Gokarna is a temple village in the Uttara Kannada district of Karnataka state, India. This place is known as the Kashi of South (Dakshina Kashi) because of the enshrining Aatma linga of Mahabaleshwar.
The Gokarna Mahabaleshwara temple houses the "Aatma Linga" of lord Shiva and it is the only Aatma Linga in the country. The term ‘Atma’ signifies the original soul or spirit of Lord Shiva himself. Mythology says that Ravana, the demon king of Lanka received the Aatma Linga from Lord Shiva after he had performed a penance at Mount Kailash. On the way back to Lanka, Ravana got struck at Gokarna. Lord Ganapathi disguised as a Brahmin boy reached there and tricked Ravana and placed the Aatma linga firmly in the earth.
It is also said that even a single glimpse of the Aatma Linga is capable to free one from all one’s sins and lead him to salvation.
Note: If you know more about the content of this video, please add that information below.
umesh,e clkere from India on 10-07-2009 Hi,
aatma linga is a ravana evening time sandhya vandane maduva samayadalli ganesh gopalkanathe bandu aatma lingavnnu ididu kondu 3 count maduvastaralli boomi(earth)mele ittubiduttane.
REGARDS
UMESH,E(SHAMBU) CLKERE,CTA (DIST)
Tilak from India on 22-02-2009 Guys, its not Ravana who placed the atma linga on the ground but its Lord Ganesha in the disguise of a shepard who placed the atma linga on the ground
Archana from India on 01-12-2008 Hi,
Could any one pls mail me the details of Gokarna Temple and details of the temple.