Ravana performed fierce tapas and pleased Shiva, who gave him the Atma-lingam — Shiva's own lingam. The condition was absolute: do not place it on the ground before reaching Lanka, or it will become permanently fixed there. The gods were alarmed — Ravana with the Atma-lingam would be unstoppable. Ganesha, disguised as a cowherd boy, appeared near Gokarna.
Ravana needed to perform his evening puja and needed someone to hold the lingam. The boy warned him: 'If it gets heavy, I'll put it down.' Ravana accepted and went to perform his rituals. The boy placed the lingam on the ground. When Ravana returned and tried to uproot it, it would not move. He pulled with great force — the top of the lingam bent and twisted. That is why the deity here is called Mahabaleshwara — Lord of great force. The lingam remains at Gokarna, and the Skanda Purana adds that 'Go-karna' is where Shiva once emerged from a cow's ear at this very spot.
The Mahabaleshwara lingam at Gokarna is the Atma-lingam — given by Shiva himself — fixed here by Ganesha's divine design so it would bless this coastal land.
Gokarna is counted in some traditions among the sapta mukti sthalas — seven places where liberation can be attained. The morning aarti here, with the sound of conch and bells, the smell of sea air, and the temple's ancient stone walls, has a quality that quiet coastal tirthas have and large temple towns do not.
The tradition of tirth-snan (ritual sea bath) before darshan (sacred viewing of the deity) is observed here. The Shravana month sees more pilgrims. Gokarna's beaches — Om Beach, Kudle, and others — are nearby but separate from the temple town.
- Daily morning and evening aarti with conch and bells.
- Tirth-snan — sea bath before darshan — is traditional.
- Shravana month sees increased pilgrims.
- Morning aarti with the sound and smell of the sea is especially moving.