ਸਦਾ ਸਦ੍ਯੋਜਾਤਸ੍ਮਿਤਮਧੁਰਸਾਸ੍ਵਾਦਪਰਯਾ
ਭਵਾਨ੍ਯਾ ਦਕ੍ਪਾਤਭ੍ਰਮਰਤਤਿਭਿਸ਼੍ਚੁਮ੍ਬਿਤਪੁਟਮ੍ ।
ਅਪਾਂ ਪਤ੍ਯੁਃ ਕਾਸ਼੍ਠਾਂ ਸ਼੍ਰਿਤਮਧਿਕਸ਼ੀਤਂ ਪਸ਼ੁਪਤੇ-
ਰ੍ਮੁਖਂ ਸਦ੍ਯੋਜਾਤਂ ਮਮ ਦੁਰਿਤਜਾਤਂ ਵ੍ਯਪਨਯੇਤ੍ ॥ ੧॥
ਜਟਾਨ੍ਤਃਸ੍ਵਰ੍ਧੁਨ੍ਯਾਸ਼੍ਸ਼ਿਸ਼ਿਰਮੁਖਵਾਤੈਰਵਮਤਿਂ
ਗਤਂ ਵਾਮਾਂ ਰੁਸ਼੍ਟਾਮਨੁਨਯਸਹਸ੍ਰੈਃ ਪ੍ਰਸ਼ਮਿਤੁਮ੍ ।
ਕਿਰਤ੍ਜ੍ਯੋਤ੍ਸ੍ਨਂ ਵਾਮਂ ਨਯਨਮਗਜਾਨੇਤ੍ਰਘਟਿਤਂ
ਦਧਦ੍ਵਾਮਂ ਵਕ੍ਤ੍ਰਂ ਹਰਤੁ ਮਮ ਕਾਮਂ, ਪਸ਼ੁਪਤੇਃ ॥ ੨॥
ਗਲੇ ਘੋਰਜ੍ਵਾਲਂ ਗਰਲਮਪਿ ਗਣ੍ਡੂਸ਼ਸਦਸ਼ਂ
ਨਿਦਾਘਾਨ੍ਤੇ, ਗਰ੍ਜਦ੍ਘਨਵਦਤਿਨੀਲਂ ਵਹਤਿ ਯਤ੍ ।
ਨਿਰਸ੍ਤੁਂ ਵਿਸ਼੍ਵਾਘਪ੍ਰਚਯਮਧਿਤਿਸ਼੍ਠਦ੍ਯਮਦਿਸ਼ਂ
ਹ੍ਯਘੋਰਂ ਤਦ੍ਵਕ੍ਤ੍ਰਂ ਲਘਯਤੁ ਮਦਂ ਮੇ, ਪਸ਼ੁਪਤੇਃ ॥ ੩॥
ਪੁਮਰ੍ਥਾਨਂ ਪੂਰ੍ਤਿਂ ਪ੍ਰਣਤਸ਼ਿਰਸਾਂ ਦਾਤੁਮਨਿਸ਼ਂ
ਜਲਾਭਾਵੋ ਮਾਭੂਦਿਤਿ ਸ਼ਿਰਸਿ ਗਙ੍ਗਾਂ ਵਹਤਿ ਯਤ੍ ।
ਸੁਰੇਸ਼ਾਸਾਸ੍ਫੂਰ੍ਤਿਂ ਮੁਕੁਟਸ਼ਸ਼ਿਭਾਸਾ ਕਿਰਤਿ ਤਤ੍
ਮੁਖਂ ਤਤ੍ ਪੁਂਰੂਪਂ ਹਰਤੁ ਮਮ ਮੋਹਂ, ਪਸ਼ੁਪਤੇਃ ॥ ੪॥
ਰਮੇਸ਼ੋ ਵਾਗੀਸ਼ੋ ਦਿਵਸਰਜਨੀਸ਼ੌ ਪਰਸ਼ੁਦਕ੍
ਸੁਰੇਸ਼ੋ ਦੈਤ੍ਯੇਸ਼ੋ ਨਿਸ਼ਿਚਰਕੁਲੇਸ਼ੋऽਥ ਧਨਦਃ ।
ਯਦੂਰ੍ਧ੍ਵਾਂਸ਼ੁਵ੍ਰਾਤੈਸ਼੍ਸ਼ਿਵਚਰਿਤਵਨ੍ਤਃ ਪਰਿਣਤਾਃ
ਤਦੈਸ਼ਾਨਂ ਵਕ੍ਤ੍ਰਂ ਹਰਤੁ ਭਵਪਾਸ਼ਂ, ਪਸ਼ੁਪਤੇਃ ॥ ੫॥
COMMENTS:-
Tha above verses are in praise of Lord Shiva, renowned by the name Pashupati in the temple in Nepal.(ਪਞ੍ਚ) pancha means five, (ਆਸ੍ਯਮ੍) Asyam means the face, and(ਸ੍ਤਵਮ੍) stavam means a hymn in praise. So
the title says that this is in praise of Lord Pashupati with five faces.
NEPAL: –
The kingdom of Nepal is India’s neighbour. The state is situated high in the Himalaya mountains. Mount Everest, the highest peak in the world, is situated in Nepal. It is an ancient country and has been referred to in our puranas like Skandam and Bhagavatam. The Skanda Purana in the chapter Nepala Mahatmayam says that fortunate indeed are those who live in that country, because they are blessed with all the four goals(ਪੁਰੁਸ਼ਾਰ੍ਥਾਃ।) of life, to wit, dharma, artha, kama and mokSha. They are able to have darshan of the Lord Pashupati whom even devas cannot see directly.
ਪੁਰੀ ਪਾਸ਼ੁਪਤੀ ਧਨ੍ਯਾ ਚਤੁਰ੍ਵਰ੍ਗ-ਫਲਪ੍ਰਦਾ ।
ਜ੍ਯੋਤੀਰੂਪਂ ਮਹਾਲਿਙ੍ਗਂ ਯਤ੍ਰਾਗ੍ਨੌ ਤਪ੍ਤਕਾਞ੍ਚਨਮ੍ ॥
ਧਨ੍ਯਾ ਨੈਪਾਲਿਕਾ ਮਰ੍ਤ੍ਯਾਃ ਤਦ੍ਰੂਪਂ ਗੋਚਰਂ ਵਿਭੁਮ੍ ।
ਪਸ਼੍ਯਨ੍ਤਿ ਯੇऽਪਿ ਦੇਵਾਨਾਂ ਸਾਕ੍ਸ਼ਾਤ੍ਪੁਨਰਗੋਚਰਮ੍ ।
Nepal is described as a gem amongst holy places. The Skanda Puranam further says that the people there will be calm, and will have other good qualities. The place is situated in high mountains, among dense forests and has remarkable scenic beauty; and in such wonderful surrounding shines Lord Pashupatinath as the very embodiment of wisdom. (Nepala mahatmyam.7-54).
ਸਂਪੂਰ੍ਣੇ ਭਾਰਤੇऽਸ੍ਮਿਨ੍ਨਪਿ ਵਸੁ-ਭਰਿਤੇ ਭੂਸ਼ਿਰਃ-ਸ੍ਥਾਨਭੂਤੇ
ਸ਼ਸ਼੍ਵਚ੍ਛਾਨ੍ਤ੍ਯਾਦਿ-ਕੇਨ੍ਦ੍ਰੇ ਹਿਮਗਿਰਿ-ਸ਼ਿਖਰੇऽਭ੍ਯੁਤ੍ਤਰੇऽਧ੍ਯੁਤ੍ਤਮੇऽਨ੍ਤਃ ।
ਪੁਣ੍ਯੇ ਨੈਸਰ੍ਗ-ਰਮ੍ਯੇ ਪਰਗਹਨ-ਵਨੇ ਸਦ੍ਵਿਚਿਤ੍ਰੇ ਪਵਿਤ੍ਰੇ
ਕ੍ਸ਼ੇਤ੍ਰੇ ਨੇਪਾਲ-ਸਂਜ੍ਞੇ ਲਸਤਿ ਪਸ਼ੁਪਤਿ-ਜ੍ਯੋਤਿਰਾਤ੍ਮਾ ਚਿਦੀਸ਼ਃ ॥
It was a Hindu kingdom, the only one in the world, till recently. Here, in Nepal, Lord Pashupati is seen as a lingam, nearly four feet high. and with five faces – four facing the four directions and the fifth facing up. The pujaries draw the Shri Chakra on the lingam daily before commencing the puja. The full moon day (paurnamiਪੌਰ੍ਣਮੀ ) is specially celebrated when a huge quantity of rice is cooked along with vegetables. The rice is shaped as a lingam and offered to the Lord and deeparadhanam is performed. The
temple attracts huge crowds on Shivaratri day when people throng to the temple during the entire day to have darshan of the Lord.
FIVE FACES OF SHIVA:-
Because of his five faces Shiva has the name ਪਞ੍ਚਵਕ੍ਤ੍ਰਃ। ਪਞ੍ਚਸਙ੍ਖ੍ਯਾਕਾਨਿ ਵਕ੍ਤ੍ਰਾਣਿ ਮੁਖਾਨਿ ਨਾਨਾਰੂਪਾਣਿ
ਯਸ੍ਯ ਸ ਤਥਾ । (Shivasahasranamam-Padmapuranam). These faces have the following names. ਈਸ਼ਾਨ, ਤਤ੍ਪੁਰੁਸ਼, ਅਘੋਰ, ਵਾਮਦੇਵ, and ਸਦ੍ਯੋਜਾਤ. These faces face up the sky, East, South, North and West respectively. It seems that a lingam with five faces as described here is to be seen only in the Pashupati temple in Nepal and the temple attached to the Shankara math in Tiruvanaikkaval near Trichy. The hymn given in the beginning has salutations to the five faces of the Lord.
We have the salutations to Shiva’s five faces in Mahanyasam that is chanted before chanting the vedic hymn Shri Rudram. There are two Nyasams, the Mahanyasam and the Laghunyasam. Maha(ਮਹਤ੍) means big. Laghu is the opposite,(ਲਘੁ) means light, not heavy. The Mahanyasam is a part of the methodology of chanting of the Rudram on special occasions such as Pradosham, Shivaratri. Typically, during a Rudra parayanam at home, one recites the Laghunyasam. Such a Shri Rudra parayanam in a public place of worship such as a temple is preceeded by the recital of the Mahanyasam. As the name difference indicates, the Laghunyasam is shorter. The Mahanyasam invokes the deity of Shri Rudra in His many forms of Indra, Agni, Yama, Varuna etc in the different limbs (anga’s) of the one who chants. Such an invoking is done to seek the blessings of the Lord, and at the same time giving one and all a feeling of immediate presence of the Lord in the vicinity of the chanting. The Mahanyasam has certain chapters of the Shri Rudram, the Purusha Suktam etc repeated in it. The Shiva samkalpam is also part
of this. The prayers addressed to the five faces of Shiva are given below.
ਤਤ੍ਪੁਰੁਸ਼ਾਯ ਵਿਦ੍ਮਹੇ ਮਹਾਦੇਵਾਯ ਧੀਮਹਿ। ਤਨ੍ਨੋ ਰੁਦ੍ਰਃ ਪ੍ਰਚੋਦਯਾਤ੍ ॥
ਸਂਵਰ੍ਤਾਗ੍ਨਿ-ਤਟਿਤ੍ਪ੍ਰਦੀਪ੍ਤ-ਕਨਕਪ੍ਰਸ੍ਪਰ੍ਧਿ – ਤੇਜੋਰੁਣਾਂ
ਗਮ੍ਭੀਰਧ੍ਵਨਿ-ਸਾਮਵੇਦਜਨਕਂ ਤਾਮ੍ਰਾਧਰਂ ਸੁਨ੍ਦਰਮ੍ ।
ਅਰ੍ਧੇਨ੍ਦੁਦ੍ਯੁਤਿ-ਲੋਲ-ਪਿਂਗਲ ਜਟਾ ਭਾਰ-ਪ੍ਰਬੋਦ੍ਧੋਦਕਂ
ਵਨ੍ਦੇ ਸਿਦ੍ਧਸੁਰਾਸੁਰੇਨ੍ਦ੍ਰ-ਨਮਿਤਂ ਪੂਰ੍ਵਂ ਮੁਖਂ ਸ਼ੂਲਿਨਃ ॥
ॐ ਨਮੋ ਭਗਵਤੇ॑ ਰੁਦ੍ਰਾ॒ਯ । ਪੂਰ੍ਵਾਂਗ ਮੁਖਾਯ ਨਮਃ ॥
The above verse is in salutation of Tatpurusha facing East.
ਅ॒ਘੋ॑ਰੇ᳚ਭ੍ਯੋऽਥ॒ ਘੋਰੇ᳚ਭ੍ਯੋ॒ ਘੋਰਘੋਰ॑ਤਰੇਭ੍ਯਃ ।
ਸਰ੍ਵੇ᳚ਭ੍ਯਃ ਸਰ੍ਵ॒ਸ਼ਰ੍ਵੇ᳚ਭ੍ਯੋ॒ ਨਮ॑ਸ੍ਤੇ ਅਸ੍ਤੁ ਰੁ॒ਦ੍ਰਰੁ॑ਪੇਭ੍ਯਃ ॥
ਕਾਲਾਭ੍ਰ-ਭ੍ਰਮਰਾਂਜਨ-ਦ੍ਯੁਤਿਨਿਭਂ ਵ੍ਯਾਵਤ੍ਤਪਿਂਗੇਕ੍ਸ਼ਣਂ
ਕਰ੍ਣੋਦ੍ਭਾਸਿਤ-ਭੋਗਿਮਸ੍ਤਕਮਣਿ-ਪ੍ਰੋਦ੍ਭਿਨ੍ਨਦਂਸ਼੍ਟ੍ਰਾਂਕੁਰਮ੍ ।
ਸਰ੍ਪਪ੍ਰੋਤਕਪਾਲ-ਸ਼ੁਕ੍ਤਿਸ਼ਕਲ-ਵ੍ਯਾਕੀਰ੍ਣਤਾਸ਼ੇਖਰਂ
ਵਨ੍ਦੇ ਦਕ੍ਸ਼ਿਣਮੀਸ਼੍ਵਰਸ੍ਯ ਵਦਨਂ ਚਾਥਰ੍ਵਨਾਦੋਦਯਮ੍ ॥
ॐ ਨਮੋ ਭਗਵਤੇ॑ ਰੁਦ੍ਰਾ॒ਯ । ਦਕ੍ਸ਼ਿਣਾਂਗ ਮੁਖਾਯ ਨਮਃ ॥
The above verse is in salutation of Aghora facing South.
ਸ॒ਦ੍ਯੋਜਾ॒ਤਂ ਪ੍ਰ॑ਪਦ੍ਯਾ॒ਮਿ॒ ਸ॒ਦ੍ਯੋ ਜਾ॒ਤਾਯ॒ ਵੈ ਨਮੋ॒ ਨਮਃ॑ ।
ਭ॒ਵੇ ਭ॑ਵੇ॒ ਨਾਤਿ॑ਭਵੇ ਭਵਸ੍ਵ॒ ਮਾਮ੍ । ਭ॒ਵੋਦ੍ਭ॑ਵਾਯ॒ ਨਮਃ॑ ॥
ਪ੍ਰਾਲੇਯਾਚਲਮਿਨ੍ਦੁਕੁਨ੍ਦ-ਧਵਲਂ ਗੋਕ੍ਸ਼ੀਰਫੇਨਪ੍ਰਭਂ
ਭਸ੍ਮਾਭ੍ਯਂਗਮਨਂਗਦੇਹਦਹਨ-ਜ੍ਵਾਲਾਵਲੀਲੋਚਨਮ੍ ।
ਵਿਸ਼੍ਣੁਬ੍ਰਹ੍ਮਮਰੁਦ੍ਗਣਾਰ੍ਚਿਤਪਦਂ ऋਗ੍ਵੇਦਨਾਦੋਦਯਂ
ਵਨ੍ਦੇऽਹਂ ਸਕਲਂ ਕਲਂਕਰਹਿਤਂ ਸ੍ਥਾਣੋਰ੍ਮੁਖਂ ਪਸ਼੍ਚਿਮਮ੍ ॥
ॐ ਨਮੋ ਭਗਵਤੇ॑ ਰੁਦ੍ਰਾ॒ਯ । ਪਸ਼੍ਚਿਮਾਂਗ ਮੁਖਾਯ ਨਮਃ ॥
The above verse is in salutation of Sadyojata facing West.
ਵਾ॒ਮ॒ਦੇ॒ਵਾਯ॒ ਨਮੋ᳚ ਜ੍ਯੇਸ਼੍ਠਾਯ॒ ਨਮਃ॑ ਸ਼੍ਰੇ॒ਸ਼੍ਠਾਯ॒ ਨਮੋ॑ ਰੁ॒ਦ੍ਰਾਯ॒ ਨਮਃ॒
ਕਾਲਾ॑ਯ॒ ਨਮਃ॒ ਕਲ॑ਵਿਕਰਣਾਯ॒ ਨਮੋ॒ ਬਲ॒ਵਿਕਰਣਾਯ॒ ਨਮੋ॒ ਬਲਾ॑ਯ॒ ਨਮੋ॒
ਬਲ॑ਪ੍ਰਮਥਨਾਯ॒ ਨਮ॒ਸ੍ਸਰ੍ਵ॑ਭੂਤਦਮਨਾਯ॒ ਨਮੋ॑ ਮ॒ਨੋ॑ਨ੍ਮ॑ਨਾਯ॒ ਨਮਃ॑ ॥
ਗੌਰਂ ਕੁਂਕੁਮ ਪਂਕਿਤਂ ਸੁਤਿਲਕਂ ਵ੍ਯਾਪਾਣ੍ਡੁਮਣ੍ਡਸ੍ਥਲਂ
ਭ੍ਰੂਵਿਕ੍ਸ਼ੇਪ-ਕਟਾਕ੍ਸ਼ਵੀਕ੍ਸ਼ਣਲਸਤ੍ਸਂਸਕ੍ਤਕਰ੍ਣੋਤ੍ਪਲਮ੍ ।
ਸ੍ਨਿਗ੍ਧਂ ਬਿਮ੍ਬਫਲਾਧਰਂ ਪ੍ਰਹਸਿਤਂ ਨੀਲਾਲਕਾਲਂਕਤਂ
ਵਨ੍ਦੇ ਯਾਜੁਸ਼-ਵੇਦਘੋਸ਼ਜਨਕਂ ਵਕ੍ਤ੍ਰਂ ਹਰਸ੍ਯੋਤ੍ਤਰਮ੍ ॥
ॐ ਨਮੋ ਭਗਵਤੇ॑ ਰੁਦ੍ਰਾ॒ਯ । ਉਤ੍ਤਰਾਂਗ ਮੁਖਾਯ ਨਮਃ ॥
The above verse is in salutation of Vamadeva facing North .
ਈਸ਼ਾਨਸ੍ਸਰ੍ਵ॑ਵਿਦ੍ਯਾ॒ਨਾ॒ਮੀਸ਼੍ਵਰਃ ਸਰ੍ਵ॑ ਭੂਤਾ॒ਨਾਂ
ਬ੍ਰਹ੍ਮਾਧਿ॑ਪਤਿ॒ਰ੍ਬ੍ਰਹ੍ਮ॒ਣੋਧਿ॑ਪਤਿ॒ਰ੍ਬ੍ਰਹ੍ਮਾ॑ ਸ਼ਿ॒ਵੋ
ਮੇ॑ ਅਸ੍ਤੁ ਸਦਾਸ਼ਿ॒ਵੋਮ੍ ॥
ਵ੍ਯਕ੍ਤਾਵ੍ਯਕ੍ਤਨਿਰੂਪਿਤਂ ਚ ਪਰਮਂ ਸ਼ਟ੍ਤ੍ਰਿਂਸ਼ਤਤ੍ਤ੍ਵਾਧਿਕਂ
ਤਸ੍ਮਾਦੁਤ੍ਤਰ-ਤਤ੍ਤ੍ਵਮਕ੍ਸ਼ਰਮਿਤਿ ਧ੍ਯੇਯਂ ਸਦਾ ਯੋਗਿਭਿਃ ।
ਓਂਕਾਰਾਦਿ-ਸਮਸ੍ਤਮਨ੍ਤ੍ਰਜਨਕਂ ਸੂਕ੍ਸ਼੍ਮਾਤਿਸੂਕ੍ਸ਼੍ਮਂ ਪਰਂ
ਵਨ੍ਦੇ ਪਂਚਮਮੀਸ਼੍ਵਰਸ੍ਯ ਵਦਨਂ ਖਵ੍ਯਾਪਿ ਤੇਜੋਮਯਮ੍ ॥
ॐ ਨਮੋ ਭਗਵਤੇ॑ ਰੁਦ੍ਰਾ॒ਯ । ਊਰ੍ਧ੍ਵਾਂਗ ਮੁਖਾਯ ਨਮਃ ॥
The above verse is in salutation of Ishana facing up – the sky.
THE SIGNIFICANCE OF FIVE FACES ;-
What is the significance of Shiva being said to have five faces? This is explained in detail by Shri
Nilakanta DikShita in his commentary called Shivatattva rahasyam to Shiva 108 Namavali. The nameਪਞ੍ਚਵਕ੍ਤ੍ਰਃ is the 52nd name in the namavali. A chapter from the elaborate commentary is given below.
ਤਾਨਿ ਚ ਪਞ੍ਚ ਮੁਖਾਨਿ
ਈਸ਼ਾਨ-ਤਤ੍ਪੁਰੁਸ਼ਾਘੋਰ-ਵਾਮਦੇਵ-ਸਦ੍ਯੋਜਾਤਾਖ੍ਯ-ਪਞ੍ਚ-
ਬ੍ਰਹ੍ਮਾਤ੍ਮਕਾਨਿ, ਤਾਨਿ ਚ ਪਞ੍ਚਬ੍ਰਹ੍ਮਾਣਿ ਭੂਤ- ਪਞ੍ਚਕ,
ਤਨ੍ਮਾਤ-ਪਞ੍ਚਕ, ਕਰ੍ਮੇਨ੍ਦ੍ਰਿਯ-ਪਞ੍ਚਕ, ਜ੍ਞਾਨੇਨ੍ਦ੍ਰਿਯ-ਪਞ੍ਚਕ,
ਪੁਰੁਸ਼-ਪ੍ਰਕਤਿ-ਬੁਦ੍ਧ੍ਯਹਂਕਾਰ ਮਨੋਰੂਪ-ਤਤ੍ਤ੍ਵ- ਪਞ੍ਚਕ,
ਨਿਵਤ੍ਤਿਪ੍ਰਤਿਸ਼੍ਠਾਵਿਦ੍ਯਾਸ਼ਾਨ੍ਤਿ, ਸ਼ਾਨ੍ਤ੍ਯਤੀਤਾਖ੍ਯ ਕਲਾ-ਪਞ੍ਚਕ,
ਬ੍ਰਹ੍ਮਾ, ਵਿਸ਼੍ਣੁ, ਰੁਦ੍ਰ, ਮਹੇਸ਼੍ਵਰ, ਸਦਾਸ਼ਿਵਾਖ੍ਯ-ਮੂਰ੍ਤਿ-ਪਞ੍ਚਕ,
ਸ਼ਿਵਸਾਦਾਖ੍ਯ, ਮੂਰ੍ਤਸਾਦਾਖ੍ਯ, ਮੂਰ੍ਤਸਾਦਾਖ੍ਯ-ਕਰ੍ਤਸਾਦਾਖ੍ਯ-ਕਰ੍ਮਸਾਦਾਖ੍ਯ
ਸਾਦਾਖ੍ਯ ਪਞ੍ਚਕਾਤ੍ਮਕਾਨੀਤਿ ਸ਼ਿਵਪੁਰਾਣਾਗਮੇਸ਼ੁ ਪ੍ਰਸਿਦ੍ਧਮ੍ ।
A full discussion of this topic is beyond the scope of this writeup. One may have to approach a scholar for further details on this subject.
`Pashupati’ means the protector of the kine. Every thing in creation from Brahma the creator down to immovables are known as pashus. Shiva is known as Pashupati since He is their Lord. The name occurs in vedas (eg) in Shri Rudram that says.ਨਮੋ ਵਕ੍ਸ਼ੇਭ੍ਯੋ ਹਰਿਕੇਸ਼ੇਭ੍ਯਃ ਪਸ਼ੂਨਾਂ ਪਤਯੇ ਨਮਃ । It also occurs in the Shiva 108 namavali (no.92) and Shiva 1000 namavali. In the Shiva sahasranamam(Padmapuranam) (No.44) we find the following.
ਪਸ਼ੁਪਤਿਃ – ਪਸ਼ੂਨਾਂ ਬ੍ਰਹ੍ਮਾਦੀਨਾਂ ਦ੍ਵਿਪਦਾਂ ਚਤੁਸ਼੍ਪਦਾਂ ਚ ਪਤਿਰ੍ਨਾਯਕਃ ।
“ਬ੍ਰਹ੍ਮਾਦ੍ਯਾਃ ਸ੍ਥਾਵਰਾਨ੍ਤਾਸ਼੍ਚ ਪਸ਼ਵਃ ਪਰਿਕੀਰ੍ਤਿਤਾਃ ।
ਤੇਸ਼ਾਂ ਪਤਿਤ੍ਵਾਦ੍ਵਿਸ਼੍ਵੇਸ਼ੋ ਭਵਃ ਪਸ਼ੁਪਤਿਃ ਸ੍ਮਤਃ ॥” ਇਤਿ ਪੁਰਾਣਮ੍ ।
“ਸਰ੍ਵਦਾ ਯਤ੍ਪਸ਼ੂਨ੍ਪਾਤਿ ਤੇਸ਼ੁ ਯਦ੍ਰਮਤੇ ਪੁਨਃ ।
ਤੇਸ਼ਾਮਧਿਪਤਿਰ੍ਯਚ੍ਚ ਤਸ੍ਮਾਤ੍ਪਸ਼ੁਪਤਿਃ ਸ੍ਮਤਃ ॥” ਇਤਿ ਮਹਾਭਾਰਤਮ੍ ।
Nepal is therefore known as Pashupatipuri after the Lord.
The river Vangmati flows close to the temple of Pashupati. The waters from the river are used for the daily ablutions in the temple. It is said that after Lord Narasimha appeared, killed the demon king and blessed Prahlada. Then He disappeared from the scene. Prahlada was greatly disappointed at this. He wanted to see the Lord again and did severe penance. Lord Shiva was impressed by this and laughed in happiness. Water flowed from His mouth at that time and turned into a river. The river that flowed from His mouth came to be known as Vangmati. (From Nepala Mahatmyam).
ਭਗਵਨ੍ਤਂ ਤਮਨ੍ਵੇਸ਼੍ਟੁਂ ਯਦਾ ਭਾਗਵਤੋ ਯਯੌ ।
ਤਮਦਸ਼੍ਟ੍ਵਾ ਤਪਸ੍ਤੇਪੇ ਹਿਮਵਚ੍ਛਿਖਰੇ ਸ਼ੁਭੇ ॥
ਦਸ਼੍ਟ੍ਵਾ ਤਂ ਸ਼ਂਭੁਰਾਗਤ੍ਯ ਹਾਸ੍ਯਮੁਚ੍ਚੈਸ਼੍ਚਕਾਰ ਹ ।
ਤਤੋ ਨਦੀ ਸਮੁਤ੍ਪਨ੍ਨਾ ਹ੍ਯੁਨ੍ਨਤਾਤ੍ ਗਿਰਿਗਹ੍ਵਰਾਤ੍ ॥
ਵਚਨਾਨ੍ਮਮ ਦੈਤ੍ਯੇਨ੍ਦ੍ਰ ਬਹਿਰ੍ਯਾਤਾ ਯਤੋ ਨਦੀ ।
ਅਤੋऽਸ੍ਯਾ ਵਾਙ੍ਮਤੀ ਨਾਮ ਭਵਿਸ਼੍ਯਤਿ ਨ ਸਂਸ਼ਯਃ ।
ਪ੍ਰਹ੍ਲਾਦ ਗਚ੍ਛ ਦੈਤ੍ਯੇਨ੍ਦ੍ਰ ਵਿਸ਼੍ਣੁਭਕ੍ਤਿਰ੍ਦਢਾऽਸ੍ਤੁ ਤੇ ॥
Lord Shiva blessed Prahlada that his devotion to Hari will remain firm.
Nepal also has the river Gandaki. Shaligrama stones are found in the river bed. They are symbolic of Lord Vishnu. Shrimad Bhagavatam makes a reference to the river in Book 5 – chapter 7 when it narrates the story of King Bharata. This country came to be known as Bharata Varsha after this king only. The king, after ruling over the country for a long time renounced everything and repaired to the forests to the hermitage of Sage Pulaha situated on the banks of river Gandaki. It is said that Lord Hari reveals His form to His devotees there in the ashram even today. The holy river Chakranadi (Gandaki) hallows on both sides the places of this ashrama through contact with circular (wheel like) pebbles on both sides.This place is known as the ShaligramakShetra.
ਏਵਂ ਵਰ੍ਸ਼ਾਯੁਤਸਹਸ੍ਰਪਰ੍ਯਨ੍ਤਾਵਸਿਤਕਰ੍ਮਨਿਰ੍ਵਾਣਾਵਸਰੋऽਧਿਭੁਜ੍ਯਮਾਨਂ
ਸ੍ਵਤਨਯੇਭ੍ਯੋ ਰਿਕ੍ਥਂ ਪਿਤਪੈਤਾਮਹਂ ਯਥਾਦਾਯਂ ਵਿਭਜ੍ਯ
ਸ੍ਵਯਂ ਸਕਲਸਂਪਨ੍ਨਿਕੇਤਾਤ੍ ਸ੍ਵਨਿਕੇਤਾਤ੍ ਪੁਲਹਾਸ਼੍ਰਮਂ ਪ੍ਰਵਵ੍ਰਾਜ ॥ ੮॥
ਯਤ੍ਰ ਹ ਵਾਵ ਭਗਵਾਨ੍ ਹਰਿਰਦ੍ਯਾਪਿ ਤਤ੍ਰਤ੍ਯਾਨਾਂ
ਨਿਜਜਨਾਨਾਂ ਵਾਤ੍ਸਲ੍ਯੇਨ ਸਂਨਿਧਾਪ੍ਯਤ ਇਚ੍ਛਾਰੂਪੇਣ ॥ ੯॥
ਯਤ੍ਰਾਸ਼੍ਰਮਪਦਾਨ੍ਯੁਭਯਤੋਨਾਭੀਭਿਰ੍ਦਸ਼ਚ੍ਚਕ੍ਰੈਸ਼੍ਚਕ੍ਰਨਦੀ ਨਾਮ
ਸਰਿਤ੍ਪ੍ਰਵਰਾ ਸਰ੍ਵਤਃ ਪਵਿਤ੍ਰੀਕਰੋਤਿ ॥ ੧੦॥
HISTORICAL NOTES:-
The documents in the National Archives of Nepal reveal that Shri Shankaracharya visited Nepal during his travels around the country. He had discussions with the then king of Nepal who was a Buddhist and weaned him away from Buddhism to Hinduism. He made changes to the way pujas were being done in Pashupatinath temple and arranged to have regular pujas done by priests got from South India. Four priests, properly trained in the temple procedures and recitng the vedas perform the pujas to the four faces on the four sides. These facts are also to be seen in the text Punyashloka manjari that deals with the history of the Kanchi Shankara math. It also says that Shri Vipulananda Sadashiva – the 53rd acharya in the lineage of acharyas of the math visited Nepal. He was warmly received by the king and
honoured by him. The following verse in the text says that.
ਨਿਜਨੀਵਦਗ੍ਰਹੇਤਿਖੇਦਤ੍ਯਜਨੇਪਾਲਨਪਾਲਪੂਜ੍ਯਪਾਦਃ ।
ਸ ਪੁਰੋ ਮਮ ਸਾਧੁ ਸਨ੍ਨਿਧਤ੍ਤਾਂ ਵਿਫਲਾਨਨਦਸਦਾਸ਼ਿਵੋऽਪ੍ਰਮਤ੍ਤਃ ॥
This fact is also mentioned as ਨੇਪਾਲਾਦਿਨਪਾਲਮੌਲਿਵਿਧਤਸ਼੍ਰੀਸ਼ਾਸਨ … in the Vyasachaliya Shankaravijayam ..
Shri Vyasachala was the disciple of Shri Vipulananda Sadashiva and succeded him as the 54th head of the math. He is the author of Vyasachaliya Shankaravijayam. The details show that the Shri Vipulananda
Sadashiva visited Nepal when it was in the grip of severe famine. He blesed the state and brought relief from the severe famine.
Now, before concluding, let us ponder as to what we should seek from Lord Pashupati. Shri Shankaracharya, in his Shivanandalahari (verse No.68) shows us the way. Let us join him in this moving appeal to Lord Pashupati.
ਅਮਿਤਮੁਦਮਤਂ ਮੁਹੁਰ੍ਦੁਹਨ੍ਤੀਂ
ਵਿਮਲ-ਭਵਤ੍ਪਦ-ਗੋਸ਼੍ਠਮਾਵਸ੍ਨ੍ਤੀਮ੍ ।
ਸਦਯ ਪਸ਼ੁਪਤੇ ਸੁ-ਪੁਣ੍ਯ-ਪਾਕਂ
ਮਮ ਪਰਿਪਾਲਯ ਭਕ੍ਤਿ-ਧੇਨੁਮੇਕਾਮ੍ ॥ ੬੮॥
Pashu(ਪਸ਼ੁ) means cattle in general. Here the acharya takes it to mean a cow. The `cow’ in this instance is devotion or bhakti. Lord Pashupati is the owner of the cow. The acharya requests the Lord to take care of the bhakti `cow’ and nourish it or, in other words, make his devotion to Him firm and unwavering. The cow shed will generally be unclean. But the bhakti cow will not stay in unclean places. It stays in a very clean place (viz.) the Lord’s feet.ਵਿਮਲ-ਭਵਤ੍ਪਦ-ਗੋਸ਼੍ਠਮਾਵਸਨ੍ਤੀਮ੍। ਵਿਮਲ = clean, pure. ਭਵਤ੍ਪਦ-ਗੋਸ਼੍ਠਮਾਵਸਨ੍ਤੀਮ੍ = staying in the cow-pen of your feet.ਗੋਸ਼੍ਠਮ੍ = cowpen. This implies that the place where bhakti resides is a very exalted one. The ordinary cow can give only milk, in limited quantities and that too at specific times only. This bhakti cow is capable of giving us many good things – and that too all the time and in abundance and most importantly the nectar called `bliss’ . So, ਅਮਿਤਮੁਦਮਤਂ ਮੁਹੁਰ੍ਦੁਹਨ੍ਤੀਮ੍। ਅਮਿਤ = unlimited. ਮੁਦਮ੍ = joy, happiness. ਅਮਤਂ = nectar. ਦੁਹਨ੍ਤੀਮ੍ = yielding.ਮੁਹੁਃ = often, frequently. The cow will be tied to a peg fixed to the ground. Bhakti is the result of good deeds or punyam done in
many births. So, the bhakti cow is tied to the peg that is the frution of good deeds or punyam done in numerous births.ਸੁਪੁਣ੍ਯ-ਪਾਕਾਮ੍ । The Lord is requested to take care of such a cow. Lord Pashupati is addressed asਸਦਯ ਪਸ਼ੁਪਤੇ = O! the compassionate Pashupati!. This indicates that the Lord has a kind heart and will certainly listen to our pleading.