Beyond the main temple, the complex unfolds into a maze of small shrines, statues, and serene courtyards. Sit on the stone steps overlooking the river, and close your eyes. The river with its gentle yet powerful flow, the incense and marigolds, the rhythmic prayers, and the powerful chant of “Om Namah Shivaya” merge into a symphony, painting a landscape that sets the perfect atmosphere to incorporate the flow of spontaneous meditation on that river.
Planning Your Spiritual Visit: Suggestions for Yoga Practitioners
- Best time to visit: Early in the the morning and in the evening is the most spiritually enhance time.The Maha Shivaratri festival makes the temple a fascinating confluence of followers.
- Attend the Aarti: Attending the evening Aarti ritual beside the Bagmati River is a deeply immersive experience. The sound of the palms together with the chanting, the ringing of the bells, and the graceful movements of the diyas offers a profoundly empowering feeling.
- Customs Etiquette: Dress appropriately by covering your shoulders and knees with a shawl, and consider that the main temple area is reserved for Hindu devotees, the temple surroundings offer a rich experience.
- Mindfulness: Observe, without participation: the Sakshi Bhava, or the state of the silent witness. You are the subject as well as the object: rituals, others, and your thoughts without labeling any of them. This immersion, this observation is a meditation.
Incorporating your visit to Pashupatinath into your yoga practice is and offers a perfect opportunity to practice and share with others what is different.
In Himalayan Yoga Academy, it is our belief that yoga is a complete an all encompassing science of life and living, not solely the asana poses of yoga. A visit to Pashupatinath strengthens our yoga teacher training and silent meditation retreats in Nepal. You can:
- Reflect on the Philosophy: Observe the exercises of karma, dharma, and moksha as they take form.
- Enhance Your Meditation: Be in a place that offers stillness, and the capacity for deeper silence.
- Cultivate Compassion:The ability to empathize and fully understand someone else’s perspective is assigned to those who can look at life in all its facets.
The magic of Pashupatinath has to be the awakening of the spirit. It confronts, it consoles, and it heals. It is the most important part of the pilgrimage for any practitioner of yoga to the Himalayas.
Are you prepared to step into a pilgrimage of your own?
Begin your journey of self-discovery with our Yoga Teacher Training in Nepal and Meditation Retreats, designed to let you experience life-changing yoga that draws energy and wisdom from the roots of Pashupatinath.