THEN
– Ravana, on his return path after having received Atmalinga from Lord Shiva
lands at Gokarna to perform 'Sandhyavandanam.' Lord Ganesha was in disguise
there as a Brahmin boy. Ravana gave Atmalinga to that boy and told not to keep
it on the ground. The boy told Ravana to return before calling him thrice.
Ravana fails to do so and saw Ganesha keeping Linga on the ground. Immediately,
he got angry and hit him on his head. Ravana tried to lift the grounded
Atmalinga but it got twisted and took the shape of 'Go (Cow)' 'Karna' (Ear) and
hence the place is called Gokarna.
NOW
– We can see a dent on the head of Lord Ganesha in Mahaganapathi Temple at
Gokarna. A temple has been constructed for Atmalinga which is now called
Mahabaleshwara Temple.
