Tourist places in and around Gokarna
Mahabaleshwar Temple
The Mahabaleshwara Temple is a major draw here. The 6-ft tall atmalinga here is enshrined in a square called Saligrama Peetha and is opened for viewing once in 40 years. Now only the tip of the linga can be seen through an opening in the peetha. There is a charming legend about how the Mahabaleshwara Temple came to be. Ravana, on a request from his mother, performed severe penance and earned the atmalinga that bestows invincibility from Lord Shiva and was told by the lord not to place it down at any cost. The other gods were alarmed at the powerful boon granted to Ravana. While he was carrying it back from Mount Kailash, Ganesha tricked Ravana into putting the linga down. Ravana tried but couldn't lift the atmalinga. And there it remained down the ages, worshipped in the form of Mahabaleshwara. Devotees also visit the shrines of Ganesha, Bhadrakali, Venkataramana and Gokarnanayaki (also known as Taamragowri). To the left of the main beach and up a hillock lies Kotiteertha, where many take a sacred bath.The magnificent shrine is considered next in sancity to kashi Vishwanath temple in temple varanasi. It is perched beautifully on a hillock near the beach and is famous for the Atmalinga. A mythological legend suggests, that the demon king Ravana appeased Lord shiva through penance and obtained a shivalinga with special power from the Lord. Ganapathi and other gods were worried by the growing power of Ravana and decided to take away the shivalinga from him. Ravana was on his way to Lanka and Ganapathi tricked him into putting the linga down on the ground at Gokarna for performing puja. Ravana was unable to lift the linga up agin and hence the linga is known as ‘Mahabal', around which the Mahabaleshwar temple is built. Ravana was infuriated and tried to pull the linga out of the earth, but it broke into pieces and scattered in the nearby areas. These pieces are believed to be venerated at the temples of Dhareshwar, Gunavanthe and Murudeshwar.