11-10-2005, 03:47 PM
Here's one from the days of Ramayana. Anyone remember the story..
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Ravana was midway to Lanka, but proudly carrying the <b>Atma-Linga</b>. The sun suddenly dimmed down due to the contrivance of Vishnu, and giving the impression that it was already nearing dusk. Ravana was a meticulous observer of the daily rituals and, therefore was keen on doing his Sandya-Vandan before sunset was over. But what to do with the Atma-Linga while doing the Sandya-Vandan? Shiva told him not to keep it on the ground before he reached Lanka. While he was in a dilemma, there appeared nearby a shepard boy playing around who looked so guileless and innocent. It was Lord Ganesa himself in that guise. Ravana called out to the boy and pleaded with him to hold the Shiva-Linga for him till he finished his evening oblations to the Sun-Deity. The boy pretended that he was in a hurry to get back home as it was getting dark. On Ravana's further pleading, the boy said that the Shiva-Linga seemed to be too heavy for him, and anyway he would hold it, but Ravana should return soon. He said "If you delay I shall lay it on the ground and go away." He added "However, I shall count to thrice before putting it on the ground before leaving".
Ravana, placing the Shiva-Linga in the hands of the boy, hurried to the river. There he was accosted by Narada, who went on complimenting and congratulating him for winning the Atma-Linga which is the most powerful Linga in the world. He said "it will make you the mightiest person in the world, and you will forever rule all the gods". Narada thus delayed Ravana, engaging him in conversation. Before Ravana took it easy, but never the less completed the Sandhya-Vandana fast and hurried back. Lo! by the time he reached back, the boy had already grounded the Shiva Linga. Ravana was furious with the boy, but the boy pleaded "it was too heavy for me, I called out for you thrice. As you did not return I couldn't help laying it on the ground".
Ravana tried with all his might to pull out the Shiva-Linga, the more he pulled the more firmly it was getting stuck in the ground. However, with the pull of Ravana, the Linga got twisted and elongated in the shape of a cow's ear (Go-Karna). As it withstood the mighty strength of Ravana, the Shiva-Ling came to be know as "<b>Gokarna Mahabaleswar</b>" and it is deemed most holy, as the Shiva Linga was installed there by Lord Ganesha, the foremost of Deities and further more, the installation was done at the instance of Lord Vishnu Himself.
It is said that Ravana did severest penances at this place only, and attained all the boons from Lord Shiva. All the gods also are said to have done great penances at this holy place.
The power of this place has been described in detail in Skandha purana.
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Source
In Uttar kanada (North Canara?) about 2 to 3 hours drive south of Goa, there's a place called Gokarn (go=cow, karn=ear) which I had visited couple years ago. <b>Gokarn</b> has been well known piligrim centre from the rime immemorial for Atma Linga brought by Ravana and is famous as Dakshin Kashi; It takes us to Krutayuga when Rama and Ravana lived. The've searched internet for a picture of that linga and haven't had much luck. But the the pictures of that linga is pretty common in norther parts of Karnataka. The uniqueness of this this linga is that it's shaped like a swirl on top of a cone ice-cream, kinda like this others say it's like cow's ear (not expert on animal husbandry <!--emo&
--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif' /><!--endemo-->). It's said that the entire linga is soft as butter. Legend has it that in fit of anger Ravana twisted the linga to it that shape. The linga is on display once every 70 to 80 years or so and the last time it was in early 80s I believe and I had distinct previlige of seeing it (after being dragged there by my late grandparents, kicking and screaming I'll add - times were different with different priorites)
About 100 kms south of Gokarn is <b>Murdeshwar</b> which is said to have a part of Atma Linga of Gokarn. Beautiful location of the temple surrounded by the sea is realy marvellous, and is a tourist centre. The temple, which embodies a Linga, <b>is believed to have erupted when Ravana flung the cloth covering the Atma linga at Gokarna while lifting it</b> (from: link)
Nearby there's a place called <b>Idagunji</b> has an ancient temple of Ganapathi who has only two hands unlike other Ganeshas who have four hands. This is said to be a place of penance selected by ancient Rishies (from: link). Another point of interest here is that the Ganapathi statue has a flat head. Locals believe it was due to a punch by Ravana on Ganesha's head for tricking him.
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Ravana was midway to Lanka, but proudly carrying the <b>Atma-Linga</b>. The sun suddenly dimmed down due to the contrivance of Vishnu, and giving the impression that it was already nearing dusk. Ravana was a meticulous observer of the daily rituals and, therefore was keen on doing his Sandya-Vandan before sunset was over. But what to do with the Atma-Linga while doing the Sandya-Vandan? Shiva told him not to keep it on the ground before he reached Lanka. While he was in a dilemma, there appeared nearby a shepard boy playing around who looked so guileless and innocent. It was Lord Ganesa himself in that guise. Ravana called out to the boy and pleaded with him to hold the Shiva-Linga for him till he finished his evening oblations to the Sun-Deity. The boy pretended that he was in a hurry to get back home as it was getting dark. On Ravana's further pleading, the boy said that the Shiva-Linga seemed to be too heavy for him, and anyway he would hold it, but Ravana should return soon. He said "If you delay I shall lay it on the ground and go away." He added "However, I shall count to thrice before putting it on the ground before leaving".
Ravana, placing the Shiva-Linga in the hands of the boy, hurried to the river. There he was accosted by Narada, who went on complimenting and congratulating him for winning the Atma-Linga which is the most powerful Linga in the world. He said "it will make you the mightiest person in the world, and you will forever rule all the gods". Narada thus delayed Ravana, engaging him in conversation. Before Ravana took it easy, but never the less completed the Sandhya-Vandana fast and hurried back. Lo! by the time he reached back, the boy had already grounded the Shiva Linga. Ravana was furious with the boy, but the boy pleaded "it was too heavy for me, I called out for you thrice. As you did not return I couldn't help laying it on the ground".
Ravana tried with all his might to pull out the Shiva-Linga, the more he pulled the more firmly it was getting stuck in the ground. However, with the pull of Ravana, the Linga got twisted and elongated in the shape of a cow's ear (Go-Karna). As it withstood the mighty strength of Ravana, the Shiva-Ling came to be know as "<b>Gokarna Mahabaleswar</b>" and it is deemed most holy, as the Shiva Linga was installed there by Lord Ganesha, the foremost of Deities and further more, the installation was done at the instance of Lord Vishnu Himself.
It is said that Ravana did severest penances at this place only, and attained all the boons from Lord Shiva. All the gods also are said to have done great penances at this holy place.
The power of this place has been described in detail in Skandha purana.
<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Source
In Uttar kanada (North Canara?) about 2 to 3 hours drive south of Goa, there's a place called Gokarn (go=cow, karn=ear) which I had visited couple years ago. <b>Gokarn</b> has been well known piligrim centre from the rime immemorial for Atma Linga brought by Ravana and is famous as Dakshin Kashi; It takes us to Krutayuga when Rama and Ravana lived. The've searched internet for a picture of that linga and haven't had much luck. But the the pictures of that linga is pretty common in norther parts of Karnataka. The uniqueness of this this linga is that it's shaped like a swirl on top of a cone ice-cream, kinda like this others say it's like cow's ear (not expert on animal husbandry <!--emo&
--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif' /><!--endemo-->). It's said that the entire linga is soft as butter. Legend has it that in fit of anger Ravana twisted the linga to it that shape. The linga is on display once every 70 to 80 years or so and the last time it was in early 80s I believe and I had distinct previlige of seeing it (after being dragged there by my late grandparents, kicking and screaming I'll add - times were different with different priorites)About 100 kms south of Gokarn is <b>Murdeshwar</b> which is said to have a part of Atma Linga of Gokarn. Beautiful location of the temple surrounded by the sea is realy marvellous, and is a tourist centre. The temple, which embodies a Linga, <b>is believed to have erupted when Ravana flung the cloth covering the Atma linga at Gokarna while lifting it</b> (from: link)
Nearby there's a place called <b>Idagunji</b> has an ancient temple of Ganapathi who has only two hands unlike other Ganeshas who have four hands. This is said to be a place of penance selected by ancient Rishies (from: link). Another point of interest here is that the Ganapathi statue has a flat head. Locals believe it was due to a punch by Ravana on Ganesha's head for tricking him.