Jai Sriman Narayana !!
Jaya Jaya Sankara Hara Hara Sankara !!
presiding deity: Sri Mahabaleshwar with his consort Sri Tamra Gouri/Sri Gokarna Nayaki
Mangalasasanam – Thiru Gnana Sambandhar and Appar
Theertham – Koti Theertham
Festival – Shivaratri Ratha Yatra, Karthik Pournami, Kamadhenu Utsav, Ganga Vivah Ustav, Gouri Vivah Utsav, Dathishigo Utsav, Seemollanga Utsav
Sannidhis – Sri Chandikeswara, Sri Aadi Gokarneswra and Sri Dattathreya, Sri Gokarna Nayakai / Sri Tamra Gouri and Lord Ganesha
Sri Mahabaleshwar Temple at Sri Gokarna is situated at the western Coast in the district of Uttara Kannada, Karnataka. The presiding deity Lord Shiva worshipped in the form of Atma Linga. This is one of the 1500 year old temples built in Dravidiyan style, also known as Dakshin Kashi. It is believed that the devotees attains piousness equivalent to the visit of the Temple at Varanasi. The emperor of Vijayanagara also made contributions to this temple. Veer Shivaji Bhosle also worshipped Lord Mahabaleshwar in this temple. The Atma Linga worshipped here was brought by the demon King Ravana from Mount Kailash. It is one of the Mukthisthals (one of the sacred place provides salvation) and devotees pay homeage to their ancestors. The religious practices followed here are the devotees’ takes a holy dip in the ocean (Arabian) and visit the temple of Lord Ganesha. After paying obeisance to Lord Ganesha, they visit the main shrine of Lord Mahabaleshwar. The devotees who visits the temple of Lord Mahabaleshwar take holy dip in the pond ‘Koti Theertha’ The convergence of rivers Gangavali and Agnashini made a resemblance to the ear of cow, Sri Gokarna is situated at the mouth of this meeting point of the two rivers, thus it has got the name Sri Gokarna.
The legened has that, the demon King Ravana was son of Vishravas and Kaikesi/Nikasha (Daitya princess). Ravana’s mother - Kaikesi was an ardent devotee of Lord Shiva. Lord Indra felt jealous and insecured seeing her devoutness to Lord Shiva, He immersed the Linga under the sea water which was worshipped by Kaikesi. Kaikesi was deepily distressed, seeing his mother’s heartbroken state Ravana promised her that he will get an Atma Linga from Mount Kailash for daily worship. Ravana underwent severe penance to please Lord Shiva. He worshipped Lord Shiva with his melodious voice chanting Shivathandava Stotra; he was even self-tortured to please the Lord. Lord Shiva pleased at the devotion of Ravana and offered him with the boons. The first boon was Atma Linga; Lord generated a Linga from hisown heart which was bright in color with the resemblance of Lord Surya. Lord Shiva offered the Linga with a strict instruction that it should be placed only at the final destination of worship. Ravana’s another request to Lord was his desire to have a wife like Sri Uma – The Mother of the Universe. Lord immediately offered Sri Uma to the demon Ravana, as the Lord did not find any other woman as gorgeous as Sri Uma in the whole Universe.
Ravana was overjoyed with the extra-ordinary boons offered by Lord Shiva. He carried the Linga and Sri Uma on his shoulders and left Mount Kailash. The deities were alarmed at the sight of the boons offered by Lord Shiva. Lord Ganesha, Lord Virabhadra, Lord Karthikeya, Lord Nandi all were equally anxious to see the change of events. They approached their father and earnestly enquired about the depressing situation. Lord Shiva comforted them declaring that Lord Vishnu would find a way out from this serious issue.
Lord Vishnu disguised as a Brahmin and met Ravana at Sri Gokarna. The Brahmin appreciated the demon King Ravana about his gigantic efforts to carry a striking woman on his shoulder. Likewise, Ravana equally desired to have a look at Sri Uma, the most beautiful woman in the Universe who was resting on his shoulder. Ravana with great exhilaration answered to Brahmin that Lord Shiva himself offered his wife Sri Uma as a boon to him. With a lot of anticipation Ravana brought down the gorgeous woman from his shoulder. At this moment, Lord Vishnu played a false impression on Sri Uma which made her look aged and ugly. Seeing the hideous woman brought down from the shoulder of Ravana, the Brahmin laughed out loudly. Ravana mortified at this and left the woman on the spot at Gokarna. Lord Vishnu created a stunning woman from his illusion and instructed Ravana that she would be born as Mandodari, daughter of Mayasura and would marry him. Ravana resumed his journey with the Atmalinga. Lord Vishnu prayed to Sri Uma to reside in Sri Gokarna permanently and pronounced that she would be worshipped as Goddess Bhadrakali.
Ravana continued his journey with the Atmalinga. On his way, he met a Brahmin boy not far from the spot where he had deserted Sri Uma. He requested the boy to take good care of the Atmalinga, as he wanted to perform oblations. He instructed Lord Ganesha who was disguised as Brahmin boy not to place the Atmalinga on the ground. Ravana could not come back within the specified time; Lord Ganesha placed the Linga on the ground and left the place silently. Ravana arrived after sometime and found the Linga on the ground; he was panicky and tried hard to lift the Linga from the ground with all his strength. Unfortunately, he could not move a bit from its place. Thus, the Linga got its name ‘Mahabaleshwar’.
There is another description of the story is that, Ravana met a cowherd on his way and entrusted the responsibility of taking care of Atma Linga. Lord Ganesha who was disguised as Cowherd took the task of taking care of Linga in Ravana’s absence. Ravana went to perform oblations and could not reach in a specified time, so the cowherd placed the linga on the ground and disappeared. When Ravana came back, saw the Linga on the ground got thunder-struck and worked hard to lift the Linga. Unfortunately, the Linga once placed on the scared land was positioned irremovable. Although he ran after the cattle out of anger and anxiety, he could get hold of a cow’s ear, the remaining part of the cow was plunged hard into the ground. Therefore, this scared place has got its name ‘Sri Gokarna’.
This temple remains open from Morning 6.00AM to 12.30 PM and 5.00PM to 8.30PM in the evening.
Jaya Jaya Sankara Hara Hara Sankara !!
Jai Sriman Narayana !!
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