Thread by @HinduMediaWiki

The name PashuPati is of significant importance. What exactly is meant by the name PashuPati? Who actually are the Pashus?

Pashupati means Lord of all Pashus. Here Pashu means every creatures and not just animals. It is clarified itself in the YajurVeda. Yajurveda states:

येषामीशे पशुपतिः पशूनां चतुष्पदामुत च द्विपदम् ।।
[YajurVeda 3.1.4]

Which Pashus do the Pashupati rules? He rules both the two footed and four footed.

The word pashupati has special significance because it is the attribute of Brahman described in the Upanishads.

It is itself clear from the Vedas that Pashu means Jeeva. And Pashupati is the Lord of all two footed and four footed.

The following blog article describes it in details...

blog.hindumediawiki.com/2021/06/24/mea…

Lord Shiva is Pashupati at all times by his own nature as described in Svetasvatara Upanishad 4.13. Rudra is the avatar of Lord Shiva through Brahma.

There are various Narration on how Lord Rudra became Pasupati. Above article describe all that Narrationa.

When we have Pashus (ie. Jeevas) and PashuPati (Lord) then there certainly exists a bond in the Jeevas and that bondage is called Pãsha.

When we have animals we bind that animal with a Pãsha (rope) and similarly we (Pashus/Jeevas) are also bind with the Pãsha of Pashupati.

So there are three things Pashu (which is Jeeva), Pãsha (which binds) and PashuPati (who is Lord and who can put/remove pãsha).

Thus the triad Pati Pashu and Pãsha forms the concept of Pashupati. It is explained in various scriptures which are covered in above article.

So Pãsha means bonds through which Jeevas are bind. When the Jeevas remove the fetter/ Pãsha from them then the soul is Liberated.

Thus the rebirth stops when the Jeeva removes the Pãsha. Also the above article covers various methods through which Jeeva can remove the Pãsha .

Here comes an interesting concept, who actually are the Pashus?

Actually PashuPati himself is in the form of Pashu.
Shwetashwatara Upanishad 1.8 states that.

The Supreme Lord binds himself (in the Pãshas) and becomes Pashu/Jeeva because of assuming the attitude of enjoyer. That Jeeva/Pashu again is freed from Pashas on realizing the Supreme Self.

It is the Leela of the Bhagvaan.