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{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2019}}
{{Use Indian English|date=December 2019}}
{{Infobox Hindu temple
| name = Mahabaleshwar Temple
| image = Main entry to the Mahabaleshwar Temple at Gokaran.jpg
| alt =
| caption = Mahabaleshwar Temple at Gokarna
| map_type = India Karnataka
| map_caption = Location within Karnataka
| coordinates = {{coord|14|32|36|N|74|18|59|E|type:landmark_region:IN|display=inline,title}}
| country = [[India]]
| state = [[Karnataka]]
| district = [[Uttara Kannada District]]
| locale = [[Gokarna, India|Gokarna]]
| elevation_m =
| deity = Lord [[Shiva]]
| festivals = [[Shivaratri]] [[Ratha Yatra]]
| architecture = [[Dravidian architecture]]
| temple_quantity =
| monument_quantity =
| inscriptions =
| year_completed = 345 - 365 CE
| creator = [[Mayurasharma|Mayuravarma]] of [[Kadamba Dynasty|Kadamba]]
| website =
}}

The '''Mahabaleshwar Temple, Gokarna''' is a 4th-century CE [[Hindu temple]] located in [[Gokarna, Uttara Kannada]] district, [[Karnataka]] state, [[India]] which is built in the classical [[Dravidian architecture|Dravidian architectural]] style. It is a site of [[religious pilgrimage]]. The temple faces the [[Gokarna, Karnataka|Gokarna]] beach on the [[Arabian Sea]] in which [[Hindu]] pilgrims cleanse before visiting the temple for worship. The temple is considered as holy as the [[Shiva]] temple at [[Varanasi]] or [[Varanasi|''Kāśi'' (Kashi)]] in [[North India]] on the banks of the [[Ganges River]]. Hence, the Mahabaleshwar temple, Gokarna is known as the ''Dakshin Kasi'' ("Kasi of the south").<ref name=Abram/><ref name=Various/> The temple deifies the ''[[Pranalinga]]'' ("the reality of God which can be captured by the mind") also called ''Atmalinga'' or ''[[Shiva Linga]]''<ref name= Subramuniyaswami>Subramuniyaswami S. S. [https://books.google.com/books?id=EWlHPAkjBKUC&pg=PA847&dq=Definition+of+Pranalinga&hl=en&ei=xJ7_S66MOpW6Naf9xTs&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=4&ved=0CDMQ6AEwAw#v=onepage&q&f=false ''Dancing with Siva: Hinduism's Contemporary Catechism''] Himalayan Academy Publications 2003 p. 847 {{ISBN|0-945497-96-2}} Accessed 28 October 2010.</ref> In [[legend]], it is said that the deity of the temple will bestow immense blessings to devotees, even to those who only glimpse it.<ref name=Abram>Abram D. [https://books.google.com/books?id=GGZRtj4OnccC&pg=PA237&dq=Mahabaleshwar+temple,+Gokarna&hl=en&ei=Non8S93zDJClceTcgeIB&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=5&ved=0CD0Q6AEwBA#v=onepage&q&f=falsepublisher=RoughGuides ''Rough Guide to Goa''] Rough Guides 2003 p. 234 - 237. {{ISBN|1-84353-081-3}} Accessed 27 May 2010.</ref><ref name=Various>[https://books.google.com/books?id=hypasmfmVn4C&pg=PA61&dq=Mahabaleshwar+temple,+Gokarna&hl=en&ei=Non8S93zDJClceTcgeIB&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=7&ved=0CEcQ6AEwBg#v=onepage&q=Mahabaleshwar%20temple%2C%20Gokarna&f=false ''Tourist Guide to Karnataka''] Sura Books p. 61 - 62 {{ISBN|81-7478-062-9}} Accessed 27 May 2010.</ref> Currently the administrative charge of the temple is with an Overseeing Committee under the Chairmanship of [[B. N. Srikrishna|Justice BN Srikrishna]], a Retired Justice of the Hon'ble Supreme Court of India.<ref>{{Cite news|others=PTI|date=2021-04-19|title=SC orders handing over Gokarna Mahabaleshwar temple management to panel headed by ex-judge|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/sc-orders-handing-over-gokarna-mahabaleshwar-temple-management-to-panel-headed-by-ex-judge/article34357141.ece|access-date=2021-05-25|issn=0971-751X}}</ref>

==Introduction==
The temple is one of the seven sacred ''Muktikshetras'' or ''Muktistala'' ("places of salvation") in Karnataka. It is a place where many Hindus of Karnataka perform obsequies (death rites) for their departed. The six other Muktikshetras in Karnataka are at [[Udupi]], [[Kollur, Udupi district|Kollur]], Subrahmanya, [[Kumbasi]], Koteshvara and Sankaranarayana.<ref name=Gokarna>[http://www.srigokarna.org/ "Gokarna: a Profile"] Sri Gokarna website. Accessed 27 May 2010.</ref><ref name=Vision>[http://www.karnatakavision.com/gokarna-temple.php "Gokarna Temple"] Karnataka Vision website. Accessed 27 May 2010.</ref>

According to legend, the ''Atmalinga'' was perforce placed at Gokarna, in the temple precincts where it is now deified. It was [[Ravana]], the demon King of [[Lanka]], known from the [[epic poetry|epic]], ''[[Ravana]]'' had carried it there from [[Mount Kailash]] in the [[Himalayas]].<ref name=Abram/><ref name=Various/><ref name=Gupte>Gupta B. A. [https://books.google.com/books?id=_FSWKWzNSagC&pg=PA16&dq=Mahabaleshwar+temple,+Gokarna&hl=en&ei=wov8S_j_NonQcfuG9YcC&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=10&ved=0CEsQ6AEwCTgK#v=onepage&q=Mahabaleshwar%20temple%2C%20Gokarna&f=false ''Hindu holidays and ceremonials: with dissertations on origin folklore and symbols''] Asian Educational Services 1994. p 13 - 16 {{ISBN|81-206-0953-0}} Accessed 27 May 2010.</ref>

The temple's first construction was by the king [[Mayurasharma]] of the [[Kadamba dynasty]] (reign 345 CE – 365 CE). Again, legend holds that Mayurasharma wished to learn of the [[Vedic]] rites and the [[Ashvamedha|Ashwamedha Yagna]] (ritual of horse sacrifice). He travelled to [[Kanchipuram]], a major religious learning centre, but there, he was insulted by a horseman guard. He was angered and swore to defeat the ruling [[Pallavas|Pallava dynasty]]. Following his defeat of the Pallavas, the king asked some priests to perform a daily [[yajna]] to maintain his [[suzerainty]] over the region. Mayurasharma's son, King [[Kangavarma of Kadamba|Kangavarma]] brought [[Brahmin]] families from different lineages to maintain administration at the temple.

The [[classical Sanskrit]] writer, [[Kalidasa]] mentions the "Lord of Gokarna" in his 4th century work, ''[[Raghuvamsha]]''. The Gokarna temple is recorded as one of the [[Paadal Petra Sthalam]]s in the 7th century ''[[Tevaram]]'' by [[Appar]] and [[Sambandar]] wrote canon of devotional poetry.

The temple is a large complex of shrines and much of it belongs to the later [[Vijayanagara Empire|Vijayanagara period]] (1336–1646 CE). A Vijayanagara emperor once visited the temple and weighed himself in gold.

During the 17th century reign of [[Keladi Chennamma|Queen Chennammaji]] and her son, Soma Sekharanayaka of [[Keladi Nayaka|Keladi]], Visvesvaraya of Halasunadu-Kundapura built the Chandrasala and Nandi pavilions. In 1665, the warrior king, [[Shivaji]] (1630 CE - 1680 CE) worshipped at the Mahabaleshwar temple after disbanding his army in Gokarna.

In 1676, Fryer, an [[British Empire|English]] traveller, visited Gokarna during the [[Maha Shivaratri]] festival and wrote in detail about it at the temple.<ref name=press>[https://books.google.com/books?id=hLwMAAAAIAAJ&q=Mahabaleshvar+temple,Gokarna&dq=Mahabaleshvar+temple,Gokarna&hl=en&ei=7S_-S7ilCozDrAedu_m-Dg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=3&ved=0CDcQ6AEwAg "Mahabaleshvar temple, Gokarna"] in ''Gazetteer of the Bombay Presidency'' Government Central Press 1883 15:2 p. 299. Accessed 28 May 2010.</ref>

==Location==
The temple is located on the shores of [[Arabian Sea]] on the west coast of India, near the city of [[Karwar]]. It is set in a lush, green environment in the holy town of Gokarna (also spelt "Gokarn") in Uttara Kannada (or [[Uttara Kannada district|North Kannada district]]).

Gokarna lies between the [[Gangavalli River|Gangavalli]] and Aganashini rivers.<ref name=Various/><ref name=Geography>[http://www.srigokarna.org/english/about-gokarna/how-to-reach-gokarna/ ''How to reach Gokarna''] {{Webarchive|url=https://archive.is/20101215004815/http://www.srigokarna.org/english/about-gokarna/how-to-reach-gokarna/ |date=15 December 2010 }} Sri Gokarna website. Accessed 27 May 2010.</ref>

[[National Highway 17 (India)|National Highway 17]] (NH17), a coastal highway on the [[Western Ghats]] (from [[Mangalore]] to [[Mumbai]]), passes close to Gokarna. The town is {{convert|56|km|mi}} from [[Karwar]], {{convert|252|km|mi}} from [[Mangalore]], {{convert|145|km|mi}} from [[Hubli]], and {{convert|450|km|mi}} from [[Bangalore]]. The nearest airport is at [[Panaji]], [[Goa]], {{convert|155|km|mi}} away.<ref name=Various/><ref name=Geography/>

==Legend==
[[File:Gokarna Temple.jpg|thumb|right|Temple seen from inside the complex.]]
The hoary legend of the temple as narrated, links Ravana of the ''Ramayana'', the demon king of Lanka, not only to the Shiva Linga deified in the Mahabaleshwar Temple but also to Gokarna's Bhadra Kali temple. The legend also provides etymology of the place name, "Gokarna".<ref name=Gupte/>

Ravana's mother, a staunch devotee of Lord Shiva, was worshipping a Shiva Linga to bring prosperity to her son. [[Indra]], the Lord of Heaven, who was jealous of this worship, stole the Shiva Linga and threw it away into the Sea. The distraught mother of Ravana went on a hunger strike as her devotional worship of Shiva was disrupted.

Ravana then promised his mother that he would go to Mount Kailash, the abode of Lord Shiva, and bring the main ''Atmalinga'' itself for her worship. Ravana then performed severe penance at Mount Kailash to please Lord Shiva and also sang, in his melodious voice, praises of Shiva ([[Shiva Tandava Stotra]]m). He even chopped his own head, and made a harp with threads drawn from his skin and intestine. Lord Shiva was please he appeared before him and asked him what he wanted. Ravana requests the Atma-Linga as his boon. Lord Shiva agrees to give him the boon with a condition that it should never be placed on the ground. If the Atma-Linga was ever placed on the ground, it would remain rooted at that spot. Having obtained his boon, Ravana started back on his journey to Lanka

As Ravana was nearing Gokarna, Lord Vishnu blotted out the sun to give the appearance of dusk. Ravana now had to perform his evening rituals but was worried because with the Atma-Linga in his hands, he would not be able to do it. At this time, Lord Ganesha in the disguise of a Brahmin boy accosted him. Ravana requested him to hold the Atma-Linga until he performed his rituals, and asked him not to place it on the ground. Ganesh struck a deal with him saying that he would call Ravana thrice, and if Ravana did not return within that time, he would place the Atma-Linga on the ground.

Ganesha called out thrice rapidly but Ravana couldn't come within the specified time. Even before Ravana could return, Lord Ganesha placed the Atmalinga on the ground, tricked Ravana and vanished from the scene with his cows. Ravana then chased the only cow, which was going underground. However, he managed to get hold of the cow's ear, as the rest of cow's body had disappeared below ground. It is this ear now seen in a petrified form, which has given the name "Gokarna" to the place. The word "Gokarna" means "cow's ear" where in Sanskrit ''gow'' means "cow" and ''karna'' means "ear".<ref name="Vision" /><ref name="Padmanabha">Padmanabha P. [https://books.google.com/books?id=wSpAAAAAMAAJ&q=Mahabaleshvar+temple,Gokarna&dq=Mahabaleshvar+temple,Gokarna&hl=en&ei=7S_-S7ilCozDrAedu_m-Dg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CC8Q6AEwAA ''District Census Handbook, Series 14, Mysore: North Kanara''] Office of the Director of Census Operations. Government of India Press 1973 p. 142 Accessed 28 May 2010.</ref><ref name="Gupte, p.15">Gupte, p.15</ref>

Then, Ravana tried hard to lift the Shiv Linga but failed as it was firmly fixed. Ravana had even fainted; thereafter he gave the name "Mahabaleshwar" (meaning all-powerful) to the ''Atmalinga''.<ref name="Padmanabha" /> Thus, according to the legend narrated, the place now boasts of three divine entities namely: Gokarna, the cow's ear; the ''Atmalinga'' or Shiva Linga that is deified in the Mahabaleshwar Temple; and the Goddess Bhadrakali, which are all now divine places of worship integral to Gokarna.<ref name="Gupte, p.16">Gupte, p.16</ref>

==Temple structure==
{{multiple image
| align = right
| image1 = Dravidian style Gopura of Mahabaleshwar temple at Gokaran.jpg
| width1 = 120
| alt1 =
| caption1 =
| image2 = Pradakshinapath of Mahakaleshwar temple at Gokaran.jpg
| width2 = 200
| alt2 =
| caption2 =
| footer = Left: Dravidian style Gopura of Mahabaleshwar temple at Gokarna. Right: Pradakshinapath (circumambulatory path) of Mahabaleshwar temple at [[Gokarna, India|Gokarna]].
}}

The temple is built of [[granite]] in the Dravidian architectural style. The ''Atmalinga'' is enshrined in the temple on a square ''[[Saligrama]] Peetha'' ([[pedestal]]). The pedestal has a small hole at its centre from where devotees can see the top of the ''Atmalinga''.

Foreigners, including practicing Hindus of non-Indian (Western) origin are not allowed to enter the sanctum-sanctorum and see the Shivalinga.

==Religious practices==
[[File:Rath at Gokarna.JPG|thumb|right|Rathayatra held during [[Shivaratri]] festival celebrations]]
The religious practices observed by most devotees, who are accompanied by their priests, consist of shaving their head, fasting and then taking a bath in the Arabian Sea, opposite the temple. They then pay obeisance to Lord [[Ganesha]] (the elephant headed god) deified in the Shri Maha Ganapathi temple, which is a few yards away from the Mahabaleshwar temple. After observing these religious procedures, devotees visit the main shrine of Mahabaleshwar for the ''[[Darśana]]'' (the auspicious sight of a deity). The idol is placed inside a pit on the floor. The devotees can touch the idol and do the puja by themselves. This is in contrary to other temples where the devotees are neither allowed to touch the idol nor do puja.

;Festival
The [[Shivaratri]] festival, the observance of the union of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati is celebrated in Gokarna in February, when a very large number of pilgrims visit the shrine. During the festival, a ''[[Rath Yatra]]'' (a procession in a large wooden chariot) is held. Images of Shiva and other deities are installed in a chariot which is ceremoniously pulled through the town by the devotees, accompanied by drum bands. The Ratha Yatra starts from the Shri Maha Ganapati temple at the terminus of the main market street, also known as "Car Street".<ref name=Gokarna/><ref name=Geography/><ref name="Abram, p.260">Abram, p.260</ref>

==Other attractions==
[[File:The holy Pushkarani at Gokarna.jpg|right|thumb|Kotitheertha or Pushkarani – a holy pond close to the Mahabaleshawar temple]]
[[File:India Karnataka Gokarna Kotiteertha (1481547363).jpg|right|thumb|Kotitheertha information board]]
In Gokarna, there are a number of attractions of religious significance which are linked to the local legend of the Mahabaleshawar temple.<ref name=Vision/>

;Sri Maha Ganapathi temple
In legend, the Sri Maha Ganapathi temple was built in honour of the boy [[Ganesha]]. Ganesha deceived the demon Ravana and saved the ''Atmalinga'' that is now installed in the Mahabaleshwar temple. Within the temple is a granite image of Ganesha. The image is {{convert|5|ft|m}} tall and two-handed; at the top of its head there is hole that is said to be a mark of a violent blow inflicted by Ravana. The temple has its own identity and is also known as "Sidda Ganapati".<ref>[http://www.dhrishticreations.com/files/templesframe.htm ''Famos Ganesha temples''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110108225648/http://www.dhrishticreations.com/files/templesframe.htm |date=8 January 2011 }} Dhristi Creations website Accessed 28 May 2010.</ref><ref name= Bezbaruah>Bezbaruah M. P. and Gopa K. [http://www.google.co.in/search?hl=en&q=Sri%20mahaganapathi%20temple%2C%20Gokarna&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbo=u&tbs=bks:1&source=og&sa=N&tab=wp ''Fairs and Festivals of India: Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka''] Gyan 2003.</ref>

;Gogarbha
In legend, the ''Atmalinga'' that vanished in the form of ''gov'' (cow) made a cave in a nearby hill. It is called "Gogarbha" meaning "the woumb of cow". The cave is visited by [[sadhu]]s and used as a resting place. Folklore suggests that sadhus enter Gogarbha and reach the holy city of Kashi (Old [[Varanasi]]), a final visiting place for pilgrims.

;The Temple of Bharat
The ruins of this temple remain on a hillock near the Mahabaleshwar temple. Its deity was stolen. It is notable because it is situated well above the temple of Rama with a ramateertha.{{clarify|date=July 2017}}

;Kotitheertha
Kotitheertha is a man-made pond, which is used for the immersion of idols and ritual bathing. It is surrounded by temples and has a small platform in the centre.<ref>[http://www.chitrapurmath.net/our_maths/gokarn.asp ''The Bhandikeri Math at Gokarna''] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721084607/http://www.chitrapurmath.net/our_maths/gokarn.asp |date=2011-07-21 }} Shri Chitrapur Math website. Accessed 28 May 2010.</ref> Devotees usually take bath in the pond before they visit the Mahabaleshwar Temple for worship.<ref>[http://uttarakannada.nic.in/Circuit1a.htm ''Karwar Taluk''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100408093129/http://uttarakannada.nic.in/Circuit1a.htm |date=8 April 2010 }} National Informatics Centre. Accessed 28 May 2010.</ref>

==References==
{{commons category}}
{{reflist|2}}

{{Shaivism}}
{{Shiva temples}}
{{Hindu temples in Karnataka}}

[[Category:Culture of Karnataka]]
[[Category:Hindu temples in Uttara Kannada district]]
[[Category:Shiva temples in Karnataka]]
[[Category:Padal Petra Stalam]]

Mahabaleshwar Temple, Gokarna - Revision history

imported>ClueBot NG: Reverting possible vandalism by Omansh12 to version by HMSLavender. Report False Positive? Thanks, ClueBot NG. (4024436) (Bot)