GOKARNAM

Gokarnam is one of the sacred pilgrimage centre of Hindus. It is located at the western coast of India in Karnataka district. This is considered as one of the Mukti Kshetras of India. The Mahabaleshwar temple enshrines the Aatma Linga of Shiva. The holy Lingam was given to Ravana by Lord Shiva.

Gokarnam is a temple town and there a number of beaches around the town. The name Gokarnam means, ‘Cow’s ear’. The Arabian sea on one side and the Aghanasini and Gangavati rivers on the other side make an angle which looks like a cow’s ear. The Linga in the shrine is seen by 2 inches from the ground.

When we visited the shrine, devotees were allowed to touch the Shiva Linga which was not visible as water was constantly flowing over it. The touch of the Shiva Linga gave us a holy feeling. The Shiva Linga is in a hole and only the size of our finger tip.

Gokarnam is also mentioned in the Bhagavatha Purana as being the home of the two brothers Gokarnam and Dhundhakari and the Bhagawat also gives details of the differences in their temperament, nature and exploits.

Another mythological reference to Gokarna describes how Ravana, the demon-king of Lanka, received the AatmaLinga from Lord Shiva after performing a penance at Mount Kailash reciting self-written Shivatandava stotram. Shiva instructed Ravana that the sacred atmalinga should not be placed on the ground as it would establish itself where placed on earth. On his way back to Lanka, Ravana stops for his evening prayers at Gokarna. To prevent Ravana from getting a weapon as powerful as the atmalinga, Ganpathi, in the disguise of a Brahmin boy, tells Ravana that he will hold the atmalinga until Ravana finishes his prayers. As soon as he receives the atmalinga, Ganesh promptly puts it down. Ravana tries to extricate it, resulting in throwing the coverings of the Linga to Surathkal, Dhareswar, Gunavanteshwar, Murudeshwar and Shejjeshwar temples.

Maha Shivratri is celebrated here with much devotion. Two huge chariots are decorated and pulled by the devotees on Radhayatra.

The beautiful beach and the divya darshanam was an unforgettable experience. …