Gokarna Tapovna
Gokarna is one of the most prominent `Tirtha Kshetras’, pilgrimage centres, recognized by the sages. In the Skanda Purana, Lord Shiva says Gokarna is supreme among all the Tirtha Kshetras. After being created by Brahma, when Rudra performed penance and then ascended, it was the region that came out of the ear of the earth, so it is called Gokarna. It is also known as Rudrayoni as Rudra first appeared here. Even before Ravana established Shiva’s Atmalinga, Gokarna was famous as the seat of Shiva’s temple. Gokarna is a region where one can have both prosperity and poverty. Thus it is the field of Karma and also the field of Siddhi. So Gokarna is Tapo Vana with thousands of Tirthas and thousands of Lingas. The place is shaped in the form of a cow’s ear thus it got the name “Gokarna”.
The mother of Ravana, who was a great devotee of Shankara, was Kaikase. One day she decided to perform Parthiva Linga Puja and bathed in the sea and worshipping a Linga made of sand . The waves of the sea washed away the Linga. Kaikase remembered her son Ravana in sorrow. Ravana saw this assured her that he would bring the Prana Lingam and went to Kailasa.
Ravana thought of carrying Kailash to Lanka with his power. As he lifted Kailasa with the strength of his twenty arms, Kailasa shook. Parvati hugged Shiva in fear. Lord Shiva pacified Parvati and pressed the earth with his left toe. Ravana’s hands found themselves at the foot of the mountain. As he moaned in pain, Shiva raised his leg. Ravana chopped off his own head, made a skull, made a string from the veins of the body, and sang Samagana. Rudra was pleased with Ravana’s Samagana and asked for his desired wish. Ravana bowed down and said, “Provide me the Pranalinga, which is worshiped by you, for my mother to worship always.” Shiva gave the Pranalinga to Ravana, informing him that all the wishes of those who worship Pranalinga would be fulfilled. It should be carried without keeping it anywhere on earth. If it is placed in the earth it becomes enshrined there, once enshrined it cannot be lifted again. Ravana was happy and bowed to Shiva and left for Lanka.
When Narada, a world traveller, came to know all this and found the devas unhappy in the deva world, he said, “O devas, Ravana has wooed Shiva with his penance, procured the Pranalinga from him and is going to Lanka. If he reaches Lanka with it, it will be as strong as Kailas. He cannot be defeated by gods, demons, yakshas, and human beings. Remember, Lord Shiva had said that Ravana will not be able to have it if he happens to place it on the ground.”
The devas, in shock, approached Lord Vishnu, who always saved them from trouble. Vishnu appraised Ganapati of the situation and briefed him on what could be done. Ganapati agreed and went to Gokarna, on the western sea coast, where Ravana was, on his way to Lanka. He took the form of a vatu, a young lad, and stood stood around munching on sugarcane. Right at that time, Vishnu hid the sun with his Sudarshana Chakra and created the illusion of twilight for Ravana.
Ravana saw the sunset and started performing the sandhya vandane, the ritual evening prayer. But the linga cannot be placed on earth, what can be done? Ravana saw Ganapati disguised as a vatu. He beckoned the vatu, handed over the linga to him and said, “I will come after the evening’s sandhya vandane . Until then it should not be placed on the earth.” Ganapati took the linga and said, “It is heavy; I cannot hold it for long. I will call you three times, you must come within then. If not, I’ll place it on the earth.” Ravana agreed. Ganapathi called Ravana once while he was washing his feet after completing his ablutions. He called Ravana again while giving arghya. He shouted ‘O Ravana’ a third time while starting the japa. When Ravana failed to appear, the vatu (Ganapati) placed the linga on the earth chanting Shiva’s name. Ravana came running and saw the atmalinga on the earth. He tried to tear the Linga from the earth, but failed. The linga had already been consecrated.
Vishnu appeared and decreed that since Lord Ganapati established a linga in his, Vishnu’s, birthplace Gokarna, the devotees would worship Lord Ganapati first and then worship the atmalinga, and the wishes of the devotees who worshiped the atmalinga with devotion would be fulfilled. The devotees said that it should be called Bhu Kailasa and worshiped Ganapati and the atmalinga with devotion.
Then Ravana again came to Gokarna with his mother and worshiped Ganapati and the atmalinga with devotion. Shiva appeared and assured Ravana that he did not have to be sad. He had, in fact, done the world a favour. Shiva was happy to have been established by his son in his birthplace. Thus, Gokarna is famous as the siddhikshetra where Shiva’s pranalingam, established by Ravana, fulfils all the desires of devotees.
To keep the sathvik shakti in a constant state of awareness for the benefit of the people and welfare of the world in this sacred region, bhoomi puja has been initiated to construct “Gokarna Tapovana”. In this pilgrimage venue, for the convenience of pilgrims and devotees who desire to perform the obsequies of their ancestors or departed family members, Gopuja, Gopradana are performed, and for the convenience of those desirous of performing Japa, Yajna, Bhajan, Sankirtana, and Satsanga, the construction of Prashanti Nilaya and Satsang Bhavan has been initiated.