Mahabaleshwar Temple, Gokarna

The Mahabaleshwar temple is a 4th century Hindu temple  located in Gokarna in Uttara Kannada district of Karnataka. This temple was built in the classical Dravidian style of architecture. This temple faces Gokarna beach on the Arabian sea and has a idol of Lord Shiva in the form of Atmalinga also called as Shiva linga or Pranalinga. It is one of the 275 paadal petra sthalams(Devara Sthalngal that are worshiped in the chants of Shaiva Nayanars). A sacred Tamil Shaivite text written during the 6th & 7th centuries by 63 saints called Nayanars.

Significance

According to the hoary legend of the temple, it links Ravana of the Ramayana, the demon king of Lanka, not only to the Shiva Linga in Mahabaleshwar temple but also to Gokarna's Bhadra Kali temple.Ravana's mother a devotee of Lord Shiva, was worshipping a Shiva linga to bring prosperity to her son. Indra, the lord of Heaven stole the Shiva linga with jealousy of her worship and threw it away into the sea. 

Then Ravana promised his mother that he would go to Mount Kailash and bring the main Atmalinga for her worshop. Ravana then performed meditation at Mount Kailash to please lord Shiva. 'After lord Shiva gave the Atma Linga, Ravana tried hard to lift the linga but failed as it was fixed. Ravana even fainted and he gave the name Mahabaleshwar to that Atmalinga. 

How To Reach

Gokarna bus stand is just 600m away from the temple and you can reach the temple by walk easily from the bus stand.