History, Importance, Timings, Festivals, Architecture, Interesting Facts and Travel Guide of Mahabaleshwar Temple, Gokarna, Karnataka, India
Mahabaleshwar Temple, dedicated to Lord Shiva, located near shores of Arabian Sea in Gokarna, the temple and beach town of Uttara Kannada district of Karnataka is major pilgrimage attraction here where devotee of Lord Shiva visits throughout the year. Mahabaleshwar temple is popular as Gokarna temple or Mahabaleshwar Swami temple or Dakshin Kashi, Kashi of southern India. The original structure of ancient Mahabaleshwar temple was built in 4th century in Dravidian architecture style, by king Mayura Sharma of kadamba dynasty and later on expanded during various dynasty. This temple holds high religious importance and mentioned in several sacred text of Sanatan Dharma, also Tamil saints Nayanars like Appar and sambanthar praised the deity and this region in their hyms tevaram. Mahabaleshwar temple and surrounding region is also associated with lots of historical tales. It is believed that the Atmalinga or Pranlinga of Lord Shiva is placed here in temple premise thus thousands of devotee worship Shivlinga here. This temples is one of the seven sacred Muktikshetras or Mukthistala -place of salvation of Karnataka where lot of people for Karnataka and surrounding state visit to perform after death ritual. The other six Muktistalas of Karnataka are Udupi, Kollur, Subrahmanya, Kumbasi, Kodeshvara and Sankaranarayana.
Interesting and very popular story of Treta Yuga is associated with temple. Mother of demon king Ravana was true devotee of Lord Shiva and wanted to worship of Atmalinga. Ravan did the promise to bring Atmalinga from Lord Shiva and started hard penance to please lord. Then Lord Shiva was impressed by his devotion and gave Atmalinga to him on one condition that the aathamalinga should not be placed down on earth. If it put down then aathamalinga will be rooted at that place. Ravana accepted this condition and moved towards the Lanka. Lord Vishnu and other deities were worried with this act as if Ravana get success in getting the Atmalinga to Lanka then he becomes more powerful and the it is impossible to defeated him, thus they had set up the plan. King Ravan was very punctuate for evening Sandhya – worship so here at Gokarna he called a Brahmana boy to hold the aathamalinga in hand and not to keep it on the ground until he returned back from his rites. This Brahman child was nothing but the Lord Ganesh, he called Ravana thrice but Ravan could not return back in time so Lord Ganesha had put down the Atmalinga here and disappeared. When Ravana was back and tried to lift the aathmalinga it was struck and could not lift. Thus Ravana gave the name Mahabaleshwar to Atmalinga since that time Atmalinga place here at Gokarna.
The Atmalinga is placed in the temple on a square Saligrama Peetha. The pedestal has a small hole at its centre from where devotees can see the top of the Atmalinga. But during the Ashta Bandana Kumbhahishekam, a festival arranged once every after 40 years, the entire Atmalinga is visible for the devotees.
There are several rituals performed here at Mahabaleshwar Temple Gokarna. Sankalpa Pooja Mangal Aarti, Bilvarchana, Ashttotara Bilvarchana, Kumbhabhishek and Kshirabhishek Pooja, Panchamrutabhishek Pooja,Maha Panchamrutabhisheka Pooja, Rudrabhishekam, Navadhanya Abhishek Pooja, Silver Nagabharana Special Pooja, Golden Nagabharana Special Pooja etc. are the various Pooja observed here at temple.
Mahashivratri is the main festival celebrated here at Mahabaleshwar Temple and festivity continues for nine days. Various special Poojas like Mahapooja, Rathotsava, Bhootabali, Tulabhara and other cultural programs are arranged. Another important festival is Ratha Saptami or Surya Jayanti when Ratha festival occurs which represent the seventh day of the movement of Sun towards the northern direction of vertical equinox from Capricorn. Tripurakhya Deepotsava is celebrated on Karthik Poornima also popular as Tripuri Purnima. Vijayadashami and Kadiru Haranotsava are also celebrated at Gokarna Temple with great zeal.
Devotee can takes Amrutanna Prasada Bhojana in temple at 12.30 to 2 PM and 7.30 PM to 9 PM at free of cost. Devotee should dressed up well as short dress is not allowed. Also only Hindu who stayed in India is allowed in temple premise.
How to reach Mahabaleshwar Temple, Gokarna, Karnataka, India
Gokarna being one of the major pilgrimage center and tourist destination, of Karnataka, it is very well connected with all major cities of Karnataka via road, rail and air network. It has major railway junction just at 7 km from town from where you can get train to almost all region of India. Dabolim Airport in Goa is the nearest airport from Gokarna at around 140 km and Mangalore airport is at around 230 km. You can find private taxi and public transport as well from both airport to reach to Gokarna. Gokarna is located at 60 km from Karwar, 135 km from Goa, 235 km from Mangalore, 450 km from Bangalore. You can get direct buses from Mangalore, Goa, and Bangalore etc. to reach Gokarna.
