Visiting Gokarna? Here's Why Maha Ganapathi Comes First in Worship

Why it is important to seek the blessings of Lord Ganesha before worshipping Mahabaleshwara

Uttar Kannada: Lord Ganesha is considered first among the Gods, he is considered as the God of removing obstacles. people worship him before starting a new venture, or religious ritual or starting anything new.

Gokarna, which is also called a Kailasa of Bhoo Loka (Kailasa on earth) is known for the religiously important Lord Mahabaleshwara temple. the temple houses Atma Linga of Lord Shiva. Thousands of pilgrims visit Gokarna every year to seek blessings of Lord Mahabaleshwara who fulfill the desires of the devotees.

Many who go to Gokarna to seek blessings of Lord Shiva often visit first the Mahabaleshwara temple and later visit or skip visiting the holy Maha Ganapathi temple located near this famous shrine. It is said that worshipping Maha Ganapathi first before paying obeisance to Lord Mahabaleshwara is the tradition.

If you visit the Maha Ganapathi temple, you will see Lord Ganesha with two hands in a standing position with a scar or hole on his head. 

According to Hindu mythology, Ravana was returning to Lanka after a long penance of Lord Shiva with his Atma Linga, but the apprehension was that it could not be kept on earth; if it were kept it would become its final destination. The gods were worried over Ravana getting the Lord’s Atma Linga, knowing that it would not be safe.

All the gods approached Lord Ganesha and requested he stop Ravana from reaching Lanka with Atma Linga. The gods knew that Ravana was very strict about following religious rituals. Lord Ganesha disguised himself as a boy. The gods created the illusion that the sun was setting down. Ravana who was on the way to Lanka noticed that the sun was setting and he has to perform evening rituals.

The king of Lanka noticed Lord Ganesha, who was disguised as a boy, and asked him to hold the Atma Linga till he completed evening rituals. the boy agreed but laid condition that he would hold the Atma Linga as long as he can hold and call him thrice and after that he would keep it there only.

Ravana handing over the Atma Linga to boy went to perform evening rituals, Lord Ganesha made a first call, but Ravana asked him to hold for few more minutes. The boy called a second time and then a third time and placed the Atma Linga and started walking away. Ravana, who returned, noticed that the Linga was placed on the earth, and he tried to lift it but failed. In anger, Ravana threw a stone at the boy, and he suffered injury to his head. Lord Ganapathi appeared in his own identity, and Ravana realized  that he was tricked him. So, the place where Shiva Linga was placed was built and developed as the Mahabaleshwara temple.