Gola Gokaran Nath Temple

According to the Varaha Purana, Skanda Purana, and Shiva Purana, after the conclusion of the Tarakamaya war between the Devas and the Asuras, the gods emerged victorious. Once, Sage Sanatkumara asked Lord Brahma why Lord Shiva had assumed the form of a deer and how the sacred shrines of Uttar Gokaran, Dakshin Gokaran, and Shringeshwara came into existence.

Lord Brahma narrated that Sage Nandi performed intense penance to please Lord Shiva. Pleased with his devotion, Lord Shiva granted him the boon of eternal devotion and declared that Nandi would always be worshipped before Him at every sacred shrine.

The brilliance of Nandi's penance caused concern among the gods, who began searching for Lord Shiva. After traversing the three worlds, they reached a vast forest at the foothills of the Himalayas, where they saw a magnificent golden deer. Lord Vishnu immediately recognized that the deer was none other than Lord Shiva Himself. As the gods attempted to seize Him, Shiva disappeared, and His divine horn split into three parts. The word Shringa means "horn." The tip was received by Lord Indra, the middle portion by Lord Brahma, and the base by Lord Vishnu.

Then Lord Shiva proclaimed from the heavens:

"Install these three parts as manifestations of My own divine essence. They shall be like My ears upon the Earth. Whoever calls upon Me with sincere devotion at these sacred places, I shall personally hear their prayers. 'Go' means Earth, and 'Karna' means Ear. At these three places I shall eternally reside in the form of the sacred Gokaran Linga."

Accordingly, the Devtas established the base portion at Uttar Gokaran (Gola Gokarannath), the middle portion at Shringeshwara on the banks of the Bagmati River—today known as Singheshwar, located in Madhepura district of Bihar—and the tip in Heaven.

Later, when Meghnad (Indrajit), the son of Ravana, conquered Heaven, Ravana attempted to carry the heavenly portion to Lanka. However, while performing his evening prayers on the seashore, he placed it on the ground, where it became immovable. Despite his immense strength, Ravana could not lift it again. Since then, that sacred place has been known as Mahabaleshwar or Dakshin Gokaran, situated in the present-day state of Karnataka.

For this reason, the Puranas refer to these three shrines collectively as the Atmatattva Gokaran Lingas. The sacred Linga established at Gola Gokarannath represents the original base portion of Lord Shiva's divine horn, where the heartfelt prayers of devotees are believed to reach Lord Mahadev directly.

The Miracle During Aurangzeb's Invasion

Once, the infamous Mughal ruler Aurangzeb sent his army to demolish the sacred temple of Shri Gokarnnath. When the soldiers attempted to destroy the ancient Shri Vriddheshwar Nath (Budhe Baba) Shivling with a saw, countless bees suddenly emerged from the ancient Kaimi tree within the temple premises and fiercely attacked the invading army, forcing them to flee in panic. Even today, the marks of the saw can still be clearly seen on the Shivling of Budhe Baba.

The Sacred Temple Today

The temple continues to preserve many ancient idols and sacred relics. The divine form of Lord Gokarnnath is extremely rare and captivating. During the holy month of Shravana, devotees from every corner of India arrive carrying sacred Kanwars to offer holy water and seek the blessings of Lord Shiva. At that time, the entire town of Gola Gokarannath transforms into a magnificent centre of devotion and spirituality.

Source : Gola Tourism

1. Chaiti Mela

• 
  Chaiti Mela- Mela calendar celebrating new works done in temple area and with Mela program description
• 
  Chaiti Mela- Fair site preparation

In the month of Chatra (April) a great fair is organised for one month known as Cheti-Mela.

2. Saavan Mela

The importance of Gokarnnath dham increases during the month of Shrawan. During this period, lakhs of devotees throng the Holy Shiv Temple. The kanwarias first take a dip in the tirth sarovar (pilgrimage pond) to purify themselves, and then enter into the temple, where the Ganges water is offered to the Jyotirlingam.

The legend says that when the churning of oceans - Samudra Manthana - took place in the month of Shravan, fourteen different types of rubies came out. Thirteen of these were distributed amongst the demons, except Halahal (poison). Lord Shiva drank the Halahal and stored it in his throat. Hence the name Neelkantha (meaning blue throat) is attributed to Shiva.

To reduce the strong effect of poison, Lord Shiva wore the crescent moon on his head. All the Gods, thereafter started offering the Ganges water to Lord Shiva to make lessen the effect of poison.

Since, this happened in the month of Shravan, since then the Shiva devotees offer the Ganges water in this month.

This pilgrimage continues during the whole month of Shravan for 30 days, during July–August every year. It is estimated that within this period of one month around 10 to 15 lakhs pilgrims visit Gokarnnath dham.

3. Bhoot Nath Mela

4. Maha Shivratri Mela

1. Gokaran Nath Shiv Temple

2. Budhe Baba Temple

3. Sankat Mochan Hanuman Temple

4. Vishwakarma Temple

5. Chandrabhal Baba Satsang Sthal

6. Mata Parvati Satsang Sthal

7. Vinayak Dwar

8. Gokaran Nath Dwar

9. Nath Baba Dwar

10. Kartikeya Dwar

11. Teerth Sarovar Dwar

12. Teerth Sarovar

13. Neelkanth Teerth Maidan

14. Nath Vatika

15. Mela Sahayata Kendra

16. Maharshi Ved Vyas Yagya Mandap

17. Vishwanath Satsang Sthal

18. Ram-Janaki Temple

19. Radha-Krishna Temple

20. Shani Temple

1. Bhootnath temple

2. Trilokinath Temple

3. Lakshmanjati Temple

4. Mangla Devi Temple

5. Phool Baba Ashram

6. Kalesh Haran Temple

7. Tedenath Temple

8. Gajmochan Nath temple

• 
  Gola Gokarannath Temple- Shringar Pujan of "Chandrabhal shivling"
• 
  Mata Parvati Satsang Sthal 01- A place to conduct religious ritual.
• 
  Mata Parvati Satsang Sthal 02- A place to conduct religious ritual.
• 
  Trilokinath Temple 01-A temple devoted to Mahadev
• 
  Trilokinath Temple 02-A temple devoted to Mahadev
• 
  Bhootnath temple 01- religious place with bhootnath well and a very old banyan tree
• 
  Bhootnath temple 02- religious place with bhootnath well and a very old banyan tree