Gokarna, India 1

Gokarna, India

Gokarna—  village  —

Mahabaleshwara Temple

Gokarna

Location of Gokarnain Karnataka and India

Coordinates 14°33′00″N 74°19′00″E

Country India

State Karnataka

District(s) Uttara Kannada

Population• Density

25851 (2001)• 2372 /km2 (6143 /sq mi)

Time zone IST (UTC+05:30)

Area• Elevation

10.9 square kilometres (4.2 sq mi)• 586 metres (1923 ft)

Website www.srigokarna.org [1]

Gokarna, India 2

Gokarna (Kannada: ಗೋಕರ್ಣ) 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 ofHindu historical literature pieces. The main deity is Lord Mahabhaleshwara, a form of Hindu god Shiva. Around thetown lie a number of beaches and these serve as a major attraction for travellers.

EtymologyGokarna means Cow's Ear. It is believed that Lord Shiva emerged from the ear of a cow (Prithvi, the Mother Earth)here. It is also located at the ear-shaped confluence of two rivers Gangavali and Aghanashini.

MythologyLegends in the Sahyadri Khand of the Puranas indicate that the State of Kerala was reclaimed from the sea by theWarrior-Sage Parashurama who came from the North (of the Vindhya ranges) after his wanderings, in which hekilled the Kshatriyas 21 times and threw his axe, the weapon by which he annihilated the Kshatriyas, into the sea, toprevent the erosion of the land stretching from Gokarna to the Southernmost tip of India.Gokarna is also mentioned in the Shrimad Bhagavata Purana as being the home of the two brothers Gokarna andDhundhakari and the Bhagawat also gives details of the differences in their temperament, nature and exploits.Another mythological reference to Gokarna describes how Ravana, the demon-king of Lanka, received the atmalingafrom Shiva after he had performed a penance at Mount Kailash reciting self-written Shivatandavastotram. Shivainstructed Ravana that the sacred atmalinga should not be placed on the ground as it would establish itself whereplaced on earth. On his way back to Lanka, Ravana stops for his evening prayers at Gokarna. To prevent Ravanafrom getting a weapon as powerful as the atmalinga, Ganesha, in the disguise of a Brahmin boy, tells Ravana that hewill hold the atmalinga until Ravana finishes his prayers. As soon as he receives the atmalinga, Ganesh promptlyputs it down. Ravana tries to extricate it, resulting in throwing the coverings of the Linga to Surathkal, Dhareshwar,Gunavanteshwar, Murudeshwar and Shejjeshwar temples.[2]

History

Ancient Indian (Bharata)cities and Places(Title and

location names are inEnglish.)

The earliest history of the city is not known. Tamil saints like the Nayanars Appar andSambanthar from the 6th century CE praised the deity of Tulu Nadu in their hymn canonTevaram. It is an established fact that Mayurvarma of the Kadamba kings broughtBrahmins from Ahicchatra. A sect of Brahmins fled from the Gomantak to escapeforcible conversions by the Portuguese and British and settled in and around Gokarna inthe 15th century. It was part of the Sodhe and Vijayanagar kingdoms. Later, when theKonkan region - including Goa - was occupied by the Portuguese, it became part of theirrule. A few temples were destroyed by the Portuguese in 1714 and then rebuilt later inthe 18th century and also under the supervision of Guru H. H. Shrimat AnandashramSwamiji in 1928.

Gokarna, India 3

CultureGokarna is a town of contrasts, as it is a temple town and also a holiday destination by the sea. Gokarna is full ofcoconut and palm trees, blue seas and clean sands. It is an attractive town with two main streets having shops andtraditional tile-roofed brick houses. Gokarna is a hippy paradise with drums, guitars and hammocks. The beachesnear Gokarna have shacks (huts) for rent. Kannada, Konkani and Marathi are widely spoken languages in the town.

Religious attractions

Gokarna Beach.

Gokarna is also an important centre of Sanskrit learningand houses Bhandikeri Math and Toggu Math. It is aplace where Sanskrit knowledge is passed down fromgenerations in Brahmin families. Many Hindus alsoperform the last rites of a person here.• Mahabaleshwar Temple (Maha: great, bal: strength)

is a famous Shiva Temple and it houses the'Atmalinga'. Named so after Ravana referred to thelinga's great strength. Till the government handedover the temple to a public trust, all the public ofGokarna - supposed to be the office bearers of thetemple - were managing the temple.[3]

It is situated at the western end of the main street. Themain deity here is two-armed, standing and at least 1500 years old. The idol of Lord Ganesha also is ancient. In thesanctuary is a stone linga, encased in brass, placed on a coiled stone serpent. The floor of the hall in front has anintricate engraving of a giant tortoise.• Maha Ganapathi Temple built in honour of the boy Ganapathi, who deceived the demon Ravana.• Uma Maheshwari Temple• Bhadrakali Temple• Varadaraj Temple• Tamra-Gauri Temple• Shanmuka Temple• Venkataramana Temple• Kotitheertha is a man-made tank that is used for immersion of idols and ritual bathing. It is surrounded by

temples.• Shivaratri festival is celebrated here with great enthusiasm. Each year a team builds up two great temple chariots

which are used during the Shivaratri festival. The two great temple chariots lead a procession through the town'snarrow streets, while priests and pilgrims chant hymns in praise of Shiva. More than a hundred people are neededto pull the chariots with thick ropes while priests conduct religious ceremonies inside. During the four dayShivaratri festival, the small town of Gokarna is visited by up to 20,000 pilgrims.

Gokarna, India 4

Community festivals• Mahashivaratri• Kartoka mahotsava

BeachesThe drive up the winding path that leads to Gokarna is scenic, with the rocky mountains and Western Ghats on oneside and the Arabian Sea on the other.

Panorama of Om Beach at Gokarna in the Uttara Kannada district of Karnataka, India, showing its distinctive shape.

Gokarna is also famous for its beautiful beaches and landscapes. The main beaches in Gokarna are the Gokarnabeach, Kudle Beach, Om Beach, Half moon Beach and Paradise Beach (also known as Full moon). The Gokarnabeach forms the coast of the town while the other four beaches lie to the south of Gokarna. Kudle and Om are around6 km from Gokarna town along a muddy hill; they are accessible by rickshaw or foot. Half moon and Paradise arebeyond Om beach and are accessible only by foot or boat. Om beach is named so because it is shaped like theauspicious ॐ [Om] symbol. Om beach is the only naturally Om shaped beach. Two other beaches - Paradise andHalf Moon - are smaller and remote beaches.[4]

Location

Boating services seen in Om beach, 5km fromGokarna.

Gokarna is about 453 km from Bangalore, 238 km north of Mangaloreand about 59 km from Karwar. It is between the Gangavali andAgnashini rivers and situated along the Karwar coast by the ArabianSea. It is 200 km north from the college towns of Suratkal andManipal.

Gokarna can be reached by buses and maxicabs from Kumta (36 km),Ankola (26 km) and Karwar (59 km) on National Highway 17( NH-17). Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) also runslong-journey buses from many cities like Panaji, Bangalore andMangalore. Private buses (Vijayanand Roadlines - VRL, Sugama, SeaBird, etc.) operate night journeys from the capital city of Bangalore toGokarna daily. It can be reached by train Konkan Railway on the Mumbai to Mangalore route. The railway station (called Gokarna Road ) is 6 km away from the town. The nearest airports are Dabolim at Goa and MangaloreInternational Airport at Bajpe.

Neighboring villages• Bankikodla-Hanehalli• Sanikatta• Tadadi• Torke• Madangere

Gokarna, India 5

A foreigner sun bathing in Om beach.

Gokarna beach near Mahabaleshwara temple.

• Maskeri• Adigone• Nelaguni• BijjurNotable natives• Ramachandra S. Hosmane• Narayan Hosmane• Gourish Kaikini• Jayant KaikiniEducational Institutions• Bhadrakali High School

• Gokarna Arts College• Shrimad R. Modern Education School, NelaguniFinancial Institutions• Syndicate Bank• Mahabaleswar Co-operative Bank• Karnataka Bank• State Bank of India• KDCC BANK LTD.• Karnataka Vikasa Grameena Bank• Godavari Finance• Shantika Souharda Bank

References[1] http:/ / www. srigokarna. org[2] "Gokarna mythology" (http:/ / www. karnatakavision. com/ gokarna-temple. php). .[3] "Mahabaleshwar Temple" (http:/ / www. vegetarian-restaurants. net/ India-Guide/ IndianStates/ Karnataka/ Gokarna. htm). .[4] "Beaches" (http:/ / www. vegetarian-restaurants. net/ India-Guide/ IndianStates/ Karnataka/ Gokarna. htm). .

Source: Karnataka State Gazetteer 1983

External links• Gokarna Travel Guide (http:/ / www. visitsirsi. com/ gokarna. html)• A travelogue for trek between gokarna and kumta (http:/ / www. shantanubhadoria. com/ blogs/

66-gokarna-kumta-op-deep-splash-2. html)

Gokarna, India 6

• Gokarna Spiritual guide (http:/ / www. vegetarian-restaurants. net/ India-Guide/ IndianStates/ Karnataka/Gokarna. htm)

• Gokarn Math (http:/ / www. chitrapurmath. net/ our_maths/ gokarn. asp)• Places around Udupi /Manipal/ Gokarna (http:/ / manipal. info/ placestovisit. html)• Great Guru of Gokarna (http:/ / www. kamat. com/ jyotsna/ blog/ blog. php?BlogID=417)• Karwar eNews (http:/ / www. karwarenews. com/ )• Official Website of Gokarna Temple (http:/ / www. srigokarna. org/ )

Article Sources and Contributors 7

Article Sources and ContributorsGokarna, India  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=453682720  Contributors: Abhishek191288, Ajaykarat, Amarrg, Armarkande, At-par, Axis of eran, Baiji, Bay of Bengal,Bogdan Nagachop, Brkrao, Canadianshoper, Chandan Guha, Colonies Chris, Crusoe8181, Crypticmyth, Cunningham, Dolly3157, Donotask-donottell, E.mahesha, Editorofthewiki, Firsfron,Friedclyde, Gaius Cornelius, Gamesmasterg9, Gautamgoa1984, Gene Nygaard, Gopalsgayatri, Happyshopper, Harryboyles, IrishJew, JRN08, JaGa, Jacob.abraham, Jijithnr, Jugularbean, KNM,Kanikasleepymaggie, Kishisykes, Krishnamoorthy Nayak, Lam Kin Keung, Lifebonzza, Lying often bad, Manne marak, Martarius, Mattisse, Mcaggs, Mlpkr, Nagarajgouda,Narayana.raghavendra, NayakDeepti, Parishan, Pinoakcourt, Priyanath, R'n'B, RL0919, Raj2004, Rajaramraok, Rajasekhar1961, Ram.n.pai, Rjwilmsi, Robth, Roland zh, Rrevanuri,Sardanaphalus, Shantanubhadoria, Shyamsunder, Sisyph, Socialservice, Stephanie rohrbach, Tabletop, Tangi-tamma, TerriersFan, Thaejas, TheParanoidOne, Tommaisey, Touch third not,Travelgeekinfo, Utcursch, Vasanthakumarep, Vedamurthy.j, Welsh, Woohookitty, आशीष भटनागर, 93 anonymous edits

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