% Text title : pashupati pnchAsya stavaH % File name : pashupati5.itx % Category : panchaka, shiva % Location : doc\_shiva % Transliterated by : N.Balasubramanian bbalu at satyam.net.in % Proofread by : N.Balasubramanian bbalu at satyam.net.in % Description-comments : in praise of Lord Pashupati with five faces. % Latest update : June 21, 2012 % Send corrections to : sanskrit at cheerful dot c om % % This text is prepared by volunteers and is to be used for personal study % and research. The file is not to be copied or reposted for promotion of % any website or individuals or for commercial purpose without permission. % Please help to maintain respect for volunteer spirit. % \documentstyle[11pt,multicol,itrans]{article} #include=ijag.inc #endwordvowel=.h \portraitwide \parindent=100pt \let\usedvng=\Largedvng % for 1 column \pagenumbering{itrans} \def\engtitle#1{\hrule\medskip\centerline{\LARGE #1}} \def\itxtitle#1{\medskip\centerline{\LARGEdvng #1}\medskip\hrule} \def\endtitles{\medskip\obeyspaceslines} %% \begin{document} \engtitle{.. pashupati panchAsya stavaH ..}## \itxtitle{.. pashupati pa~nchAsya stavaH ..}##\endtitles ## sadA sadyojAtasmitamadhurasAsvAdaparayA bhavAnyA dR^ikpAtabhramaratatibhishchumbitapuTam . apA.n patyuH kAShThA.n shritamadhikashIta.n pashupate\- rmukha.n sadyojAta.n mama duritajAta.n vyapanayet .. 1.. jaTAntaHsvardhunyAshshishiramukhavAtairavamati.n gata.n vAmA.n ruShTAmanunayasahasraiH prashamitum . kiratjyotsna.n vAma.n nayanamagajAnetraghaTita.n dadhadvAma.n vaktra.n haratu mama kAma.n\, pashupateH .. 2.. gale ghorajvAla.n garalamapi gaNDUShasadR^isha.n nidAghAnte\, garjadghanavadatinIla.n vahati yat . nirastu.n vishvAghaprachayamadhitiShThadyamadisha.n hyaghora.n tadvaktra.n laghayatu mada.n me\, pashupateH .. 3.. pumarthAna.n pUrti.n praNatashirasA.n dAtumanisha.n jalAbhAvo mAbhUditi shirasi ga~NgA.n vahati yat . sureshAsAsphUrti.n mukuTashashibhAsA kirati tat mukha.n tat pu.nrUpa.n haratu mama moha.n\, pashupateH .. 4.. ramesho vAgIsho divasarajanIshau parashudR^ik suresho daityesho nishicharakulesho.atha dhanadaH . yadUrdhvA.nshuvrAtaishshivacharitavantaH pariNatAH tadaishAna.n vaktra.n haratu bhavapAsha.n\, pashupateH .. 5.. ##COMMENTS:- Tha above verses are in praise of Lord Shiva, renowned by the name Pashupati in the temple in Nepal.##(pa~ncha) ## pancha means five, ##(Asyam) ## Asyam means the face, and##(stavam) ## 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##(puruShArthAH.)## 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.## purI pAshupatI dhanyA chaturvarga\-phalapradA . jyotIrUpa.n mahAli~Nga.n yatrAgnau taptakA~nchanam .. dhanyA naipAlikA martyAH tadrUpa.n gochara.n vibhum . pashyanti ye.api devAnA.n sAxAtpunaragocharam . ## 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).## sa.npUrNe bhArate.asminnapi vasu\-bharite bhUshiraH\-sthAnabhUte shashvachChAntyAdi\-kendre himagiri\-shikhare.abhyuttare.adhyuttame.antaH . puNye naisarga\-ramye paragahana\-vane sadvichitre pavitre kShetre nepAla\-sa.nj~ne lasati pashupati\-jyotirAtmA chidIshaH .. ## 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 (paurnami##paurNamI ##) 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 ##pa~nchavaktraH. pa~nchasa~NkhyAkAni vaktrANi mukhAni nAnArUpANi yasya sa tathA . ## (Shivasahasranamam-Padmapuranam). These faces have the following names. ##IshAna\, tatpuruSha\, aghora\, vAmadeva\, ##and## sadyojAta##. 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##(mahat) ## means big. Laghu is the opposite,##(laghu) ## 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.## tatpuruShAya vidmahe mahAdevAya dhImahi. tanno rudraH prachodayAt .. sa.nvartAgni\-taTitpradIpta\-kanakapraspardhi \- tejoruNA.n gambhIradhvani\-sAmavedajanakaM tAmrAdharaM sundaram . ardhendudyuti\-lola\-pi.ngala jaTA bhAra\-praboddhodaka.n vande siddhasurAsurendra\-namitaM pUrvaM mukhaM shUlinaH .. OM namo bhagavate\' rudrA\`ya . pUrvA.nga mukhAya namaH .. ##The above verse is in salutation of Tatpurusha facing East.## a\`gho\'re\"bhyo.atha\` ghore\"bhyo\` ghoraghora\'tarebhyaH . sarve\"bhyaH sarva\`sharve\"bhyo\` nama\'ste astu ru\`draru\'pebhyaH .. kAlAbhra\-bhramarA.njana\-dyutinibhaM vyAvR^ittapi.ngekShaNa.n karNodbhAsita\-bhogimastakamaNi\-prodbhinnada.nShTrA.nkuram . sarpaprotakapAla\-shuktishakala\-vyAkIrNatAshekhara.n vande dakShiNamIshvarasya vadanaM chAtharvanAdodayam .. OM namo bhagavate\' rudrA\`ya . dakShiNA.nga mukhAya namaH .. ##The above verse is in salutation of Aghora facing South.## sa\`dyojA\`taM pra\'padyA\`mi\` sa\`dyo jA\`tAya\` vai namo\` nama\'H . bha\`ve bha\'ve\` nAti\'bhave bhavasva\` mAm . bha\`vodbha\'vAya\` nama\'H .. prAleyAchalamindukunda\-dhavalaM gokShIraphenaprabha.n bhasmAbhya.ngamana.ngadehadahana\-jvAlAvalIlochanam . viShNubrahmamarudgaNArcitapadaM R^igvedanAdodaya.n vande.ahaM sakalaM kala.nkarahitaM sthANormukhaM pashcimam .. OM namo bhagavate\' rudrA\`ya . pashchimA.nga mukhAya namaH .. ##The above verse is in salutation of Sadyojata facing West.## vA\`ma\`de\`vAya\` namo\" jyeShThAya\` nama\'H shre\`ShThAya\` namo\' ru\`drAya\` nama\`H kAlA\'ya\` nama\`H kala\'vikaraNAya\` namo\` bala\`vikaraNAya\` namo\` balA\'ya\` namo\` bala\'pramathanAya\` nama\`ssarva\'bhUtadamanAya\` namo\' ma\`no\'nma\'nAya\` nama\'H .. gauraM ku.nkuma pa.nkitaM sutilakaM vyApANDumaNDasthala.n bhrUvikShepa\-kaTAkShavIkShaNalasatsa.nsaktakarNotpalam . snigdhaM bimbaphalAdharaM prahasitaM nIlAlakAla.nkR^ita.n vande yAjuSha\-vedaghoShajanakaM vaktraM harasyottaram .. OM namo bhagavate\' rudrA\`ya . uttarA.nga mukhAya namaH .. ##The above verse is in salutation of Vamadeva facing North .## IshAnassarva\'vidyA\`nA\`mIshvaraH sarva\' bhUtA\`nA.n brahmAdhi\'pati\`rbrahma\`Nodhi\'pati\`rbrahmA\' shi\`vo me\' astu sadAshi\`vom .. vyaktAvyaktanirUpitaM cha paramaM ShaTtri.nshatattvAdhikaM tasmAduttara\-tattvamakSharamiti dhyeyaM sadA yogibhiH . o.nkArAdi\-samastamantrajanakaM sUkShmAtisUkShmaM para.n vande pa.nchamamIshvarasya vadanaM khavyApi tejomayam .. OM namo bhagavate\' rudrA\`ya . UrdhvA.nga mukhAya namaH ..## 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 name##pa~nchavaktraH ## is the 52nd name in the namavali. A chapter from the elaborate commentary is given below.## tAni cha pa~ncha mukhAni IshAna\-tatpuruShAghora\-vAmadeva\-sadyojAtAkhya\-pa~ncha\- brahmAtmakAni\, tAni cha pa~nchabrahmANi bhUta\- pa~nchaka\, tanmAtR^i\-pa~nchaka\, karmendriya\-pa~nchaka\, j~nAnendriya\-pa~nchaka\, puruSha\-prakR^iti\-buddhyaha.nkAra manorUpa\-tattva\- pa~nchaka\, nivR^ittipratiShThAvidyAshAnti\, shAntyatItAkhya kalA\-pa~nchaka\, brahmA\, viShNu\, rudra\, maheshvara\, sadAshivAkhya\-mUrti\-pa~nchaka\, shivasAdAkhya\, mUrtasAdAkhya\, mUrtasAdAkhya\-kartR^isAdAkhya\-karmasAdAkhya sAdAkhya pa~nchakAtmakAnIti shivapurANAgameShu prasiddham .## 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.##namo vR^ixebhyo harikeshebhyaH pashUnA.n pataye namaH . ## 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.## pashupatiH \- pashUnA.n brahmAdInA.n dvipadA.n chatuShpadA.n cha patirnAyakaH . \ldq{}brahmAdyAH sthAvarAntAshcha pashavaH parikIrtitAH . teShA.n patitvAdvishvesho bhavaH pashupatiH smR^itaH ..\rdq iti purANam . \ldq{}sarvadA yatpashUnpAti teShu yadramate punaH . teShAmadhipatiryachcha tasmAtpashupatiH smR^itaH ..\rdq iti mahAbhAratam .## 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).## bhagavanta.n tamanveShTu.n yadA bhAgavato yayau . tamadR^iShTvA tapastepe himavachChikhare shubhe .. dR^iShTvA ta.n sha.nbhurAgatya hAsyamuchchaishchakAra ha . tato nadI samutpannA hyunnatAt girigahvarAt .. vachanAnmama daityendra bahiryAtA yato nadI . ato.asyA vA~NmatI nAma bhaviShyati na sa.nshayaH . prahlAda gachCha daityendra viShNubhaktirdR^iDhA.astu te .. ## 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.## eva.n varShAyutasahasraparyantAvasitakarmanirvANAvasaro.adhibhujyamAna.n svatanayebhyo riktha.n pitR^ipaitAmaha.n yathAdAya.n vibhajya svaya.n sakalasa.npanniketAt svaniketAt pulahAshrama.n pravavrAja .. 8.. yatra ha vAva bhagavAn hariradyApi tatratyAnA.n nijajanAnA.n vAtsalyena sa.nnidhApyata ichChArUpeNa .. 9.. yatrAshramapadAnyubhayatonAbhIbhirdR^iShachchakraishchakranadI nAma saritpravarA sarvataH pavitrIkaroti .. 10.. ## 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. ## nijanIvR^idagrahetikhedatyajanepAlanR^ipAlapUjyapAdaH . sa puro mama sAdhu sannidhattA.n viphalAnanadasadAshivo.apramattaH .. ## This fact is also mentioned as ##nepAlAdinR^ipAlamaulividhR^itashrIshAsana \.\.\. ## 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.## amitamudamR^ita.n muhurduhantI.n vimala\-bhavatpada\-goShThamAvasntIm . sadaya pashupate su\-puNya\-pAka.n mama paripAlaya bhakti\-dhenumekAm .. 68.. ## Pashu##(pashu) ## 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.##vimala\-bhavatpada\-goShThamAvasantIm. vimala ## = clean, pure. ##bhavatpada\-goShThamAvasantIm ## = staying in the cow-pen of your feet.##goShTham ## = 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,## amitamudamR^ita.n muhurduhantIm. amita ## = unlimited. ## mudam ## = joy, happiness. ##amR^ita.n ## = nectar. ## duhantIm ## = yielding.##muhuH ## = 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.##supuNya\-pAkAm . ## The Lord is requested to take care of such a cow. Lord Pashupati is addressed as##sadaya pashupate## = O! the compassionate Pashupati!. This indicates that the Lord has a kind heart and will certainly listen to our pleading. \medskip\hrule\medskip Encoded and proofread N.Balasubramanian bbalu@satyam.net.in \medskip\hrule\obeylines Please send corrections to sanskrit at cheerful dot c om Last updated \today https://sanskritdocuments.org \end{document}