"Legends of Karnataka"

What do tourists need that get tired of a long walk in the heat and tedious details about antiquities? A respite in the coolness and something more "driving". Here in the museum we were introduced to such a really life story (and in fact a legend) about the origin of atmalingam that one could shoot a movie.

By experience I will say that a lot of variants of its development can be found about one event. Installation can also be interpreted in different ways. I was fascinated by the story told by our guide (I even wrote about her once). Later I read a completely different story. And what? If you look at the pictures, it suits both. Take it and tell both! Maybe you'll add your options later?

So. The mother of the demon Ravana, like himself, revered Lord Siva very much. Every day a woman prayed to a lingam created from sand, and every day the sea destroyed sand lingam. She asked her son to go to Shiva himself and ask for a real atmalingam. After all, everyone knew that if you lower the shrine to the ground, nothing can move it from its place. Neither the sea nor the one who wants to steal it. For in another version, the lingam was stolen.

Worship of the Lingam

In any case, Ravana promised the mother to get the shrine and went to Lord Shiva.

Address to Lord Siva

Ravana came to Kailash and was fascinated by the divine wife of Shiva Parvati. In our history, he forgot about everything and asked the Lord to give him his wife. According to another version, Ravana asked the same beautiful wife as Shiva's wife. And since the same was not in all the world, it was necessary for the Lord to give the demon a wife.

Happy Ravana went home. On the way he was met by the sage Narayana. And he asked if Ravana had seen what kind of woman was following him. "Of course," the demon replied, "it's Parvati, the most beautiful woman in the world." "But no," said the sage, "this is Durga, the Goddess of death!" Ravana looked back and, in fact, behind him stood Durga. One of the hypostases of the Goddess Parvati.

The beautiful wife of Shiva did not want to contact the demon at all and decided to kill him.

Ravana and Durga

Ravana asked forgiveness from the Goddess and went on alone. On the way I stopped to rest in a small village, where I met a woman very similar to Parvati. With joy he brought her home and asked for blessings from his mother.

Happy couple

Mother looks puzzled. There is still no Linga. And Ravana again goes to Kailash.

The divine family is in meditation and does not hear Ravana's requests. Then he decides to reach them in such a strange way - he just lifts the mountain and starts shaking it with all his might.

Kailash in the hands of Ravana Remained unanswered, he decides to meditate.

Meditation Ravana

According to the guide, Ravana blackmailed Lord Shiva by cutting off his head one by one and promised to pour Kailash mountain with blood.

Cutting off the heads

According to legend, Ravana performed austerity, standing on his head for ten thousand years. At the end of each millennium, he cut off his head. When the last head remained, Lord Siva stopped him and gave the atmalingam as a reward.

The demon set off on the return journey. Worried about what is happening, the sage Narayana reported all of God to Ganesha.

Lord Ganesha

In the meantime, evening came, and Ravana as a Brahmin had to conduct puja. He needed two free hands to make a libation of water. Before the demon Ganesha appeared in the form of a cowgirl and took hold for a while atmalingam to help Ravana, promising not to put him on the ground.

Ganesha the Shepherd

The shepherd promised the demon not to lower the lingam before he loudly called Ravana three times.

Call of the Shepherdess

Confidence was deceived, the lingam was on the ground. Ravana wanted to punish the guilty, but Shiva and Parvati, of course, stood up for their son.

Ravana tries to raise atmalingam

The lingam remained in place, and a temple was built there. Here is a story + a legend. I will tell you about the visit of this temple in Gokarna next time.