INTRODUCTION Pashupathinath is the guardian spirit and the t he holiest of all Shiva shrines in Nepal. Lord Shiva is known by many different names; and Pashupati is one of them. “Pashu” Pashu” means living beings, and “Pati” Pati” means master. In other words Pashupati is the master of all living beings of the universe. This is how lord Pashupati is eulogized in the Vedas, Upnisada and other religious books. The temple has remained r emained the presiding deity of ruling Nepalese Royalty. It is located on the banks of the FIG. NANDI Bagmati river, this two tiered magnificent golden temple with four triple silver doorways is unique u nique example of the Nepalese temple architecture. The temple is famous for its inspiring and astounding pagoda architecture. The western door has a statue of a large Bull, Nandi, which is ornamented in gold. The black stone idol, about 6 ft in height and circumference, adds to the beauty and charisma of t he temple. It is one of the largest lar gest Hindu temple complexes in South Asia with hundreds of Shiva lingams, shrines icons of various Hindu god and goddess insides. This temple site occupies an area of 281 hectares in total. The main entrance of this temple is in the western side facing a small street of Deopatan market. Non-Hindus are not allowed to enter the temple courtyard. They are advised to go on the other side of the river in the East to have a glimpse of the temple complex. In the middle of the spring there occurs a festival called Shivaratri. The word Shivaratri means the holy night of Lord Shiva. On this day, many devotees visit the Pashupati Nath temple and make the ceremonial fire. Most of the t he devotees spend the night offering prayers to Shiva. This festival attracts tens of thousand of pilgrims from India besides the locals. The site is surrounded with large crowds. The site is overloaded with horns, bells, cows, cars, bicycles, holy men, beggars, smoke, vendors, etc.
FIG. PASHUPATINATH MONUMENT SITE
FIG. PASHUPATINATH MONUMENTAL AREA
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HISTORY AND HERITAGE VALUE
Historically pre-Christian era this temple seems to have its origin away back to the early Kirat period. Stone sculptures were found in the vicinity, which support the antiquity of this place. The present architectural nature of Pashupatinath temple came into existence as a result of renovation by Queen Gangadevi during the reign of Shivasimha Malla during 15781620 AD. King Bhupendra Malla erected the temple again in the 17th century after termites have consumed the previous building. Further temples have been erected around this twostoried temple. The priests are called “Bhattas” as scribe in sanskrit and the Chief Priest is known as “Mool Bhatt or Raval” whereas daily worship and other duties of the temple were carried out by Nepali sanyashi known as “Hermit ”. The priests are from south India, origin since last 350 years. The chief priest is answerable only to the king and reports to him on any temple matters on a periodic basis. “This tradition is reported to have started by the request of AdiShankaracharya who sought to unify the different states of unified India by encouraging cultural exchange.”[1] The unique feature of this temple is that only 4 priests can touch the deity. “This tradition is reported to have started by Sage Shankaracharya in 8 th century, ostensibly to stop human sacrifice which was prevalent in the temple.”[1] However, this tradition was broken after the historic political revolution in Nepal, which demolished the monarchy. The newly formed government allowed Nepalese priest to worship by discounting the centuries old tradition.
MYTHOLOGY According to a legend recorded in local texts, especially the Nepalamahatmya and the Himavatkhanda, “the Hindu Lord Shiva once fled from the other gods in Varanasi to Mrigasthali, the forest on the opposite bank of the Bagmati River from the temple. There, in the form of a gazelle, he slept with his consort Parvati. When the gods discovered him there and tried to bring him back to Varanasi, he leapt across the river to t he opposite bank, where one of his horns broke into four pieces. After this, Shiva became manifest as Pashupati (Lord of Animals) in a four-face (chaturmukha) linga.” [2] It is said that the wish-fulfilling cow Kamadhenu took shelter in a cave on the Chandravan mountain. Everyday Kamadhenu went down to the place the lingam was sunken into the soil and poured her milk on top of the soil. After ten thousand years some people saw Kamadhenu pouring milk on that same spot everyday, and started to wonder what that would be. So they removed the soil and found the beautiful shining lingam. After having a good look they disappeared into the lingam, freed from sin and rebirths. More and more people came to look and more people disappeared into the lingam.
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LEGEND Pashupatinath Temple is the oldest Hindu temple in Kathmandu. It is not known for certain when Pashupatinath Temple was founded. But according to Nepal Mahatmaya and Himvatkhanda,[2] the deity here gained great fame there as Pashupati, the Lord of all Pashus, which are living as well as non-living beings. There are many legends describing as to how the temple of Lord Pashupatinath came to existence here. Some of them are narrated below:-[2] The Cow Legend Legend says that Lord Shiva once took the form of an antelope and sported unknown in the forest on Bagmati river's east bank. The gods later caught up with him, and grabbing him by the horn, forced him to resume his divine form. The broken horn was worshipped as a linga but overtime it was buried and lost. Centuries later an astonished herdsmen found one of his cows showering the earth with milk. Digging deep at the site, he discovered the divine linga of Pashupatinath. The Linchchhavi Legend According to Gopalraj Vamsavali, the oldest ever chronicle in Nepal, this temple was built by Supuspa Deva, a Linchchhavi King, who according to the stone inscription erected by Jayadeva 11 in the courtyard of Pashupatinath in 753 AD, happened to be the ruler 39 generations before Manadeva (464-505 AD). The Devalaya Legend Another chronicle states that Pashupatinath Temple was in the form of Linga shaped Devalaya before Supuspa Deva constructed a five storey temple of Pashupatinath in this place. As the time passed, the need for repairing and renovating this temple arose. It is learnt that this temple was reconstructed by a medieval King named Shivadeva (10991126 AD). It was renovated by Ananta Malla adding a roof to it. Thousands of pilgrims from all over the world come to pay homage to this temple, that is also known as 'The Temple of Living Beings'. Shakti Peetha The Shakti Peetha, the divine shine of Mother Goddess is located near to the Pasupanath Temple. It is said that the temple is the Shakti of the Shiva in Pasupanath Temple. The shrine is one of the 51 major Shakti Peetha all over South Asia.
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DEFINING THE WORLD HERITAGE SITE A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a place (such as a forest, mountain, lake, island, desert, monument, building, complex, or city) that is listed by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) as of special cultural or physical significance. [3]
A. OUTSTANDING UNIVERSAL VALUE Outstanding universal value is the central idea of the World Heritage Convention. Broadly, its meaning follows the common sense interpretation of the words: * Outstanding: For properties to be of outstanding universal value they should be exceptional, or superlative – they should be the most remarkable places on earth. * Universal: Properties need to be outstanding from a global perspective. World heritage does not aim to recognize properties that are remarkable from solely a national or regional perspective. Countries are encouraged to develop other approaches to recognize these places. Australia does this through the national heritage listing process. * Value: What makes a property outstanding and universal is its “value”, or the natural and/ or cultural worth of a property. This value is determined based on standards and processes established under the World Heritage Convention‟s Operational Guidelines. To be considered of outstanding universal value, A property needs to: • Meet one or more of ten criteria • Meet the conditions of integrity • If a cultural property, meet the conditions of authenticity, • Have an adequate system of protection and management to safeguard its future.
Criteria for determining Outstanding Universal Value The criteria for outstanding universal value have evolved over time. However, the underlying concepts have remained stable. The current criteria for world heritage properties, as specified in the World Heritage Convention, are that they: There are mainly two types of criteria: [4] Cultural criteria I. Represents a masterpiece of human creative genius. II. Exhibits an important interchange of human values, over a span of time, or within a cultural area of the world, on developments in architecture or technology, monumental arts, town planning, or landscape design. III. To bear a unique or at least exceptional testimony to a cultural tradition or to a civilization which is living or which has disappeared. IV. Is an outstanding example of a type of building, architectural, or technological ensemble or landscape, which illustrates a significant stage in human history,
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V.
VI.
Is an outstanding example of a traditional human settlement, land-use, or sea-use, which is representative of a culture, or human interaction with the environment especially when it has become vulnerable under the impact of irreversible change, Is directly or tangibly associated with events or living traditions, with ideas, or with beliefs, with artistic and literary works of outstanding universal significance. (The Committee considers that this criterion should preferably be used in conjunction with other criteria)
VII. VIII.
IX.
X.
Natural criteria Contains superlative natural phenomena or areas of exceptional natural beauty and aesthetic importance. Is an outstanding example representing major stages of Earth's history, including the record of life, significant on-going geological processes in the development of landforms, or significant geomorphic or physiographic features. Is an outstanding example representing significant on-going ecological and biological processes in the evolution and development of ter restrial, fresh water, coastal and marine ecosystems, and communities of plants and animals. Contains the most important and significant natural habitats for in-situ conservation of biological diversity, including those containing threatened species of outstanding universal value from the point of view of science or conservation.
CRITERIA FOR INSCRIPTION The Kathmandu Valley World Heritage Site was inscribed on the World Heritage List under criteria III, IV and VI. However, Consideration has been given to the fact that the criteria, as formulated in 1979, have evolved as a basis for giving more attention to “Living cultural traditions” in management of the present day World Heritage property. Criterion (iii)
OG-2005: bear a unique or at least exceptional testimony to a cultural tradition or to a civilization, which is living, or which has disappeared, OG-1979: be unique, extremely rare, or of great antiquity The Kathmandu Valley World Heritage Site is a testimony to the unique "Newari Culture" which is still alive today. The cultural traditions of the multi -ethnic people who settled in this remote Himalayan valley over the past two millennia, referred to as the Newars, is manifested in the unique urban society which boasts of one of the most highly developed craftsmanship of brick, timber and bronze in the world.
Criterion (iv)
OG-2005: be an outstanding example of a type of building, architectural or technological ensemble or landscape which illustrates (a) significant stage(s) in humanhistory OG-1979: be among the most characteristic examples of a type of structure, the type representing an important cultural, social, artistic, scientific, technological or industrial development The Kathmandu Valley World Heritage Site is comprised of exceptional architectural typologies, ensembles and urban fabric, which illustrate t he highly developed culture of the Kathmandu Valley, which reached an apogee between 1500 and 1800 AD. The exquisite examples of palaces complexes, ensembles of temples and stupas are unique to the Kathmandu Valley.
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C r i t er i o n ( v i )
OG-2005: be directly or tangibly associated with events or living traditions, with ideas, or with beliefs, with artistic and literary works of outstanding universal significance. OG-1979: be most importantly associated with ideas or beliefs, with events or with persons, of outstanding historical importance of significance The Kathmandu Valley World Heritage Site is tangibly associated with the unique coexistence and amalgamation of Hinduism and Buddhism with animist rituals and Tantrism. The symbolic and artistic values are manifested in the ornamentation of the buildings, the urban structure and often the surrounding natural environment, which are closely associated with legends, rituals and festivals. (source: Kathmandu Valley World Heritage Site, Integrated Management Framework, Prepared by: Government of Nepal, Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, Department of Archaeology in close collaboration with the World Heritage Centre and UNESCO-Kathmandu Office)
Statements of Outstanding Universal Value A „Statement of Outstanding Universal Value‟ is the of ficial statement about a property that is adopted by the World Heritage Committee. Here by, from the definations of WHS and OUV, Pashupati has an outstanding universal value and is listed in world heritage site. The only thing t hat increases its value and attribute is the unique outstanding feature of this temple. VALUES The architectural values of the Pashupatinath temple lie in the exceptional architectural typologies and ensembles of the temples and within their unique urban and natural contexts. The buildings and structures, with their intricate ornamentation, display craftsmanship in brick, timber and bronze that are some of the most highly developed in the world. The historic values of the temple lie in the unique urban society that developed out of the cultural traditions of the multi-ethnic people who settled in this remote Himalayan valley over the past two millennia, which reached an apogee between 1500 and 1800 AD. The architectural typologies and ensembles reflect the unique coexistence and amalgamation of Hinduism and Buddhism with animist rituals and Tantrism. The urban structures and natural environment surrounding the monuments are closely associated with legends, rituals and festivals. ATTRIBUTES The values of the Pashupatinath World Heritage Site is supported and expressed by the attributes that have been defined below: • the unique architectural style of the temple that are defined by their form, scale, structure and materials. • The highly developed craftsmanship of the structures and ornamentation, its form and design. • The traditions and functions that bind the monuments to their distinct context, in particularly the beliefs, legends, rituals and festivals. These attributes need to be conserved and protected.
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STATEMENT OF AUTHENTICITY The authenticity of the Pashupatinath monumental property is r etained through the unique form, design, material and substance of the monuments, displaying a highly developed traditional craftsmanship and situated within a traditional urban or natural setting, which have however throughout history gone through t he process of cyclical renewal. In addition to meeting one of the ten criteria, to be considered of outstanding universal value, a world heritage property also needs to meet conditions of integrity and for cultural properties, authenticity.
STATEMENT OF INTEGRITY The integrity of the Kathmandu Valley World Heritage property is retained by means of the clearly defined Monument Zone boundaries encompassing the elements that contribute to the outstanding universal value, which are guaranteed maintenance and protected by means of the Integrated Management Plan. Integrity relates to the „wholeness and intactness‟ of the heritage property and how it conveys the values it holds. Integrity can also relate to the size of the property (sufficient size to continue to represent the values) and to any threats affecting the property. The requirement for authenticity relates only to cultural properties. Broadly, it requires an original, authentic or true cultural expression of the values of a property, in material or conceptual form, and cannot be represented by a copy or recreation.
Management of Outstanding Universal Value All properties inscribed on the World Heritage List must have adequate protection and management mechanisms in place. How a country chooses to protect and manage its properties can vary, so long as it does so effectively. The World Heritage Committee can place a property on an “in danger” list if it believes the property is threatened by serious and specific dangers. And Pashupatinath was listed in danger on 2003. If the outstanding universal value of a listed property is destroyed, the World Heritage Committee will delete it from the World Heritage List altogether.
MANAGING WORLD HERITAGE SITES 1. Defining the World Heritage Site 2. Analyzing the Status of the Site 3. Approaches to Conservation 4. Establishing Appropriate Frameworks 5. Establishing the Processes 6. Trial Implementation 7. Long Term Management
1. Defining the World Heritage Site: (a) OUTSTANDING UNIVERSAL VALUE For the Outstanding Universal Value Sites must be of “outstanding universal value” verified through application of 6 cultural / 4 natural criteria. Pashupatinath temple is one of the finest and unique temple in Nepal with Nepalese pagoda style of architecture with two level roofs are of copper with gold covering, four main doors, all covered with silver sheets, a gold pinnacle, (Gajur), and a statue of large bull or Nandi, plated in bronze. 7
(b) AUTHENTICITY INTEGRITY AND ATTRIBUTES: Authenticity is a measure of the degree to which the values of a property may be understood to have been credible, truthful, and genuinely expressed by the attributes of the property. Like Pashupati temple is wholly a Hindu temple. People visit here because of their belief and truthfulness toward the deity and their belief. Integrity is a concept of consistency of actions, values, methods, measures, principles, and morals. Integrity is a measure of the wholeness and intactness of the natural and/or cultural heritage and its attributes. The attributes may include: “form and design; materials and substance; use and junction; traditions, techniques and management systems; location and setting; language, and other forms of intangible heritage; spirit and feeling; and other internal and external factors”. As Pashupati is designed in pagoda style with its unique architectural features for being listed in world heritage sites its should have an authentic attributes. (c) BOUNDARY AND BUFFER ZONE: The boundary should encompass all elements and attributes that contribute to the outstanding universal value of the World Heritage Site. Buffer zone relates to the area peripheral to a specific protected area, where restrictions are made for use and development measures in order to enhance the conservation value of the World Heritage Sites. The boundary encompasses the areas that have important religious and historic links to the main Pashupatinath temple that as a whole contributes to the outstanding universal value of the property. The boundary area is 83.55 ha approx. The Buffer Zone encompasses a strip of land of varying depth around the Monument Zone and corresponds to the area gazetted in 1998. It encompasses of area about 11.55 ha.
2. Analyzing the Status of the Site: Status Report: It is the state of conservation of the elements and attributes that give the site its significance. Since the 1980‟s, due to growing urbanization and pollution, the environment in and around Pashupatinath gradually degraded. The Pashupati Area Development Trust (PADT) was hence established in 1990 to oversee its maintenance and development. Without a proper implementation plan, it was subject to illegal encroachment and vandalism, resulting in the heritage and cultural value of the area being neglected in favor of commercialization. Hence a development plan was created based on the historic condition of the area, having nine gates, nine gods, nine goddesses, nine tap-systems, nine lakes, nine courtyards, nine roads and nine fields.
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Issues Analysis: It is the state of current pressures, recent history of change and associated problems, challenges and obstacles, resources and opportunities.
3. Approach to Conservation: The Pashupatinath temple is under the conservation of Pashupati Area Development Trust Act (PADTA) 1987 is a specific act for the Conservation of the Pashupati Area. It provides for the establishment of a Pashupati Area Development Fund to manage, maintain and preserve the natural and cultural heritage in the Pashupati area and prohibits the registration of land within the area to any person or institution. The PADTA established the Pashupati Area Development Trust (PADT) as the authority for the development, protection and maintenance of the Pashupati area. The main objective of PADT is the implementation of their Master Plan to develop and conserve Pashupati as a religious centre for the Hindus.
4. Establishing Appropriate Frameworks Instutional framework: The systems of formal laws, regulations, and procedures, and informal conventions, customs, and norms, that shape socioeconomic activity and behaviour. This establishes the authorities involved in managing the W HS.
5. Establishing the Processes This process contains annual action plan, linkages like architectural drawings, management system and many more. As pashupati temple is world heritage site it is based upon the long-term activites. And these processes are done to protect the outstanding universal value of the country.
6. Trial Implementation When the components of the Management Plan have been established, it is necessary to carry out a full one-year cycle as a trial run to fine-tune the system. Pashupati area trust are monitoring the architectural features as well as the annual action planning process which helps in conserving n preserving the outstanding universal value to the future generation.
7. Long Term Management For the Integrated Management Plan achieving long-term objectives continued monitoring, review and modification is necessary. Pashupatinath temple is being conserved and preserve under the management system to protect the ouv of the nation. Minimum a yearly, the Integrated Management Plan needs to be reviewed for implementation and development of the world heritage site of Nepal.
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CONTROVERSY of 2009 The priests are called “Bhattas” as scribe in sanskrit and the Chief Priest is known as “Mool Bhatt or Raval” whereas daily worship and other duties of the temple were carried out by Nepali sanyashi known as “Hermit ”.This, along with the allegations of corruption within the temple had been an issue among some Nepalese people. In January 2009, after the forced resignation by the chief priest of Pashupatinath temple, the Maoist-led government of Nepal "hand picked" Nepalese priests to lead the temple, t hus bypassing the temple's long-standing requirements.This appointment was contested by the Bhandaris of the temple, stating that they were not against the appointment of Nepalese priests but against the appointment without proper procedure. After the appointment was challenged in a civil court, the appointment was overruled by Supreme Court of Nepal. However, the government did not heed the ruling and stood by its decision. This led to public outrage and protests over a lack of transparency. The paramilitary group of the CPN attacked the protesters, leading to over a dozen injuries. Lawmakers and activists from opposition parties joined protests, declaring their support for the Bhandaris and other proBhandari protesters. After long dissatisfaction and protest by Hindus both in and outside Nepal, the government was forced to reverse its decision that had been declared illegal by the Supreme Court of Nepal and reinstate Brahmin priests. Also, the newly formed government allowed Nepalese priest to worship and touch the deity by discounting the centuries old tradition. There was a widespread protests as many thoughts this as an interference in their religious tradition.
PROBLEMS AND SOLUTIONS The centuries old most sacred Hindu temple Pashupatinath is facing an embarrassing problem, a sudden rise in the population of mice and cockroaches, which has threatened its main structures. The mice menace is so serious that it has affected the daily prayers and scared the Bhandaris (storekeepers). “Bhandaris lodged a formal complaint with the Powerful Independent Committee for Study of the Management of Pashupati (PICSMP), a committee formed to look into temple problems on Sunday.” [5] In their 20-point complaint letter the Bhandaris have said the t emple may collapse any time if it is not renovated immediately, one of the members of the committee, Shiva Sharan Rajbhandari, said. There are thousands of mice running inside the temple and the pillars of the temple covered with gold palate and copper have become hollow from inside, which might collapse any time, Bhandari said. There is a need to immediately renovate the temple, which has not been renovated for more than a century, he said. The Bhandaris also suspect that the original wooden support of the temple hidden beneath the silver-coated walls may have already collapsed.
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The letter said that the main golden pinnacle of the temple is also in a dilapidated condition. It has bent a little due to mischief creating monkeys around, it said. Similarly, the traditional window of the main temple is on th e verge of collapse. If that happens, the temple may witness a serious accident, Bhandaris said.
The country's most sacred river, the Bagmati, is in danger of being destroyed by pollution. The growing population for the Valley is using the river as a depository for sewage and garbage. Over the ages Nepalese monarchs have been cremated on its banks. The Bagmati was once used by thousands of Nepalese for recreational and religious purposes. A lot of funeral ceremonies take place in Pashupatinath. Now the volume of the water had reduced to such extend that the river is no longer the big river that used to be.
FIG. HOLY SITE: PASHUPATINATH
Most of the waters are tapped by an increasing number of factories, especially carpet factories and households. So most of water is tapped before it reaches the river. Household garbage comes from shops and houses and its brought in plastic bags and thrown here. The Bagmati is a huge rubbish dump effectively, crawling with flies and rubbish. The water is black. It is almost a dead river. There is a serious problem of land erosion in and around. FIG. GARBAGE DUMP
SOLUTION The Nepalese government recognizes the scale of problems. The situation is critical that it will be very difficult for the government or any other agency to change the situation at Bagmati at once. Nepal is one of the poorest countries in the world and doesn't have the money to tackle other key environmental issues such as pollution and deforestation in the Himalayas. if the Bagmati is to cleaned up, it looks as if most of the money will have to come from overseas donors.
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CURRENT SITUATION Pashupati area is regarded as one of the most important place of pilgrimagefor the followers of Hinduism. Thousands of devotees from within and outside the country come to worship everyday. On special occasions like Ekadashi, Sakranti, Mahashivratri, Teej Akshaya, Rakshabandhan, Grahana (eclipse), Poornima (Full moon day) people congregate here in far greater number. Pashupati Area Development Trust manages the affairs of the temple. Talking about the current situation of Pashupatinath, at the present situation different issues are taking places. Some of the issues are listed as follows: 1) Cleaning campaign of bagmati river: The sacred river bagmati has now become a vaste garbage dumb.Garbages are thrown in the river which is making the river polluted. Bagmati also refereed as gangas of nepal but is now polluted and the volume of the water had reduced to such extend that the river is no longer the big river that used to be. Household garbage comes from shops and houses and its brought in plastic bags and thrown here. Hence, for making the river pollution free at present cleaning campaign of bagmati river is going on. Due to this campaign the river looks cleaner than it was a years before. 2) To upgrade the Pashupatinath temple, Pashupati Region Development Fund (PRDF) has taken initiatives to remove the street business and beggers around the Pashupatinath area. Hence the area looks cleaner now. 3) At present one of the problem faced by Pashupatinath temple is that sudden rise in population of mice and cockroaches, which has threatened its main structure. So immediate actions should be taken against this problem. 4) Since, the renovation of the temple has not take place for more than a century so different problems are occurring. Like, original wooden support of the temple hidden beneath the silver-coated walls may have already collapsed. Golden pinnacle of the temple is also in a dilapidated condition, as it has bent a little also traditional window of the main temple i s on the verge of collapse. Hence, there is a need to immediately renovate the temple. 5) Another issues of the Pashupatinath temple at present condition are placement of Nepali priest.
RISK MANAGEMENT PLAN For the management of Pashupatinath temple, the sacred Bagmati River is so heavily polluted by heavy industry upstream. It has become a slow running stream full of sludge, which demeans its cultural value. Resettlement and Rezoning plan is urgently needed to maintain a buffer between the complex and modern secular areas. Some commercialization of the western side of the river by the way of unplanned shops and stalls is affecting the cultural value of the complex and the visitor experience it offers. Different kinds of natural calamities like earthquake, landslide may also occur so in order to overcome such kinds of risk different risk management plan should be implemented like:
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First we should identify the prone areas and make the information available to inhabitants. We should also conduct preparedness and mitigation programs to reduce the loss of lives and properties due to earthquake. At last we should make the arrangements for security, relief, rehabilitation and temporary settlement of the disaster victim s.
CONSERVATION Pashupatinath is a cultural heritage of our country. It reflects the traditional activities and development of human civilization. It is unique in itself. Therefore, it attract the people from many parts of the world .It is also the major part of our socio-cultural environment. Being the identity of our country, it should be preserved at any cost. Some of the measures of conservation of Pashupatinath are listed below: 1. There is lack of publicity campaign so authorized body should publicize for the betterment of this place. 2. Environmental sanitation programs should be conducted to protect this place from different types of pollution. 3. Security provision should be made strict and strong to protect this heritage from different types of anti-social activities. 4. Timely renovation of this place should be done for the damaged structure of this site. 5. Different information centers should be built near this site so that many people could get vast amount of information of this place. 6. Awareness among the local people should be raised in order to get their participation in the conservation and development of this place. 7. The infrastructures of transportation, drinking water, as well as communication facilities should be extended to make this place developed. 8. The land should be protected from the possible dangers of erosion through embankment and afforestation.
Pashupati Area Development Trust Act (1987) The Pashupati Area Development Trust Act (PADTA) 1987 is a specific act for the conservation of the Pashupati Area. It provides for the establishment of a Pashupati Area Development Fund to manage, maintain and preserve the natural and cultural heritage in the Pashupati area and prohibit the registration of land within t he area to any person or institution.The Pashupati area has, however, also been declared a PMZ under the AMPA. The PADTA was recently amended to change the condition of involvement of the royal palace in the trust. The PADTA established the Pashupati Area Development Trust (PADT) as the authority for the development, protection and maintenance of the Pashupati area. The main objective of PADT is the implementation of their Master Plan to develop and conserve Pashupati as a religious centre for the Hindus.
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GUTHI OF PASHUPATINATH The word Guthi means an organization that look after the religious and cultural sites, activities, and carries out those activities that preserve our rich culture and tradition. The monument belongs to different Guthi. Guthi of Pashupatinath was also formed for the development of the temple. The land was allotted many years ago for conducing regular worshipping of Pashupatinath. The Guthi is run by the budget allotted by the government. There are many offices in the temple area that works for Guthi and the temple. They work to collect crops and revenues from the Guthi‟s land, settle disputes of guthi lands. They also work for the justice on the issues arising within the area of the deity. These offices are under the control of the chief priest. The chief priest has special powers to settle the disputes arising out of the land. If someone attempts to own the land illegally, the chief priest has the power to seize the Guthi land or order penalties against the lawbreakers. The Guthi also operates charitable institutions like Hindu Funerals, Funeral support centers and Old-age orphanage house.
SOCIO ECONOMIC ASPECT Pashupatinath is situated in the center of the town. It is on t he bank of Bagmati River, which was once known for its purity, but now it has become drainage. There is a dense forest behind Pashupatinath temple i.e. Sleshmantak forest. It is one of the national forest of the country. The plants and trees like Rudrakshya, cays, and especially coniferous trees are found in these areas. The physical context affects economic of the place. Per day earning from Pashupatinath is about one lakh. According to Kantipur Newspaper, “Money offered in the temple is counted twice a day, based on the two time major prayer schedules. It is mainly during the prayers in the morning and evening that the devotees offer money to the deity stationed on the main temple premises of Pashupatinath. After counting the money, it is deposited in Nepal Investment Bank. And all of these are governed by Pashupati Area Development Trust” The money collected from the temple is used for the development works of the complex. The devotees are not charged for worshipping at the temple, but they have to pay a certain amount for special puja that the main priests of the shrine perform. According to Pashupati Area Development Trust, the rate for special puja ranges from Rs 1,100 to Rs 1.1 million. Recently, Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi had also performed this puja. There are different kinds of fairs held in this temple occasionally, which also helps, in the economic development. There are different shops nearby for the visitors. Hindu people are welcomed to the temple without any entry fees but tourists have to pay about 500 to 1000 Rs to get into the complex. All t hese money is collected in Pashupati Area Development Trust bank account. Salaries of Bhatta and Bhandari of Pashupatinath are given from the collected money. It is believed that there is lots of treasure at Pashupatinath. Precious items like nagmani, masks made of rudrakshya, gold and silver ornaments and coins have been lying in the temple‟s stores since centuries ago. Many of those got disappeared and no one knows about it. People think it might be stolen. No one is allowed to go inside the store except the chief of storekeepers and the Bhandaris but they can‟t take anything from there. According to Pashupati Area Development Trust, the wealth from the temple can only be used during a period of national crisis.
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CULTURAL ASPECT Pashupatinath is the oldest Shiva temple. It is a holy pilgrimage site for hindus. It is the centre point of faith and respect. Pilgrims as well as tourists come to Pashupati from all over the world. Festivals like Mahashivaratri, Teej, etc. are celebrated with great enthusiasm. It is said that lord Shiva is also known as the destroyer. The world sustains itself by a balance between the opposing forces of good and evil. W hen this balance is disturbed and existence of life becomes impossible, Lord Shiva dissolves the universe for creation of the next cycle so that the bad souls will have another opportunity to liberate themselves from burden of the physical world. People come here to worship Lord Shiva so that they could end the pain. There is a culture in Hinduism that dead bodies should be cremated (burning the body after death). It is the only rightful passage to liberation of the soul. Pashupatinath area has a special place along the Bagmati River for this ritual, which is known as Aaryaghat. Hindu people take the dead bodies of their relatives for the last rites.
TOURISM Tourism plays a vital role in heritage conservation. It helps in income generation as well as to earn recognition as a heritage site. But it is necessary to manage the tourism for the betterment of the property. Since it is located near by the airport, extension should be considered in light. Pashupatinath is not just a Hindu temple but also a World Heritage Site. Along with its amazing architectural beauty, it stands as a symbol of faith, religion, culture and tradition. Thousands of visitors come to Pashupatinath to see it that helps in the tourism industry. The landscape at the side of main entrance has been created for the additional beauty of the temple site, increasing tourism. Apart from all these, the cremation process that takes place in the Aaryaghat is something new to the tourists, which they find interesting. The temple is flocked by the people during Mahashivaratri when Hindus all over the world gather here to worship Lord Shiva. Since, non-Hindus are not allowed inside the temple, tourist can‟t go there. But they can move around the surrounding areas. They have to pay some amount of money as the entry fees. The arrival of tourist in the temple helps in the economic growth of the complex. Since, many of the programmes related to cleanliness of Pashupati area as well as Bagmati are carried out lately, the Pashupati area is much cleaner than how it used to be once which is good for attracting the tourists. Also, the beggars as well as the Brahmins who take money in exchange of tika from the tourist are prohibited from the Pashupati area, which will make the visit less irritating for the tourists. The tourism board of Nepal must deal with the marketing of the Pashupatinath as well as Kathmandu valley as unique cultural heritage. They must use the income generated by the tourism to develop the heritage. Basic facilities such as toilet, information centers and refreshment facilities must be taken care of. They must look after if the tourist guides are well trained and are giving correct information to the tourists. They must try to limit any negative advertisement of the heritage. Tourism sector must be taken care of for income as well as acknowledgement. The local economy in and around Pashupati zone is geared towards Tourism. The religious Monument Zones cater to varying degrees to the religious visitors. The success of conserving historic buildings will depend on a flourishing local economy.Taxation within the Monument Zone areas must be seen as potential tools for providing incentives to owners to conserve historic buildings.
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CONCLUSION Pashupatinath is very important in architectural, r eligious, cultural and historical aspects. It is the oldest temple of lord Shiva. It is one of the four most important religious sites in Asia for the Shiva devotees. It was inscribed in UNESCO World Heritage list in 1979 along with other six monument zones of Kathmandu valley as a single heritage site. It was inscribed based on nomination documents, which included maps specifying boundaries. These were then inscribed on the list of World Heritage in Danger in 2003. After the inscription in the World Heritage in Danger, the boundaries were redefined. The new boundaries of Pashupatinath consists the areas with important religious and historic links to the main Pashupatinath temple while the The Buffer Zone consists a strip of land of varying depth around the Monument Zone and corresponds to the ar ea gazetted in 1998. To conserve Pashupatinath area following points should be taken care of: i. Authorized body should publicize for the betterment of the place. ii. Bagmati River should be kept clean. iii. Environmental sanitation program should be conducted. iv. Renovations should be done time-to-time to prevent from any heritage damage. v. Local people should be included in the awareness for the conservation of the site. vi. Facilities like drinking water and toilets must be increase to develop the site.
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