On the Arabian Sea coast of Karnataka, at the temple town of Gokarna, stands the ancient Mahabaleshwar temple — revered as one of the most sacred Shiva shrines of the west, celebrated in the Skanda Purana and by the poet Kalidasa in his Raghuvamsha. It enshrines the Atmalinga, the very soul-linga of Shiva. Its famous legend tells how Ravana, having won the Atmalinga from Shiva on the condition that it never touch the ground, was outwitted near Gokarna by Ganesha — disguised as a boy — who set it down while Ravana was at his evening prayers; the linga rooted itself forever, and when Ravana strained to lift it, it took the shape of a cow's ear, giving Gokarna its name.
Revered as a Muktikshetra, a place of liberation, and set beside a beautiful shore, Gokarna draws pilgrims to worship the Mahabaleshwar — the all-powerful — linga, especially at Maha Shivaratri.
