Gokarna

Named after the ear shaped convergence of two rivers an important Hindu pilgrimage and Sanskrit learning centre at Karnataka proudly stands in the form of 'Gokarna.' Literally meaning the ear of a cow, the place as per a popular belief is named so to commemorate Lord Shiva's emergence from the ears of a cow. Located at around 200 kms from Mangalore, the place finds special mention in one of the holiest Hindu scriptures, Gokarnam Purana.

Gokarna is referred to as a place of liberation in many scriptures. It is believed that even the deadliest of the sins such as killing of a pious man or Brahmin can also be unfettered by a mere visit to the place. It is also said that even a glimpse of the Atma-linga, one of the popular shrines of the city, helps one to attain salvation thus freeing them of the cycle of births and rebirths. The place is also known for its solitary beaches. A beautiful white sand beach surrounded by palm trees, stretched on a tract of a km of land is known as Kudle beach. With two more virgin beaches namely Half-moon and Paradise beaches, offering a unique opportunity to enjoy a moonlit sky on the soft sands by the seaside, the place is ideal for nature lovers. Another beach namely the Om beach has a great religious importance. So named due to its shape like the auspicious Om sign, this beach is visited by all the pilgrims coming to pay homage to Gokarna.

Gokarna is also revered for housing an ancient temple called Mahaballeswara Temple. Dedicated to the destroyer lord of Hindu Trinity, the temple is often referred to as the Kashi of the South. The deity worshipped at the temple is two-armed, standing, and is around 1500 years old.

Legend states that Lord Shiva or Rudra went to the pataal loka for penance on the advice of Lord Brahma. He is believed to have returned through the ear of Mother Earth, often symbolized as a cow. And as the ear of the cow served as a womb for Him, it is also known as Rudra Yoni or Adi Gokarna. The place therefore is said to hold a special religious significance as one of the three 'Siddhi Kshetras', the other two being Pushkar and Shaligram.