What is the real meaning of Pashupatinath?
Pashupatinath
The topic today is the correct interpretation of the term Pashupatinath. The name is quite well known and has a lot of significance regarding both dharma and history but people have started misusing this name for their own agenda.
Some people state that the term Pashupatinath means the lord of animals, and they use this interpretation to make baseless allegations against Bali Pratha by making dumb comments that Shiv is Pashupatinath; he is the lord of animals; how can he ask for Bali?
The topic of this discourse isn’t Bali Pratha, so we aren’t going to discuss why exactly Ishvar seeks Bali. However, discussion on the real meaning of Pashupatinath is important to understand the deep essence of Shiv.
The real meaning of Pashupatinath
The very name Pashupati is a description of Shiv tattva and describes his nature. The term pashupati can be broken into two words, which are Pashu and Pati.
While Pashu under normal circumstances would denote an animal, that’s not the case with respect to the pashu in Pashupatinath. In Shiv Puran, we come across the general Shaiva explanation of Pashu, pasha, and pati.
Shiv Puran Vayaviya Samhita Purva Bhaga Adhyaya 5 shlok 61–62 states that Pashu is one who is bound by pashas, and every living creature from Brahma to an insect, is essentially Pashu. The same chapter describes pasha as a false identification caused by avidya Shakti.
The very next Adhyaya of Shiv Puran states that Shiv is called pati or Pashupati as he is the lord (pati) of the Pashus (all those under Pasha), as he is their controller and the one capable of freeing them from Pasha. He is called Pashupatinath.
Kularnava Tantra
We come across a similar discourse in the Kularnava Tantra, where it’s stated that Shiv is Pashupati as he rids the Pashu of the astha pashas. The astha pashas named in Kularnava are daya, moha, bhaya, lajja, ghrina, Kula, Sheela, and varna.
In tantra marg, these are said to be the astha pashas that bind the Sadhak and keep them stuck to the condition of Pashu. It’s stated both in Puranas and tantras that it’s by the will of Shiva that a jeev goes to Varga and Naraka; it’s by his will alone that any creature becomes entangled in pashas, and by his will alone, the creatures are freed from it.
As Shiv is the lord of both Pashu and Pasha and he is beyond both, he gets the Upadhi (TITLE) of Pati, or lord, as he is the lord of Pashus and the controller of Pasha, he is Pashupati. Thus, Pashupatinath is nath or lord of the Entire World.
Why do we use Nath after Pashupati?
If we talk about why nath is used after pati, our purvacharyas have given an explanation. Pashu Pati is the lord of all Pashus; in Lalita Sahasranama, Devi is called Pashu Pasha Vimochani, or the one who removes the pashas of the Pashu; as Shiv is even her lord, he is called Pashupatinath, or the lord of even Pashupati.
This epithet is similar to the one of kaala kaalo, or death of death. The epithet is simply to emphasize his absolute authority over the entirety of creation.
The question arises: why not take Pashupati as the lord of animals?
It is often raised by those who wish to justify their stand by misusing this name; however, the answer to this is simple.
Pashu could be interpreted in its primary sense to denote an animal in this case only if there was no other alternative. However, in the specific case of the epithet of Pashupatinath, the shastras are clear on what its meaning is; this leaves no room for negotiation on what the possible meaning of the epithet could be.
Origin of Pashupatinath
Coming to the origin of Pashupatinath, if we go by the Nirukta I just provided, Pashupati is simply an epithet of Shiv on account of his powers and functions; however, there’s a story of the origin of the specific form known as Pashupatinath.
In Yajurveda Adhyaya 6 Anuvak 2, we come across the description of when the form known as Pashupati was taken. It’s stated here that during the war against the Triplet brothers, jointly known as Tripurasuras… It was during this time that he assumed the form of Pashupati and used the great Pashupatastra to destroy Tripura along with their residing asuras.
Here he was called Pashupati for two reasons:
Firstly because he was the lord of Pashupata astra, and
Secondly, because he became the protector and lord of all the jivas.
Shastras Proof
Shastras mentions the epithet Pashupati in this context as well and states that Shiv is Pashupati.
Yajurveda 3 Adhyaya 1 Anuvak Mantra 4 states:
येषामीशे पशुपतिः पशूनां चतुष्पदामुत च द्विपदम्।
If we go for a literal translation of the verse, it implies that Pashupati is the one who rules over both the two-footed and the four-footed.
However, further context is provided in another verse from Svetasvatara Upanishad Adhyaya 4 Mantra 13, which states:
यो देवानामधिपो यस्मिन्ल्लोका अधिश्रिताः।
य ईशे अस्य द्विपदश्चतुष्पदः कस्मै देवाय हविषा विधेम॥The verse states that the one who is the sovereign of all devatas and rules both the two-footed and the four-footed is Pashupati.
Atharva Veda Khanda 4 Mantra 28 states:
भवाशर्वौ मन्वे वां तस्य वित्तं ययोर्वामिदं प्रदिशि यद्विरोचते।
यावस्येशाथे द्विपदो यौ चतुष्पदस्तौ नो मुञ्चतमंहस।।Here, the ruler of the entire creation is hailed with names such as Sarva, Bhava, and Ishana, all of whom belong to Shiv. Once again, the same analogy of Pashupatinath being the ruler of all two and four feet is implied.
As seen from the Yajurveda itself, it’s Shiv who takes up the form of Pashupati and has this quality of being the supreme ruler.
Why is Shiv known as Pashupatinath?
The analogy of two and four-legged here doesn’t imply that he simply rules over the two and four-footed; rather, from the verse from Svetasvatara, it’s clear that this term is simply an analogy used to denote Shiv as the ruler and protector of all.
Since he protects and rules all creatures and is the remover of Pashas, he is known as Pashupati. Since he removed the pashas from the ignorant Ashuras and protected those traumatized by Tripurasuras, he is called Pashupati.
Thus, the epithet is both philosophical and also denotes a specific form. Now we shall discuss the various iconographic representations of Pashupati.
Iconographic representations of Pashupati
- Pashupati is in several forms, the most prominent one depicting him seated in yogic posture and having a pair of horns on his head, which we even find on the Pashupatinath seals.
- The Pashupati of five heads bears semblance to Panchabrahm and has Gauri on his left lap.
- Four-headed Pashupati, which represents the function of Brahma,.
- Dvimukha Pashupati or Agni Pashupati have two heads.
- Another Chatur Mukha Pashupati where he has one human head, the other three being the animals Elephant, Bull, and Lion.
- Vetala Pashupati, which was worshipped by Lakulishacharya, who himself qualified to be hailed as a mahavetala, In this form, he is depicted with rotting skin and details that I won’t disclose here.
Apart from these, there is the infamous Raudra Pashupati, the form that was responsible for the destruction of Tripura. Here, he is three-eyed and single-headed and is depicted pulling back the bowstring to which the Pashupatastra is stringed.
Apart from this, there are several other forms that I’m not discussing here.
Pashupatinath is Purana
Also, there are many other kathas where Shiv takes Pashupati Swarup. One such instance is described in Varaha Puran Adhyaya 21, where it’s stated that after restoring Daksha yajna after wreaking havoc, Shiva was still angry, so he cursed every devata at the place where, at his glance, everyone had become Pashu, and he shall now become Pashupati and rule over all the devatas as they had gone astray due to the lack of proper administration.
Varaha Puran also has another alternative tale in Adhyaya 33, where he became Pashupati in order to give Ved Gyan to the devatas.
Another tale we find is of Samhara Pashupati in some Shakta Tantras, where Shiva manifested as Pashupati to chop off the fifth head of Brahma, as that head was giving a discourse of Kaamveda, which was opposed to the spirit of the Vedas and was causing vikaras in both him and the devatas.
Article credit: Tara Peeth Aghor Acharya Swords_of_shiva