Gokarnam Sri Mahabaleswarar Temple, Karnataka

Diety: Mahabaleshwar Amman: Kokarneshwari
Temple Address: Gokarnam Sri Mahabaleswarar Temple, Gokarnam, Kotiteertha, Gokarn, Karnataka 581326,Phone: 083862 57956
Open between: 06:00 AM to 12:00 PM and 04:00 AM to 08:30 AM

Introduction

The Mahabaleshwar Temple, Gokarna is a 4th-century CE Hindu temple located in Gokarna, Uttara Kannada district, Karnataka state, India which is built in the classical Dravidian architectural style. It is a site of religious pilgrimage. The temple faces the Karwar city beach on the Arabian Sea in which Hindu pilgrims cleanse before visiting the temple for worship. The temple is considered as holy as the Shiva temple at Varanasi or Kāśi (Kashi) in North India on the banks of the Ganges River. Hence, the Mahabaleshwar temple, Gokarna is known as the Dakshin Kasi (“Kasi of the south”).The temple deifies the Pranalinga (“the reality of God which can be captured by the mind”) also called Atmalinga or Shiva LingaIn legend, it is said that the deity of the temple will bestow immense blessings to devotees, even to those who only glimpse it

Puranic Significance

If legends could be true, the Mahabaleshwar Temple in Gokarna is the misplaced home to the original Atma Linga of Lord Shiva from its first abode at Mount Kailash in the Himalayas. The story goes that the demon king of Lanka, Ravana, performed a long penance to please Lord Shiva after the king’s mother had expressed a profound yearning to worship the original Atma Linga of Lord Shiva. Pleased with Ravana’s sincere efforts at penance, Lord Shiva granted his devotee the two wishes he’d made.Two Boons First, as per the wish, the Lord handed Ravana his Atma Linga, but on condition that he should not put it down on the ground. Else it would get permanently embedded on that very ground where it is dropped. And granting the king’s second wish of a spouse as pretty as the Lord’s wife Uma, Lord Shiva decided to let his wife go with Ravana, for there was none equivalent to Uma than she herself.Lord Vishnu and Ganapati Salvaging Uma At the earnest call from Uma, Lord Vishnu decided to salvage the situation. He was also skeptical that possessing the Atma Linga would make the demon king Ravana an invincible power who could potentially destroy the world. Hence, he showed up as a haggard Brahmin while Ravana had reached Gokarna on his way back to Lanka. Lord Vishnu tricked the demon king into exchanging Uma for Mandodari, the daughter of Mayasura. He also called upon Lord Ganapati (Ganesha) to trick Ravana into putting down the Linga.At that very same spot, Ganapati appeared before Ravana disguised as a cowherd. Realizing that it was time for his evening prayers (Sandhyavandana), Ravana asked Ganapati to hold the Linga for sometimes until he came back from his prayers. Defying the order of the king, Lord Ganapati put down the Linga on the ground. No sooner, the Atma Linga got firmly implanted into the earth. Despite the forceful attempts by Ravana, the Linga remained entrenched into the ground. Unable to uproot the Linga from the ground, Ravana called it Mahabala (the strongest). Since then the Linga came to be known as Mahabaleshwar.

Beliefs

As the Lord is in the form of mount as in Kailash and the Goddess in the form of River, it is believed that She flows here as a river. The mount and the river are adjacent to each other here. Girivalam is very famous in places where Lord Shiva is in hill form. Here, Girivalam is not possible due to the river flowing. This is a salvation sthala – place. This is one of the many places where Lord Shiva is swayambu. Goddess in the river form is worshipped as Tambra Gouri. Those expecting to be married pray here.

Special Features

Ambika in river form: As the Lord is in the form of mount as in Kailash and the Goddess in the form of River, it is believed that She flows here as a river. The mount and the river are adjacent to each other here. Girivalam is very famous in places where Lord Shiva is in hill form. Here, Girivalam is not possible due to the river flowing. This is a salvation sthala – place. This is one of the many places where Lord Shiva is swayambu. Goddess in the river form is worshipped as Tambra Gouri. Those expecting to be married pray here. Salvation to Devil: Devotees perform Pithru pujas for their departed ancestors. It is hoped that even if they were in hell, they would be shifted to heaven. A dip in the river and worship of Lord Shiva would release a person suffering even from Brahmmahathi dosha – a sin equal to committing murder. Every good deed performed here would yield multiple benefits. The Linga is just of a thumb size. Devotees can perform the abishek themselves. Sage Agasthya had worshipped here. Gnanasambandar had praised the Lord in his hymns. For the salvation of the dead, a special performance is conducted here daily known as Salvation to Devil – Pisasu Moksham. Rudra Bhoomi: Dissatisfied with the creations of Brahmma, Rudra created Boodha Ganas to destroy the world. Lord Vishnu appeared before Rudra and advised him to do the destruction only at the Pralaya time and till then he should stay here and gift boons to the devotees. Rudra agreed. So, the place is also known as Rudra Boomi.

Festivals

9 day Mahasivarathri, and Tripuradhahana festival in Karthikai (November-December) on the Poornima-full moon day are the festivals celebrated in the temple.