Raṇamukteśvara Mandira at Paśupati

Curated by Rajan Khatiwoda

Raṇamukteśvara Mandira at Paśupati
Photo by Pankaj Nakarmi, 2024

Raṇamukteśvara, a Śiva temple (DANAM ID: PPK1905), is believed to have been constructed in the early 1850s to honor Raṇamehara Siṃha Adhikārī by his son. Situated in the southwestern corner of the Mṛgasthalī complex, this śivālaya (lit. Śiva's abode) now lies in ruins. Located just a few meters west of the main path leading to the Gorakhanātha temple, Raṇamukteśvara Mahādeva, the primary deity represented by a śivaliṅga, remains exposed alongside other temple artifacts such as a stone archway (toraṇa) depicting Chepu, a mythical water creature, albeit without its columns and Nandī, Śiva’s animal mount. Originally, it was a śivālaya similar to most other structures here, constructed on two plinth levels with a bell-shaped roof, possibly crowned with a stone finial that can still be seen in what used to be the sanctum. The temple collapsed in the early 2000s and has since been neglected. For more detailed information, please visit our database.