Ravana was the king of Lanka. His mother wanted a Lingam which she could pray everyday. He decided to get one from Lord Shiva himself and started praying to him. His penance was extreme and Lord Shiva appeared in front of him. Ravana asked for the atma Lingam from Shiva. Without denying it, Shiva gave it to Ravana on one condition. The atma lingam once placed on the ground cannot be moved from there.
The Gods were worried, as Ravana would grow stronger with the atma lingam. They pleaded Ganesha for help. It was dusk, and Ravana was on his way back to Lanka with the atma Lingam. He wanted to perform his daily rituals to god which he could not miss. Ganesha came to Ravana in the form of a small boy. Ravana asked him to held the atma lingam till he performed his daily routine. Ganesha agreed to do so, but told him that if he is tired, he would call him thrice. In the meantime if he does not return, then he would keep the atma lingam on the ground. Ravana agreed for it and moved on.
Ganesha waited for some times and called Ravana three times. Ravana could not return by then, and so Ganesha placed the atma lingam on the ground. The lingam could not be moved from there now. Ravana with all his strength tried to lift it, but failed. While doing so the shape of the lingam also changes.
This place is called as Gokarna, as the lingam takes the shape of the cow's ear( Gow -Cow, Karna -Ear).
Lord Shiva at this place is called as Mahabaleshwara, the one with great strength. There is a statue of Ganesha at this place, with a depression on his head. It seems that Ravana hit Ganesha on his head when he kept the lingam on the ground, which lead to the depression.
The Gods were worried, as Ravana would grow stronger with the atma lingam. They pleaded Ganesha for help. It was dusk, and Ravana was on his way back to Lanka with the atma Lingam. He wanted to perform his daily rituals to god which he could not miss. Ganesha came to Ravana in the form of a small boy. Ravana asked him to held the atma lingam till he performed his daily routine. Ganesha agreed to do so, but told him that if he is tired, he would call him thrice. In the meantime if he does not return, then he would keep the atma lingam on the ground. Ravana agreed for it and moved on.
Ganesha waited for some times and called Ravana three times. Ravana could not return by then, and so Ganesha placed the atma lingam on the ground. The lingam could not be moved from there now. Ravana with all his strength tried to lift it, but failed. While doing so the shape of the lingam also changes.
This place is called as Gokarna, as the lingam takes the shape of the cow's ear( Gow -Cow, Karna -Ear).
Lord Shiva at this place is called as Mahabaleshwara, the one with great strength. There is a statue of Ganesha at this place, with a depression on his head. It seems that Ravana hit Ganesha on his head when he kept the lingam on the ground, which lead to the depression.
No comments:
Post a Comment