The ancient Gwala city was surrounded by rivers such as the Bagmati and Dhobikhola usually got flooded during rainy season which had caused mayhem among devotees who were unable to visit Pashupatinath in the past.

As a result, the Malla King, Mahindra Malla, built the Pashupatinath temple in his Kathmandu palace. This temple which is situated in Makhan tole, Kathmandu and hence derives its name ‘Makhan Pashupati’ or ‘Sano Pashupati’. The Sano Pashupati, like the original Lord Pashupatinath temple in Devpatan, has a five-faced Shiva-lingum and a basah inside the temple on the east side. Ishan, Tatpurusa, Aghora, Vamadev, and Sadjyojata are Shiva’s five heads.