Gokarna, Uttara Kannada

Gokarna () is a village in the Uttara Kannada district of the Karnataka state, India. It is a Hindu pilgrimage centre as well as a tourist destination in India. Gokarna is a temple town and is referred to in a number of Hindu historical literature pieces. The main deity is Lord Mahabhaleshwara, a form of Hindu god Shiva. Around the town lie a number of beaches and these serve as a major attraction for travellers.

GOKARNA. (Uttara Kannada dt; Kumta tq;)

Gokarna is situated on the West Coast and is at a distance of 438 km north-west of Bangalore. Gokarna which is considered the Southern Kashi (Varanasi) is a notable Shiva pilgrimage centre of India. The name literally means “Cow’s Ear”, as the Arabian Sea on one side and the rivers Aghanasini and Gangavati on the other make an angle resembling a cow’s ear.

The two great epics Ramayana and Mahabharatha have several references to this holy place. The temple of Mahabaleshvara is built of granite in the Dravidian style with a shrine and an outer wall. It is a complete structure with many additions made in the post-Vijayanagara times. The linga in the shrine is visible only by two inches above the ground.
It is said to be the atma linga and the tradition says that it was brought here by Ravana and he was forced to leave it here. In the outer hall are images of Parvathi and Ganapati with a granite bull in the middle of the hall. In honour of Mahabaleshwara a fair is held every year during the Mahashivaratri.
Besides the......

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