Gokarn

Gokarna ಗೋಕರ್ಣ
town
Kotitheertha temple tank in the centre of the town, Gokarna, India
Gokarna Show map of Karnataka Gokarna Show map of India Location in Karnataka, India
Coordinates: 14°33′00″N 74°19′00″E / 14.55°N 74.31667°E / 14.55; 74.31667Coordinates: 14°33′00″N 74°19′00″E / 14.55°N 74.31667°E / 14.55; 74.31667
Country	India
State	Karnataka
District	Uttara Kannada
Area
• Total	10.9 km2 (4.2 sq mi)
Elevation	22 m (72 ft)
Population (2001)
• Total	25,851
• Density	2,400/km2 (6,100/sq mi)
Languages
• Official	Kannada
Time zone	IST (UTC+5:30)
Vehicle registration	KA-47

Gokarna (Kannada- ಗೋಕರ್ಣ)is a small temple town on the western coast of India in the Kumta taluk of Uttara Kannada district of the state of Karnataka. The main temple and deity is Lord Shiva, who is also known as Mahabaleshwara. This temple houses what is believed to be original image of Lord Shiva's linga (Atmalinga). There are many other temples all over this small town. Ankola and Kumta on National Highway 17 are the main towns near Gokarna and Bhatkal and Karwar are the main cities near Gokarna where almost all trains stops.

Gokarna is known as one of the seven important Hindu pilgrimage centers. It is on what was once an unspoiled beach near the estuary of the river Aghanashini. Recently, due to the influx of tourists, the character of the town has changed; it is no longer just a centre of pilgrimage, though large numbers of devotees visit to offer prayers and worship to Lord Shiva.

Due to its laid-back, unspoiled and rustic nature many younger western tourists started visiting Gokarna about a decade ago. The beaches around Gokarna were hardly used by the locals until these mainly western tourists started coming. Enterprising locals started stores, restaurants, and now the resorts also caters to wealthier tourists.

Gokarna means Cow's Ear. It is believed that Lord Shiva emerged from the ear of a cow (Prithvi, the Mother Earth) here. It is at the ear-shaped confluence of two rivers Gangavali and Aghanashini.

Gokarna is mentioned in the Shrimad Bhagavata Purana as being the home of the brothers Gokarna and Dhundhakari.

In order that Brahma who out of arrogance arising out of his power to create the universe, sat penancing to redeem himself from curse of Shiva, Lord Shiva appeared in front of him from the ears of a cow. So the place came to be known as gokarna or ear of the cow. Hindu mythology says that when Lord Parashurama, the sixth avatar of Lord Vishnu created Kerala, it was from Gokarna to Kanyakumari.