Sas Bahu and Pashupatinath

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Sas Bahu. 1100 AD. Pashupatinath. Hindu Cremation.

"At Nagda in Rajasthan are the remains of the Sahasra Bahu temples of the 9th & 10th century AD, dedicated to Vishnu. The temples are now in partial ruins but one can still marvel at their original splendour, the artisanry and the perfect geometry that must have been the hallmark of that era!" http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sahasra_Bahu_Temples

Sadly, our tour guide said that since Sas Bahu is not protected by the Indian Government, this 1100 AD temple is periodically pillaged by poachers with parts of the structure (chipped out) and sold on the open market.

"Pashupatinath temple is a Hindu temple located on the shore of the Bagmati river on the eastern part of Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal. It is regarded as the most sacred temple of Shiva (Pashupati) in Nepal. "Shivaratri" or night of lord Shiva is the most important festival celebrated in this temple. Along the shores of the Bagmati river near the temple lies "Arya Ghat", the most widely used place of cremation for the deceased in Nepal, especially in and around the Kathmandu valley. There is also a large market in the streets surrounding the temple. Vendors sell souvenirs to tourists, but also cloth, dyes, and religious supplies. Believers of the faith Hinduism are allowed to enter the temple. Non-Hindu visitors are allowed to have a look at the temple from the other bank of Bagmati river. The priests who perform the services at this temple are always from south India. This tradition is supposed to have started by Sage Shankaracharya in 6th century, ostensibly to stop human sacrifice which was prevalent in that temple. Another interpretation is that Indian priests are stationed at Pashupatinath because when the King passes away, the entire Nepali people are supposed to stop religious services and enter a year long period of mourning. As the Pashupatinath needs to be eternally worshipped, Indians were brought to make sure that the Pashupatinath is worshipped even at the time of official mourning." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pashupatinath_Temple

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