Some Things That Don't Come To Terms With Me . . .

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Pasupathinath, is one of the significant sacred Hindu place in praise of Lord Shiva, the temple served as the seat of the national deity, Lord Pasupathinath. Shree Pashupatinath, therefore, means the Respected Protector and Lord of all living things. It is nestled on the banks of Bagmati River. There are many Lingams displayed on the hills facing the crematory area. When I went there I saw some activities of cremation going on. My new friend, Mr Nainna showed me the place where cremation took place. It was sad to see the dead and the mourners, spending some moments with the decease for the last time was actually quite painful. But what more painful for me to see was the river dried up totally really hit my heart. "Where did the water go?" I came to hear more shocking news that there are two sides of cremation, one for the poor and the other for the rich, divided by the bridge but sharing the same river. Of course, the rich people tend to occupy a better place where the temple is situated, a much cooler area; there is some water in the river better than the other side. I came to a conclusion, the river is divided with caste and status. This is unbelievable!

Foreigners are not allowed to enter the main temple even if you have accepted Hinduism in your life.

There were a few Sadhus seen in Pasupathinath. There were known to be the holy people, lived in isolation in temples, to achieve their practice to liberation but behind the painted faces, one never knows how pious they are until you approach them. On Shivaratri Festival, they smoke grass and drugs to get high. they claimed thats the way to Nirvana. Good Luck! Many any tourists love to take pictures of them because they have this unique symbolic painted features and designs (obviously Hindu) on their faces, bright saffron outfits, a three pounds lock of hair tied and rolled to stack up high on their heads or simple let loose when he wishes, that they belong to the sages but this soon became a turn-off for me because these Sadhus demanded money for a photo taken, a RS100 each face.

I made a bargain with the pairs, an Rs100 for two persons, that’s Rs50-50. Surprising they agreed. Maybe they needed the money (who does not), hopefully for good reasons. Most importantly I got the pictures for my album. A small price indeed for good shots.

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Photos

Pasupathinath
crematorium for the rich

Pasupathinath
the river dried up, crematorium site for poor families

Pasupathinath
rs50 sadhu

Pasupathinath
palmistry

Pasupathinath
palmistry

Pasupathinath
a little ganesha shrine

Pasupathinath
the sadhus and the norm

Comments

[auspicious]

I am always so impressed by the broad range of your photographic skills -- from portraits to wider shots. Equally, I'm usually impressed by your concise blogs and interesting observations. The division of a river between the rich and poor seems utterly bizarre, but then mankind often seems to create invisible boundaries and barriers that create the most tragic and surreal consequences. Thanks so much for sharing this! :)

[TravelKlicks]

Thank you
Thank you for following my blogs. I know I am not a good blogger, the least I can do is post up good pictures for readers to smile and appreciate, might even help on their next trip. At times when I wrote the negativity of a place and incidents which I could not agree to, I felt a little guilty doing so. Hopefully readers would not mind my comments on my personal view of blogs I wrote.

[auspicious]

I appreciate your written observations -- both good and bad -- as they come across honest and sometimes you mention details that I have not read in other blogs from the same places. Don't change your style! :)