Pashupatinath Temple, located on the banks of the Shivna River, is one of the prominent shrines in the city of Mandsaur in the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh. The presiding deity of the temple is Lord Shiva worshipped in the form of Lord Pashupatinath. The temple houses a unique Shivalinga with eight faces of Lord Shiva.
Architecture of Pashupatinath Temple
Pashupatinath Temple, an ancient Shaivite shrine, reflects the religious sentiments and the spiritual feel of the people of the yesteryears. The shrine has four doors in four directions. The principal idol of the temple, a Shivalinga is thought to have evolved from the waters of the Shivna on Monday, regarded as auspicious by the follower of Lord Shiva. It is said that on Sunday in the same week the lingam reached the Tapeshwar Ghat of the river where it was installed. Later after almost 21 years, 5 months and 4 days the lingam was incarnated. The Shivalinga in the temple is 2.5 x 3.2 metres (8` x 10.5`) and weighs 4,665.525 kg (4.6 tons). The day it was incarnated is celebrated as a fair in the vicinity of the temple on a grand scale.
The Pashupatinath Temple built along the river side is almost 90 feet (27.6m) long, 30 feet (9.2m) wide and 101 feet (31m) tall. A gold plated pitcher weighing 100 kg adorns the upper part of the temple. The level of the water of Shivna River raises every monsoon to touch the Shivalingam of Lord Shiva. This phenomenon is known as `Jalaabhishek` which means venerating the god through water.
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