Believers in Pashupatinath (mainly Hindus) are allowed to enter the temple premises, but non-Hindu visitors are allowed to view the temple only from the across the Bagmati River. The priests who perform the services at this temple have been Brahmins from Karnataka, South India since the time of Malla king Yaksha Malla. This tradition is believed to have been started at the request of Adi Shankaracharya who sought to unify the states of Bharatam (Unified India) by encouraging cultural exchange. This procedure is followed in other temples around India, which were sanctified by Adi Shankaracharya. COUNT 5
QSN1 What people make up the majority of Pashupatinath followers? ANS1 Hindus QSN2 In what part of India do the Pashupatinath priests originate? ANS2 South QSN3 What dynasty did Yaksha Malla belong to? ANS3 Malla QSN4 Who supposedly encouraged the usage of Karnataka Brahmin priests at Pashupatinath Temple? ANS4 Adi Shankaracharya QSN5 What is another term for Bharatam? ANS5 Unified India