The Mahabaleshwar Temple, Gokarna,Karnataka an important Mukti Kshetra

The Mahabaleshwar Temple, Gokarna,Karnataka en/wikivividly.com

The Mahabaleshwar Temple, Gokarna, Uttar Kannada distt., Karnataka, built in classical Dravidian architectural style, is an ancient temple - came up in the 4th-century. Being as holy as Kasi Visvanath temple on the banks of the Ganges River, UP it is considered as a major Saivite pilgrimage center and is close to Karwar town on the beach of the Arabian sea. Hence, the Mahabaleshwar temple, Gokarna is known as the Dakshin Kasi. The temple that adores the Pranalinga also called Atmalinga or Shiva Linga is one of the seven sacred Mukti kshetras / Muktistalas -"places of salvation" in Karnataka. Pilgrims from Karnataka and other states come here in large numbers to perform Srardham Ceremony or Pithrukaryam - obsequies (death rites).

The six other Mukti kshetras in Karnataka are at Udupi, Kollur, Subrahmanya, Kumbasi, Koteshvara and Sankaranarayana. The temple is being managed by Sri Ramachandrapura Mutt following the tradition of Adi Shankaracharya of Kaladi. It is said the presiding god is so powerful that He will relieve the devotees of all their problems and bless them immensely. In major Hindu temples neither the devotees are allowed to touch the main idol, nor do they allow them to conduct puja. But, here it is a different tradition; devotees can touch the idol and do the puja by themselves.
In the sanctum you can see the Atmalinga enshrined on a square Saligrama Peetha (pedestal). The pedestal has a small hole at its centre from where devotees can see the top of the Atmalinga. The Moolavar, the main deity Lord Shiva is made of hard stone and is in a standing posture.

Gokarna Mahabaleshwar Temple TripAdvisor

Legend has it that the Atmalinga that is revered here was from Mt. Kailash (gifted by lord Shiva himself) and was to be installed in Srilanka by Ravana of epic Ramayana. Circumstances worked against him and he was unable to move the lingam from the ground and left it as it was. The temple was built around it later. At this temple the worship of Mahaganapathy is very important because, according to the mythology, he was the one who, in the guise of a boy, placed the Atma lingam here without Ravans' knowledge.
As for the origin of this popular temple, the king Mayurasharma of the Kadamba dynasty (reign 345 CE – 365 CE) initiated the first construction. Legend has it that Mayurasharma, who was keen to know about the Vedic rites and the Ashwamedha Yagna (ritual of horse sacrifice) went to Kanchipuram (now in Tamil Nadu), a major temple town to contact the learned pundits. He was not happy about the way he was received there. Infuriated king Mayurasharma declared war on the Pallava rulers and defeated them and brought the pundits to perform the regular pujas and the Ashwamedha Yagna to sustain his control over the region and its prosperity. Mayurasharma's son, King Kangavarma authorized the descendants of Brahmin families to maintain administration at the temple. Here, the hereditary priests have the right to conduct puja.

Gokarna Mahabaleshwar Temple, Karnataka Times of India

The great writer Kalidasa who wrote Raguvamsa (4th century) in Sanskrit mentioned about this temple. We also find reference about this holy place in the famous Tamil devotional Shavite canon Tevaram (7th century) compiled by various Nayanmars. This temple was patronized by many rulers. Once, during the Vijayanagara period (1336–1646 CE), a ruler made a Tulaparam offering to the deity. He weighed himself in gold on a visit to this temple. Additional construction was done during the 17th century by Queen Chennammaji and her son, Soma Sekharanayaka of Keladi. The Chandrasala and Nandi mandabas/pavilions were built by rulers Visvesvaraya of Halasunadu-Kundapura. Maratha warrior and ruler Shivaji (1630 CE - 1680 CE) in 1665 worshiped at the Mahabaleshwar temple after disbanding his army in Gokarna.

The Shivaratri is a famous temple festival and the Rathayathra (chariot procession) is part of it. Scores of devotees come here during festival time to get the lord's blessings.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahabaleshwar_Temple,_Gokarna
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/travel/karnataka/gokarna-mahabaleshwar-temple/ps47157736.cms