Religion in Nepal encompasses a wide diversity of groups and beliefs.[2] Nepal is a secular hindu nation as Secularism in Nepal under Interum constitution of (Part 1, Article 4) is define as 'religious, cultural freedom, along with the protection of religion, culture handed down from time immemorial (सनातन)' that is "the state government is bound for protecting and fostering Hindu religion" while maintaining "religious" and "cultural" freedom throughout the nation as fundamental rights.[3][4][5] Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal's most popular practiced religions are Hinduism along with Buddhism which accounts for 81.3% & 9.04% of the overwhelming population of the nation as of 2011 respectively. According to a survey, Nepal is the most religious Hindu-majority country throughout the world, with most of the important Hindu pilgrimage centers concentrated in this country. Nepal is also the birthplace of Gautama Buddha because of which Buddhism has a very special place in the country and is often intertwined with Hinduism among some communities.[6][7] It is a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic, multi-lingual and multi-religious nation through democracy.[8][9] Shiva is widely regarded as the guardian deity of Nepal.[10] Nepal is home to the world-famous Pashupatinath Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, where Hindus throughout the world come for pilgrimage purposes. According to Hindu mythology, the goddess Sita of the epic Ramayana was born in the Mithila Kingdom of King Janaka Raja.[11] The national animal of Nepal is the cow,[12] which is considered a sacred animal in Hinduism.[13] Because of this, the slaughter of cows is illegal in Nepal.[14]