Gokarna Mahabaleshwar Temple town located at a distance of 60 km from Karwar in Uttara Kannada district. Gokarna is a Hindu pilgrimage centre as well as an important tourist destination. The temple here is dedicated to Lord Mahabaleshwar, an incarnation of Lord Shiva.
About Gokarna Mahabaleshwar Temple :
Gokarna is a sacred place situated in Karnataka.This place holds utmost faith of people and its peaceful environment at the view of sea attracts everyone. Gokarna, a small place in Karnataka is famous for ancient temples.Gokarna name depicts ear of cow.
It is believed that Shivaji was born by cow’s ear, due to which is place of known as Gokarna. and other than that there is an interesting fact about it , that this village situated at the confluence of three rivers and seems like an ear. There are many other beautiful temples ,which are the center of faith and assumptions.The confluence of two important rivers Gangavani and Adhyanashini can be seen.
Attractions of Gokarna Mahabaleshwar Temple In Karnataka :
Gokarna is a Hindu pilgrim center of South India. It is one of the most worshiped and celebrated pilgrimage in the coast of Karnataka. The Mahabaleshwar Temple, Gokarna is one of the famous places of Gokarna visited by a large number of devotees every year.
The Mahabaleshwar Temple, Gokarna of Karnataka is regarded as one of the seven Muktisthala temples of Karnataka. This temple is resided by a huge Shivlinga which is called the Atmalinga. According to the Hindu mythology, Lord Ganesha brought this linga here and it got rooted when he kept it on the ground. This linga was supposed to be given to Ravana by Lord Shiva which would make him very powerful. The other Gods were horrified thinking the result of it. Thus they begged before Lord Ganesha to help them. Then Ganesha took away the linga from the reach of Ravana and then fixed it on the ground so that nobody can pull it out.
One can have a glimpse of this 6 feet tall linga of the Mahabaleshwar Temple of Gokarna during the occasion Ashtabandhana Kumbhabhishekam that too once in 40 years. As the Mahabaleshwar Temple, Gokarna holds the legacy and heroic deed of Lord Ganesha so there is a Ganesha temple located nearby the main shrine. Other than these two Gods, the Mahabaleshwar Temple in Gokarna is also a shrine for Gods like Chandikeswara, Aadi Gokarneswara, Gokarnanayagi and Dattatreya.
The devotees always bath in the sea before entering into the temple, as according to the Hindu mythology it is said that one should purify his body and mind before making any prayer to God. There is also a shivlinga made of sand which the devotees worship.
The Mahashivratri is the most significant occasion of the Mahabaleshwar Temple, Gokarna.
Features Gokarna Mahabaleshwar Temple In Karnataka :
The Mahabaleshwar temple is located in Gokarna, a sacred pilgrimage site in the Uttara Kannada district of Karnataka. One of the seven Mukti Sthalas of Karnataka, Gokarna is also known for its idyllic beaches and serene landscape. The Mahabaleshwar Shiva temple is regarded to be next in sanctity only to the Vishwanath Siva Temple in Varanasi and is often called the Dakshina Kashi.
The Mahabaleshwar temple enshrines the Aatma Lingam of Lord Shiva. Legend has it that the holy Lingam was given by Shiva to King Ravana to make his kingdom an invincible fortress. Varuna and Ganesha tricked Ravana into placing the Lingam here and in spite of the might exerted by Ravana (Maha Bala) the Lingam remained rooted to the ground.
The six foot tall Shiva Lingam, enclosed in a square Saligrama Peetham, can be seen only once in 40 years, when the Ashta bandana Kumbhahishekam is performed. It is customary here to have a dip in the sea and then worship a Shivalingam made out of sand, before worshipping at the temple. Maha Sivaratri is of great significance in this shrine located in idyllic surroundings.
Also located around Gokarna are Sejjeshwara, Gunavanteshwara, Murudeshwara and Dhareshwara. These four temples along with Mahabaleshwara are known as the Pancha Maha Kshetras.
Location :
The Mahabaleshwar temple is located in Gokarna, a sacred pilgrimage site in the Uttara Kannada district of Karnataka. One of the seven Mukti Sthalas of Karnataka, Gokarna is also known for its idyllic beaches and serene landscape. The Mahabaleshwar Shiva temple is regarded to be next in sanctity only to the Vishwanath Siva Temple in Varanasi and is often called the Dakshina Kashi.
The Mahabaleshwar temple enshrines the Aatma Lingam of Lord Shiva. Legend has it that the holy Lingam was given by Shiva to King Ravana to make his kingdom an invincible fortress. Varuna and Ganesha tricked Ravana into placing the Lingam here and in spite of the might exerted by Ravana (Maha Bala) the Lingam remained rooted to the ground.