SRI MAHABALESHWARA SWAMI, GOKARNA (KAR)
#bharatmandir

Dedicated to Shiva, as Mahabaleshwar.
This place is called Dakshin Kashi and considered as one of the seven Mukti Sthala (place of salvation) in Karnataka.
Devotees perform the last rites of their deceased relatives here.

Once, as a boon to Ravana for his penance, Shiva gave his Atmalinga to him. The only condition was that the atmalinga should not be kept anywhere on the way to Lanka.
On the way, Ravana stopped for sandhya pooja and for this, he needed to put the atmalinga down.
@GunduHuDuGa

Ganesha appeared disguised as a child before Ravana and offered help. When Ravana went away, Ganesha put the atmalinga down on the ground.
On coming back, Ravana tried to pull the lingam but failed. Due to pulling, it’s shape became like cow’s ear (hence called gokarna).

In anger, Ravana threw the case of linga which fell at Sajjeshwar, lid fell at Guneshwara, thread winding the linga fell at Dhareshwara and cloth fell at Murudeshwar.
As he addressed the lingam as ‘Mahabala’(the strongest), so Shiva came to be called Mahabaleshwar.