Hindu Temples of India: Gogarbha, Gokarna, Karnataka

Gogarbha, Gokarna, Karnataka

Gogarbha is a cave, a Hindu religious site located in Gokarna in Karnataka State, India. This cave is located exactly opposite to Kudle Beach View Resort. The cave is visited by sadhus and used as a resting place. This is known by local people and not by everyone. The cave has a small temple housing a Shiva Linga. The cave is inhabited by Bats. This Cave is located at about 1.5 Kms from Gokarna Mahabaleshwar Temple.

Legends

Mother Earth performed penance on Lord Shiva here:

The story goes behind to Tretha Yuga. Most of the earth was ruled by immeasurably powerful cruel kshatriya (warrior clan) King Kartikeya. He was a human incarnation of Lord Vishnu’s celestial weapon, Sudarshan Chakra. This mighty King killed Jamadagni, Father of Parasuram. Infuriated by his father death, Parasuram killed the Kshatriya clan 21 times. After this he undertook a Vishwajeet Yagna and handed over the Earth to Sage Kashyapa.

In the absence of proper ruler, the Earth was in complete disorder. There was loss of religious beliefs. Sins increased, immorality increased, cruelty increased, purity vanished. Her resources were plundered. To find salvation Mother Earth came to Gokarna. She performed penance in a Cave whose shape was like a womb of a cow.

Go means Cow and Garbha means womb and that is why the name Gogarbha. It is near to Kamandalu Tirtha. This is the place where Mother Earth was bestowed by Lord Shiva. After the boon, proper law and order situation restored. The one who visits here once is never reborn. The one who worships here gets to possess Land.

Story behind the formation of Cave:

Before the creation of the Universe, there was a competition between Trimurti's. The one who has more Tapas Shakti. He will be Creator and followed by preserver, destroyer. There was no land or Universe exist that time. All Trimurti's went for tapas, after hundreds of years Brahma and Vishnu returned. As they waited for Maheshwara, he was still in Tapas, they didn't find him. So, Brahma Started creating this Universe and Earth. Shiva got trapped inside the Earth, he used his third Eye and came out. While coming outside the Cave like structure got created.

Gogarbha:

As per Legend, the Atmalinga vanished in the form of Go (cow) made a cave in a nearby hill. It is called Gogarbha meaning "the womb of cow".

Mysterious path to Varanasi:

The cave is visited by sadhus and used as a resting place. As per local belief, there are three routes, one will go to Adi Gokarna which is inside Mahabaleshwar Temple Complex. One more route will go Koti Teertha and other will go to Kashi, holy place for Hindus.

The Cave

This cave is located exactly opposite to Kudle Beach View Resort. This is known by local people and not by everyone. The cave has a Shiva Linga and was built in 195 BC. There is one way to get inside the cave and one top open hole is there. There is no light inside, so make sure to carry a torch and get a help of a localite in visiting this place. You can see bats inside the cave and there is a hole on the roof for sunlight. A snake carving can be seen on the right side after entering the cave. As per local belief, there are three routes, one will go to Adi Gokarna which is inside Mahabaleshwar Temple Complex. One more route will go Koti Teertha and One more will go to Kashi.