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Nepal JyotishTraditional Science
Deity Names

Gokarneshwar

The story of how Shiva's horn, in deer form, broke and the Gokarneshwar linga was established.

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Gokarneshwar

Lord Shiva, remaining apart from worldly troubles, assumed the form of a wondrous golden deer with a single horn and roamed freely in the Shleshmantak forest.

When Shiva had been absent for a long time, Brahma, Vishnu, and Indra, the king of the gods, grew worried and set out in search of him. Arriving in the Shleshmantak forest, they recognized that the strange one-horned deer was none other than Lord Shiva.

When all three gods tried to seize that deer, that divine horn of the deer broke into three pieces. One piece of the horn fell into Indra's hand and went to heaven, the second fell into Vishnu's hand and went to the netherworld, and the third fell into Brahma's hand and remained in the mortal realm (the earth).

Brahma established that sacred piece of horn as a Shiva linga on the bank of the Bagmati River. Because it had the shape of a deer's ear (gokarna), that Jyotirlinga was called 'Gokarneshwar'.

Note: These are traditional Nepali folk tales (kimbadanti), passed down orally through generations. They may or may not reflect actual historical events, but they are told and believed as part of Nepal's cultural heritage.

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PashupatinathThe story of how the Jyotirlinga of Pashupatinath was found when a cow spilled its milk on the earth, and how the land came to be named Nepal.IndreshwarThe story of the Indreshwar linga, where Indra and Shachi performed penance for the atonement of Ahalya's curse.IshaneshwarThe story of Ishaneshwar appearing through a ploughshare and granting Ghimire a son.LukumadyoThe story of how, to hide from Bhasmasura, Shiva came to Nepal, ate liquor and meat, and became Lukumadyo.Bhimeshwar (Bhimsen)The story of how Bhimsen, when the porter's secret was revealed, appeared in stone and became Bhimeshwar.SuryavinayakThe story of Suryavinayak, where a dead infant was brought back to life by the grace of Shiva and Ganesha.