Visit Of The Pashupatinath Temple Evening Aarti

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Pashupatinath Temple is revered by Hindus all over the world as one of their holiest sanctuaries.

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In the morning, day, and evening, priests and worshippers perform ceremonial worship and offer prayers at the temple. There's a buzz in the air as worshippers from all walks of life congregate on the Bagmati's banks. It's Monday, the day on which everyone worships Lord Shiva and on which the temple priests perform a special aarati to placate the great destroyer.As we approach the riverbank opposite the temple, the Bhatta (priest) is preparing for the aarati. Another priest is laying wood and preparing for a cremation on the other side of the river. I'm not the only one here to witness this; there are young and old, local and foreign visitors.Everyone in this room wishes to embark on a spiritual journey. One they will remember for many years to come. Among the various Pujas, the evening 'Aarati' on the banks of the Bangmati river on the temple's eastern side draws large crowds.This evening's rituals include a band singing hymns in praise of God, classical instruments being played, Vedic mantras being chanted, and bells being rung, burning of incense, and lighting of oil lamps, keep the people spellbound throughout. The ritual makes the evening environment dazzling.

Pashupatinath has a calming effect on me. The temple, which stands on the banks of the sacred Bagmati River, is one of the most important Hindu shrines in the world. Devotees from all over the world come to visit the temple, which is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This holy pilgrimage, which was built around the 5th century, is said to have existed since the beginning of the millennium when a Shiva lingam was discovered here. I decided to investigate the aarati after hearing so much about it. During the evening aarati, devotees, young and old, were present, and there was a sense that no one was forced to be there. Even small children were enthralled by the spectacle, as were the majority of the spectators, who were mostly teenagers and young adults.Tourists (non-Hindus) are not permitted to enter the temple; however, they are permitted to visit the exteriors, the ghats, the river, and, most importantly, the aarati area opposite the Pashupatinath Temple. This evening aarati is a must-see event. Three priests form a line on the Bagmati River's bank, where they have a clear view of Pashupatinath Temple. Aarati is a worship ritual in which light is offered to God via wicks soaked in ghee (purified butter). The Pashupatinath aarati is performed by three priests who use oil lamps, lanterns, and other religious elements while chanting sacred mantras.

The aarati begins with worship using coal incense, which is burned with vegetable oil and various types of wood. While this is going on, a group of devotees begins lighting up three large structures with fifty-four diyos (small oil lamps) raised to Lord Shiva. In perfectly coordinated motions, the priests first dip the lights four times on the bottom and circle them seven times on the top. The Pashupatinath aarati is a devotional service to the holy river Bagmati and the Pashupatinath Temple. The bhajans are playing over the speakers, and I notice a few people moving in an unusual way. When I ask a local what they are doing, he responds, 'Tandav.' Tandav is a dance form performed by some followers and Sadhus  at the aarati. Tandav is a celestial dance performed by Lord Shiva. Hence, followers dance the Tandava during the aarati paying respect to Lord Shiva.

The manner in which the aarati is moved is a standard ritual. The motions at the bottom represent worship of the Lord's feet, while those at the top represent worship of his head. Each item of worship is rotated in the same way. Diyos are responsible for the motions appearing beautiful at night. The aarati is performed not only for Lord Shiva, but also for the Bagmati River, which holds great significance in Hinduism. My grandfather once told me that taking a holy bath in this river is thought to wash away sins. He used to take me to the temple every week when I was a kid and dip it in the river despite the fact that I objected it every time.

If you do decide to attend the aarati, I recommend arriving an hour before the ceremony begins. The timing varies by season, but during the winter, the aarati begins at 6 p.m. We ask one of the Bhattas from a distance how long this has been going on for. He tells us that the aarati has been going on for nine years and that it is offered to all gods and goddesses. "The goal of this aarati is to show our respect and gratitude to Lord Shiva, the holy Bagmati River, and finally to Goddess Parvati," says the Bhatta, who has been doing this for years.

The Hindu religion is notable for its belief in the presence of God in every living soul. It prioritizes what is good for everyone over what is good for just one person. This is portrayed during the aarati, where prayers are sung for the betterment of humanity as a whole, with the main goal of coming together as one. The aarati concludes with a prayer for the well-being of all living souls and a thank you to God for his kindness.Thousands of devotees visit the Pashupatinath Temple in Kathmandu every day for sacred darshan of Lord Pashupatinath. Maha Shivaratri, Pashupatinath Temple's primary festival, attracts nearly 800,000 pilgrims. This temple is one of the 275 Tamil Paadal Petra Sthalams (Holy Abodes of Shiva) scattered over the continent. The doors, like those of other temples, close in the afternoon and then reopen for darshan. Pashupatinath Temple Timings, Aarti, Darshan Timings, Pooja Timings, Pooja Offerings with Abhishekam Timings, Opening Time & Closing Time should all be checked for a smooth darshan.