The story of Atma Linga.

From the Vedas 

According to Shiva Purana, Ravana desired immortality and invincibility. For this purpose, he worshipped Lord Shiva with his heart and soul to obtain atma linga (soul of Shiva) which is supposed to give its possessor immortality and invincibility. Pleased by Ravana's devotion, Shiva appeared before him and asked him his wish.

Knowing the consequences of this act, Vishnu changed the mind of Ravana and instead of asking for atma linga, he asked for Goddess Parvati and Lord Shiva offered him that. on his way back to Lanka, Narada muni appeared before him and told him that the lord has not given the real Parvati and the real Parvati is in 'Pathala'. So, Ravana goes there and marries the girl according to the description of Narada muni, assuming the girl to be the real Parvati.

On reaching Lanka, when asked by his mother about atma linga, he understood the game played by Vishnu. Determined to obtain atma linga, he once again starts pleasing Lord Shiva. When the lord appeared before him, he asks for atma linga. Shiva gives him the atma linga on a condition that he should not keep the atma linga on the ground before the destination as it would get rooted at the same spot and never move.

Once again, to defeat the motive of Ravana, Vishnu created the illusion of dusk. As Ravana used to perform an evening ritual he got worried as to how he would do it as he was having atma linga in his hands.

Lord Ganesha, disguised as a brahmin boy, comes in front of him and Ravana requests him to hold the atma linga so that he could perform the rituals. Ganesha accepts the request but on a condition that he would call Ravana thrice and if he did not come back then he would place the atma linga on the ground. When Ravana had gone to perform the rituals, Ganesha called out his name thrice rapidly at the specific moment when he could not leave the ceremony in between. So according to the deal, Ganesha then placed the atma linga on the ground and vanished from there with his cows. Ravana tried to chase them but got hold of one of the cows' ear. 

The rest of the cow's body disappeared and he was left only with the ear in a petrified form. The name of that place, hence, came to be known as Gokarna (gou means cow in Sanskrit and karna means ear).

As specified by Lord Shiva, the atma linga was then rooted in Gokarna and was immovable even though Ravana tried hard to lift it. He, then, gave the name 'Mahabaleshawar' to the atma lingameaning "all powerful". 

The Mahabaleshwar temple is situated along the west coast of India in the North Kannada district of Karnataka between the Gangavalli and Aganashini rivers.

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On 06 Aug 1945, at 0815 hrs, the first nuclear bomb was dropped at the centre of Hiroshima. "Little Boy' was a gun-type fission bomb. The bomb had an explosive yield of around 13 kilotons. At the moment of detonation, a fireball was generated that raised temperatures to 4,000 degrees Celsius.

Tailpiece.

Had got up at a half past 4, thanks to Lekha's cellphone alarm, the chores and was ready well before 7. Sajish, our sa'arthi had reported on the dot and we set off for Shenoy Care immediately after. Had our breakfast of appams and tomato-onion chutney made by Lekha by about a half past 8 near Edappally.

We were at the clinic at 10 o'clock, met Dr Aby and he'd briefed us about the purpose of our visit. People being treated for serious ailments with potent drugs were being checked on the level of antibodies formed post the second Covid vaccination. Experience and their study had shown that it was only those who'd taken the Covaxine, required a booster dose of the vaccination.

We left the clinic by a half past 10 after Lekha's blood was drawn for the test. The readings would be passed on to us by What'sApp two days from today, as per Dr Aby. We did some shopping within the town and then, headed for home. Reached The Quarterdeck by a half past 3 to a late lunch.

It was a quiet evening thereafter!