Gokarna
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| Gokarna | |
  Gokarna
|
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| State - District(s) |
Karnataka - North Kannada |
| Coordinates | |
| Area - Elevation |
10.9 km² - 586 m |
| Time zone | IST (UTC+5:30) |
| Population (2001) - Density |
25,851 - |
Gokarna or Gokarn is a small town in the North Kannada district of the coastal Karnataka state, India. It is a Hindu pilgrimage centre as well as a tourist destination in India. Gokarna is a beach town with tourists enjoying the sun, the surf and the sea gulls.
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[edit] Etymology
Gokrana means Cows' Ear. It is believed that Lord Shiva emerged from the ear of a cow here. It is also located at the ear-shaped confluence of two rivers Gangavali and Agnashini.
[edit] Legends
Legends in the Sahyadri Khand of the Puranas indicate that the State of Kerala was reclaimed from the sea by the Great warrior Parashuram who came from the North after his wanderings in which he killed the kshatriyas 21 times and threw his axe, the weapon by which he annihilated the kshatriyas, in the sea to prevent the erosion of the land stretching from Gokarna to the Southernmost tip of India.
Gokarna is also mentioned in the Shrimad Bhagwat Purana as being the home of the two brothers Gokarna and Dhundhakari and the Bhagwat also gives details of the difference in their temperament and nature and their exploits.
Ravana, king of Sri Lanka, did penance for the grace of Lord Shiva at Mount Kailash. Lord Shiva agrees to give Atmalingam with condition that the atmalingam should be physically carried and not placed anywhere on the ground, and it establishes wherever it is placed on earth. On his way, Ravana stops for bath and gives the atmalingam to Lord Ganesha who dressed up like a cowhered brahmin who promptly puts it down. He tried to extricate it and resulting resulted in throwing the coverings of the Linga to Dhareshwar, Gunavanteshwara, Murdeshwar and Shejjeshwar temples.
[edit] History
The earliest history of the city is not known. It was a center for India's traditional and ancient Ganja Culture. A sect of brhamins called Saraswat Brahmins fled from the Gomantak to escape forcible conversions by the Portuguese and British and settled in and around Gokarn in 15th century. It was part of Sondu and Vijayanagra kings. Later when Konkan region including Goa was occupied by Portuguese, it became part of their rule. Few temples were destroyed by the Portuguese in 1714 and then rebuilt later in the 18th century and also under the supervision of Guru H.H. Shrimat Anandashram Swamiji in 1928.
[edit] Geography
Gokarna is about 453 km from Bangalore, 240 km north of Mangalore and about 59 km from Karwar. It is between the Gangavali and Agnashini rivers and situated along the Karwar coast by the Arabian Sea. It is near to college towns Suratkal and Manipal.
[edit] Economy
[edit] Government
It is a town in North Kannada district.
[edit] Transport
Gokarna can be reached by buses and maxicabs from Kumta(36 km), Ankola(25km) and Karwar(59km) on national highway 17. Karnataka state road transport corporation also runs long journey buses from many cities like Goa and Mangalore. It can be reached by train run by Konkan railway on Mumbai to Mangalore route. The railway station is 6km away from the town.
[edit] Demographics
[edit] Culture
Gokarna is town of contrasts as it is a temple town and also a holiday destination by the sea. Gokarna is full of coconut and palm trees, blue seas and clean sands. It is an attractive town with two main streets with shops and traditional tile roofed brick houses. Gokarna is a hippy paradise with drums, guitars and hammocks. The beaches near Gokarna have shacks (huts) for rent.
[edit] Religious attractions
Gokarna is also an important centre of Sanskrit learning and houses Bhandikeri Math and Toggu Math. It is a place where sanksrit knowledge is passed from generations in Brahmis families. Many Hindus also perform last rites of a person here. It is town of temples like Mahabaleshwar Temple, Maha Ganapathi, Tamra-Gauri, Venkataramana, Uma-Maheshwari, Varadraj, Bhadrakali etc.
The Mahabaleshvara Temple is one of the major temples in Gokarna. It is situated at the western end of the main street. The main deity here is two-armed, standing, and at least 1500 years old. The idol of Lord Ganesha also is ancient. In the sanctuary is a stone linga, encased in brass, placed on a coiled stone serpent. The floor of the hall in front has an intricate engraving of a giant tortoise. Kotiteertha tank lake is sorrounded by temples. During festivals, gaint wooden cart is drawn by humans along the main street.
Shivaratri festival is celebrated here with great enthusiasm. Each year a team builds up two great temple chariots which is used during the Shiva Ratri festival. The two great temple chariots lead a procession through the town's narrow streets, while priests and pilgrims chant hymns in praise of Shiva. More than a hundred people are needed to pull the chariots with thick ropes while priests conduct religious ceremonies inside. During the four day Shiva Ratri festival the small town of Gokarna is visited by up to 20,000 pilgrims.
[edit] Beaches
The drive up the winding path that leads to Gokarna is a scenic one, with the rocky mountains and Western Ghats on one side and the Arabian Sea on the other.
Gokarna is also famous for its beautiful beaches and landscapes. The four beaches in Gokarna are the Gokarna beach, Kudle, Om, Half moon and Paradise (also known as Full moon). The Gokarna beach forms the coast of the town while the other four beaches lies towards the south of Gokarna. Kudle and Om are around 6 km from Gokarna town along a muddy hill; they are accessible by rickshaw or foot. Half moon and Paradise are beyond Om beach and are accessible only by foot or boat. Om beach is named because it's shaped like the auspicious ॐ [Om] symbol. Om beach is the only naturally Om shaped beach. Two other beaches Paradise and Half Moon are smaller and remote beaches.
