Sri Mahabaleshwara Temple.
The great almighty Lord Shiva resides in Gokarna and is known as “Sri Mahabaleshwara”. The idol of Lord Shiva is called “Atmalinga” here. The temple is located near sea shore of beautiful Arabian sea of Uttara Kannada district of coastal Karnataka, India. The name Gokarna emerged Since the place is in the shape of “Cow’s Ear”.
Sri Mahabaleshwara temple is one of the holy and popular pilgrimage places of India attracting thousands of devotees every day. Just as “Shri Kashi Vishwanath” temple is famous and most holy place in North India Lord “Mahabaleshwara” is popular in South India. Hence, this place is also called as “Dakshina Kashi.” Great river Maa Ganga (River Ganges) flows in Kashi (Varanasi) and the great Arabian sea and “Koti theertha” play the same role here at Gokarna .
Why the name Mahabaleshwara?
The meaning of ‘Maha’ is “Great” and the meaning of “Bala” is “Power.” ‘Ishwara’ stands for “Lord.”The combination of these three is Mahabaleshwara, i.e. Lord with great power.
What is “Atmalinga” and why it is famous for?
Ravana is the name of a great and powerful giant (Asura) who lived in Lanka (Now Sri Lanka) a long time ago. He was the King of Lanka and also a great devotee of Lord Shiva just like his mother. She would devotionally perform and worship Shiva lingam every day for the prosperity of the Kingdom and especially for her son King Ravana. Her intention was to gain deadliest weapons, strength and power from lord Shiva for her son to make him powerful than Devendra, the King of Heaven. Obviously, “Devendra”, the king of “Sura” was jealous of this. In those days giants, by setting out years of ‘tapas’(Penance) would try to impress Lord Shiva and also Lord Brahma to gain powers to destroy deity, Dharma,(Religion)Nyaya(Justice/legitimacy)and Neethi,(equity) the four spirit of universe. Therefore, Devendra planned to steal the “Shivalinga” to discontinue her worship towards Shiva with an intention to save the universe. Accordingly, he did the same. By this act of Devendra, Ravana’s mother gets furious and sits for a fast-unto-death to reveal her disappointments. Ravana, the most idol son who comes to know about the incident promises his mother to bring the “Atma Linga” of lord Shiva. As promised, King Ravana sets out to Kailas and starts rigorous penance without food and water for impressing Lord Shiva. The impressed Lord thus grants the wishes of his devotee by giving him away “Atmalinga” (A part of heart of lord shiva). Further Shiva also tells Ravana that “Atmalinga” once placed on earth cannot be moved from that place as the entire power and spirit of “Atmalinga” gets sucked by mother earth and they would become inseparable. Ravana becomes happy and sets his way back to the kingdom. But due to this act of Lord Shiva, the entire heaven, Brahmaloka, and Vaikunta (All god and goddesses) fear that Ravana might use this power for wickedness or to destroy the universe. To find out the solution for this problem they set up a meeting with Lord Vishnu and request him to give solution. As a result of this meeting, they send Lord Ganesha to Bhuloka(Earth) to bring back the “Atmalinga” [or placing Atmalinga on the earth before it reaches Ravana's Kingdom] from Ravana. Shri Ganesh agrees and disguises himself as a brahmachari,(Small kid about 8 years old) and appears at the same place as Ravana. It was evening time and Ravana wanted to perform evening prayer (periodical rites) which had to be done every day without fail. Ravana had never missed evening prayer and moreover as he belonged to Brahmin community performing the prayer was a must for him. But Ravana was much worried about “Atmalinga” because it should not be placed on the ground. But with holding Atmalinga, he couldn’t perform prayers. The place he was standing was a sea shore (Now main beach of Gokarna) and there was no suitable place to keep “Atmalinga”. Fortunately he sees Ganesha, and requests him to hold “Atmalinga” until he completes the prayer.
Ganesha agreed on one condition that he would call Ravana three times (as the “Atmalinga” is very heavy and cannot be held for a long time) and if he fails to reach before above said time, he would place “Atmalinga” on the earth. King Ravana agreed and sits for a prayer towards sun. Ganesha called Ravana twice with a gap of few minutes and again called Ravana before he completes the prayer. King Ravana was helpless and he cannot get up unless and until prayer completes. Using this opportunity, Ganesha placed the “Atmalinga” on to the earth. The “Atmalinga” once placed got firmly entrenched in the earth. Ravanasura learned that he had been tricked by the Gods. “Atmalinga” gets absorbed by the earth before Ravana could reach the place. King Ravana becomes angry at Ganesha and gives a big hit on his head. (You can view this pit on top of Ganesha’s head at Lord Maha Ganapati idol in the Temple at Gokarna). Brahma, Vishnu and Maheshwara bless Ganesh for his great victory and ask him to reside at Gokarna for the sake of his devotees.
After this incident Ravana becomes furious and was deeply agitated, he tries to pull up the “Atmalinga” from the ground, but the linga will not budge a little. Ravana tries to rip out the “Atmalinga” but he fails to do so at all the attempts. But he manages to break five pieces of “Atmalinga”. He angrily throws away the five pieces of “Atmalinga” which are now known as “Murudeshwara”, “Siddeshwara”, “Sajjeshwara”, “Gunavanteshwara”, and “Dhareshwara”. Now the same “Atma Linga” temple is called as “Sri Mahabaleshwara” Temple. Millions of devotees visit this temple. This place is also called as “Bhookailas.”(Bhoo means Earth and Kailas means where Lord Shiva lives in)
The disappointed Ravana tries to kill himself but the mightiest Lord Shiva appears in front of Ravana and his mother and thus fulfills Ravana’s wishes.
“Atma linga” is covered by headstock and arranged with systematic seating. There is a peep hole provided to see the top view of “Atmalinga” to devotees. They can touch this tip and offer bilva patra to Shivalinga along with Panchamruta.(Panchatruma is a mix-up of Milk, ghee, curd, honey and sugar)
Mahabaleshwara always blesses innocents and devotees, who wholeheartedly serve poor, helpless people, and those who respect elders and parents, and also who are sincere and hard working, who believes work, is worship, naive devotees, who serve food for helpless old age people and devotees who worship him sincerely without expecting anything for themselves.
WHAT IS ASHTABHANDA?
Maha Shivaratri and Chariot festival
Maha Shivaratri is a festival celebrated in Gokarna with great pomp and joy. This day is special day for everyone. People perform and worship Shiva and fast whole day. They perform pooja with bilvapatra which is a favourite of Lord Shiva. The Next day of Shivaratri car festival takes place where idol of Shiva and Parvati is kept in the chariot and people pull the chariot from Maha Ganapathi temple to Sri Venkataramana temple at car street. During this time people throw banana on chariot to express their happiness and devotional feelings towards Lord Shiva.
ORIGIN OF THE CIVILISATION
Brahmins community and also other few people who belonged to other communities migrated from the Gomantak region to get rid of mandatory conversions by the British and Portugal authorities and settled in and around Gokarna in the 15th century. They found the place safe as Lord Mahabaleshwara resides at Gokarna.This region was under the regime of Sondha and Vijayanagar kingdoms.(Hindu ruling) At the same time the Konkan area was ruled by Portuguese including Goa. Most of the temples were destroyed by Portuguese during their regime.
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