The Story of Pashupati

As Pashupati, Lord Shiva is the lord of pashu, all living beings, the herdsman and protector of every creature of the earth. This is among the most ancient ways the Lord has been worshipped, reaching back to the dawn of this civilisation.

He sits in serene mastery, surrounded by the animals of the forest who know him as their guardian, the trident planted beside him.

At the great temple of Pashupatinath, devotees from across the world come to seek the blessing of the one who watches over all souls bound in the world, and gently leads them toward liberation.

The Meaning

Pashupati is Shiva as the compassionate lord of every living being, the protector who holds all creatures in his care. The form teaches that the divine is the shepherd of all souls, and that he frees the bound from the bondage of the world. It is one of the oldest and most beloved faces of the Lord.