GOKARNAM

Gokarnam is one of the sacred pilgrimage centre of Hindus. It is located at the western coast of India in Karnataka district. This is considered as one of the Mukti Kshetras of India. The Mahabaleshwar temple enshrines the Aatma Linga of Shiva. The holy Lingam was given to Ravana by Lord Shiva.

Gokarnam is a temple town and there a number of beaches around the town. The name Gokarnam means, ‘Cow’s ear’. The Arabian sea on one side and the Aghanasini and Gangavati rivers on the other side make an angle which looks like a cow’s ear. The Linga in the shrine is seen by 2 inches from the ground.

When we visited the shrine, devotees were allowed to touch the Shiva Linga which was not visible as water was constantly flowing over it. The touch of the Shiva Linga gave us a holy feeling. The Shiva Linga is in a hole and only the size of our finger tip.

Gokarnam is also mentioned in the Bhagavatha Purana as being the home of the two brothers Gokarnam and Dhundhakari and the Bhagawat also gives details of the differences in their temperament, nature and exploits.

Another mythological reference to Gokarna describes how Ravana, the demon-king of Lanka, received the AatmaLinga from Lord Shiva after performing a penance at Mount Kailash reciting self-written Shivatandava stotram. Shiva instructed Ravana that the sacred atmalinga should not be placed on the ground as it would establish itself where placed on earth. On his way back to Lanka, Ravana stops for his evening prayers at Gokarna. To prevent Ravana from getting a weapon as powerful as the atmalinga, Ganpathi, in the disguise of a Brahmin boy, tells Ravana that he will hold the atmalinga until Ravana finishes his prayers. As soon as he receives the atmalinga, Ganesh promptly puts it down. Ravana tries to extricate it, resulting in throwing the coverings of the Linga to Surathkal, Dhareswar, Gunavanteshwar, Murudeshwar and Shejjeshwar temples.

Maha Shivratri is celebrated here with much devotion. Two huge chariots are decorated and pulled by the devotees on Radhayatra.

The beautiful beach and the divya darshanam was an unforgettable experience. …

Kadampuzha Bhagavathy Temple

Kadampuzha Bhagavathy temple, is located in a small town Kadampuzha in Thirur of Malappuram District in Kerala. The presiding deity here is Sree Parvathy.

The specialty of the temple is the breaking of coconuts known as “Muttarukkal”. The priest breaks the coconuts brought by the devotees, inside the sri kovil, mentioning the purpose or the obstacle which has to be removed. The way the coconut breaks, the priest predicts the result. If the result is negative, more coconuts are offered until the positive result is seen by the priest. With this it is believed that the obstacle is removed.

People have so much faith that the crowd of devotees increases day by day.

There is no idol in the temple. The Sanctum sanctorum is adorned with a Thidambu of Panchaloha.

The legend is that Arjuna was doing Tapasya to get the “Pashupathastra from Lord Shiva in the same forest where the Lord and Sri Parvathi disguised as hunters, [Kiratha and Kirathi] was searching for Mookasura. Lord was pleased with Arjuna’s tapasya but wanted to test him.

Both Arjuna and the hunter sent arrows at Mookasura and the demon was killed. But both started fighting, claiming the killing of the demon. Lord Shiva let go the fight fierce and Arjuna started sending arrows at the hunter.

Parvathi was angry and cursed Arjuna and the arrows turned into flowers….Arjuna realized his folly and Lord Shiva and Parvathi showed their real form to Arjuna. The Lord blessed him and gave him the Pashupathastra.

The main offering to the Goddess here is “Poomoodal”. The Thechi flowers, [Chethi, as known in some places] which has the shape of arrows are used for Poomoodal.

It was Sree Shankaracharya who felt a divine presence in the forest. With the divyashakthi he obtained through deep meditation, Shankaracharya came to know the presence of Sri Parvathi, and the place was built into a temple.

Goddess here is worshipped in three forms, Vidya Durga (Saraswathi), Vanadurga(Durga/parvathy) and Aadi Durga (Moola Durga Lakshmi). As Durga, She blesses the devotees with good health, wishful marriage and a harmonious family life. Saraswathi is invoked for education and career. Lakshmi is of course Goddess of wealth and prosperity.