Shree Pashupatinath Temple, Mandsaur Madhya Pradesh

The main attraction of Mandsaur is Lord Pashupatinath Temple. Pashupatinath is a synonymous name of Lord Shiva. This artistic sculpture is carved out of a fiery rock block of shining dark copper. The temple is situated on the banks of river Shivana.

Its weight is 4600 kg. The height in curvature is 7.25 feet and in straightness is 11.25 feet. It has 8 heads which they divide into two parts. First part 4 at the top and second part 4 at the top bottom. The top 4 heads are clear, refined and complete while the bottom 4 heads are not refined.

This temple has four doors in four directions but the entrance is located in the west. The head of this effigy which is situated in the west is presenting the fearsome image of Lord Shiva. The make-up of this head shows three rasps (nails) that are in the shell-shaped hair of poisonous snakes, a third eye and a protruding jelly. The matted hair in the center is surrounded by snakes representing the destroyer Omkar (Veda mantra symbolizing God)

Interesting facts about Pashupatinath Temple
Pashupatinath temple was built by King Yashovarman of Aulikar dynasty in the 5th century AD.
The temple has a rare Ashtamukh Shiva Linga, which represents the four aspects of Lord Shiva – Sadyojata, Vamdev, Aghora and Tatpurusha.
The height of this rare Shivalinga is 7.5 feet.
This temple is situated on the banks of river Shivana.

A popular legend tells that Lord Shiva in his Pashupatinath form defeated the demon Keshi, who was terrorizing the region, thus protecting the local people.

According to myth, Shiva Linga was discovered by a shepherd whose cow mysteriously stopped giving milk at a particular place every day, which led to the establishment of the temple at that place.