Mahabaleshwar Temple, Gokarna

Mahabaleshwar Temple
Mahabaleshwar Temple at Gokarna
Religion
AffiliationHinduism
DistrictUttara Kannada District
DeityLord Shiva
FestivalsShivaratri Ratha Yatra
Location
LocationGokarna
StateKarnataka
CountryIndia
Mahabaleshwar Temple, Gokarna is located in Karnataka
Mahabaleshwar Temple, Gokarna
Location within Karnataka
Geographic coordinates14°32′36″N 74°18′59″E / 14.54333°N 74.31639°E / 14.54333; 74.31639
Architecture
TypeDravidian architecture
CreatorTemple constructed atop aldready present Linga by Mayuravarma of Kadamba
Completed345 - 365 CE

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 architectural style. It is a site of religious pilgrimage. The temple faces the Gokarna beach on the Arabian Sea. The temple deifies the Pranalinga ("the reality of God which can be captured by the mind") also called Atmalinga or Shiva Linga[1] In legend, it is said that the deity of the temple will bestow immense blessings to devotees, even to those who only glimpse it.[2][3] Currently the administrative charge of the temple is with an Overseeing Committee under the Chairmanship of Justice BN Srikrishna, a Retired Justice of the Hon'ble Supreme Court of India.[4] It is one of the 275 paadal petra sthalams expounded in the Tevaram, a sacred Tamil Shaivite text written during the 6th and 7th centuries by 63 saints called Nayanars.

  1. ^ Subramuniyaswami S. S. Dancing with Siva: Hinduism's Contemporary Catechism Himalayan Academy Publications 2003 p. 847 ISBN 0-945497-96-2 Accessed 28 October 2010.
  2. ^ Abram D. Rough Guide to Goa Rough Guides 2003 p. 234 - 237. ISBN 1-84353-081-3 Accessed 27 May 2010.
  3. ^ Tourist Guide to Karnataka Sura Books p. 61 - 62 ISBN 81-7478-062-9 Accessed 27 May 2010.
  4. ^ "SC orders handing over Gokarna Mahabaleshwar temple management to panel headed by ex-judge". The Hindu. PTI. 19 April 2021. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 25 May 2021.