Do You Know The Story of Gokarna

Do You Know The Story of Gokarna?

Its time to visit a unique temple with a unique name. For this we have to go to Uttara Kannada, a district in Karnataka. Located on the coast of the Arabian Sea, the place gained religious importance and a special name, from a unique incident. Let us find out more about that.

Before that, there are a few things we must know about the Gokarna Temple. It was built in classical Dravidian style with granite stone, by a king of the Kadamba dynasty. Gokarna temple finds a mention in the poems of Tamil poets Appar and Sambandar who have described it beautifully in their hymns.

Coming to the story behind this temple, its name means the ear of the Holy Cow. The legend says, Lord Shiva emerged from the ear of a cow to check the excessive power that demon Ravana had. He had got a boon to become invisible if he prayed to the Atmalinga without placing it down. So all the gods in heaven sort, Lord Ganesha’s help in this matter. He was asked to disguise himself and go to Ravana to trick him.

Lord Ganesha goes to Ravana as a cow herd and says that he needs to have a bath before he offers his prayers to the Atmalinga. Hearing this, he requests Lord Ganesha to hold the Atmalinga until he returns and not to put it on the ground.Lord Ganesha agrees on one condition. He says that he will call out thrice when he feels that he can no longer hold it. If Ravana does not return he will put the Atmalinga down. Ravana agreed to this condition and left for his sacred bath. After this, Lord Ganesha tricks Ravana by calling out his name thrice in a very low tone. Since he does not return, Lord Ganesha puts the Atmalinga on the ground.

In an attempt to save his boon tries to hold on to the cow herd but all he gets is the ear of one of the cows. So the gods succeed in their attempt to prevent Ravana from becoming excessively powerful. Hence the name Gokarna. Interesting, isn’t it?

Kruti Beesam