Famous Temples in India

SRI MAHABALESHWAR TEMPLE

Kumta, Gokarna, Karnataka, India

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God

Lord Mahabaleshwar is the main deity of this temple, who is an incarnation of Lord Shiva.The name of the temple goes after the popular name of the staggering 6 ft. tall Atma Linga installed within the shrine on a square shaped black stone dais (Shaligrama Peetha) with a hole at the center. A carved stone image of Lord Shiva is also deified here in a standing position and has two arms.

Goddess

Thamira Gowri is the consort of Lord Shiva, who is an incarnation of Goddess Parvathi.

Best Season To Visit

The best season to visit this temple is Winter season. The best months to visit are September to February.

Weather

Highest - April to June (38°C during day and 26°C during night)Average - May (37°C during the day and 21°C during night)Lowest - October to February (27°C during day and 18°C during night)Monsoon season - August to September

Dress Code

  • For men the dress code is Shirt & Trouser, Dhoti or Pyjamas with upper cloth.
  • For women the preferred dress code is saree or half-saree with blouse or chudidhar with pyjama and upper cloth.
  • These rules are applicable for foreigners also. Shorts, mini-skirts, middies, sleeveless tops, low-waist jeans and short-length T-shirts are not allowed.
  • Pilgrims/visitors will not be allowed inside the temple if dress code is not followed.

Do's & Dont's

  • Do bathe and wear clean clothes before you enter the temple.
  • Do respect ancient customs and co-piligrims while at temple.
  • Smo​king is strictly prohibited inside the temple premises.

transport connections

Name Distance Contact Number
Gokarna Ksrtc Bus Stand
550 MTRS 9449596666
Gokarna Road
2.3 KM 139
Goa International Airport (GOI)
145 KM 0832-2540806

Architecture

Mahabaleshwar Temple is facing in West direction and constructed in Dravidian style of architecture. The Sanctum has a square shaped Saligrama Peetha with a small hole on the top. You can see the Linga from the hole and the carved image of Lord Shiva that is kept near the Linga. This temple is built with White Granite.

Religious Significance

If legends could be true, the Mahabaleshwar Temple in Gokarna is the misplaced home to the original Atma Linga of Lord Shiva from its first abode at Mount Kailash in the Himalayas. The story goes that the demon king of Lanka, Ravana, performed a long penance to please Lord Shiva after the king’s mother had expressed a profound yearning to worship the original Atma Linga of Lord Shiva. Pleased with Ravana’s sincere efforts at penance, Lord Shiva granted his devotee the two wishes he’d made. First as per the wish, the Lord handed Ravana his Atma Linga, but on condition that he should not put it down on the ground. Else it would get permanently embedded on that very ground where it is dropped. And granting the king’s second wish of a spouse as pretty as the Lord’s wife Uma, Lord Shiva decided to let his wife go with Ravana, for there was none equivalent to Uma than she herself.

Lord Vishnu and Ganapati Salvaging Uma -  At the earnest call from Uma, Lord Vishnu decided to salvage the situation. He was also skeptical that possessing the Atma Linga would make the demon king Ravana an invincible power who could potentially destroy the world. Hence, he showed up as a haggard Brahmin while Ravana had reached Gokarna on his way back to Lanka. Lord Vishnu tricked the demon king into exchanging Uma for Mandodari, the daughter of Mayasura. He also called upon Lord Ganapati (Ganesha) to trick Ravana into putting down the Linga. At that very same spot, Ganapati appeared before Ravana disguised as a cowherd. Realizing that it was time for his evening prayers (Sandhyavandana), Ravana asked Ganapati to hold the Linga for sometimes until he came back from his prayers. Defying the order of the king, Lord Ganapati put down the Linga on the ground.No sooner, the Atma Linga got firmly implanted into the earth. Despite the forceful attempts by Ravana, the Linga remained entrenched into the ground. Unable to uproot the Linga from the ground, Ravana called it Mahabala (the strongest). Since then the Linga came to be known as Mahabaleshwar.

History

This temple was built in 4th century C.E. by King Mayurasharma of the Kadamba Dynasty.

Temple Timings

Day Timings
All Days 06:00 AM - 12:00 PM 05:00 PM - 08:00 PM

Pooja

Bilvarchana Pooja
51.00/ Person
Ashtottara Bilvarchana Pooja
101.00/ Person
Kumbhabhishek & Kshirabhishek Pooja
151.00/ Person

Tours










Airports

Airport Name Distance
Shamshabad 40 KM
Lorem Ipsum 12 KM

Railway Stations

Railway Station Name Distance
Secunderabad 10 KM
Nampally 12 KM
Begumpet 6 KM
Lingampally 20 KM

Bus Stations

Bus Station Name Distance
MGBS 35 KM
CBS 28 KM
kukatpally 20 KM
Lingampally 30 KM
Uppal 35 KM

Private Transports

Transport Name Distance Contact Number
Private Transport 8 KM 9546858757
Private Transport1 8 KM 9546858757
Private Transport1 8 KM 9546858757
Private Transport1 8 KM 9546858757
Private Transport1 8 KM 9546858757

Local Transports

Transport Name Distance Contact Number
Local Transport 5 KM 9546858757
Local Transport1 5 KM 9546858757
Local Transport1 5 KM 9546858757
Local Transport1 5 KM 9546858757
Local Transport1 5 KM 9546858757

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SRI MAHABALESHWAR TEMPLE

Kumta, Gokarna, Karnataka, India

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