In2-MeC

newly discovered entries of In2-DeepFreeze First Generation Animations

Gokarn, Karnataka, India
30 March 2004

Ramanavami in Gokarna Tirtha

Gokarna, the site of Rama Tirtha, is a most auspicious place to observe Ramanavami, the appearance day of Lord Ramacandra.

Ramanavami morning: after finishing my puja, I go to the barber at Kotitirtha and have my head shaved.

Bathing in Kotitirtha.

The temple to Sri Krsna, just next to Kotitirtha.

As I bathe, a team of brahmanas is performing a fire sacrifice inside this yajnasalla.

The yajnasalla is adorned with the figure of Lord Krsna, since this bank of Kotitirtha is where He did penance.

At other sites around Kotitirtha, brahmanas are engaged in different ritualistic performances on this Ramanavami day.

The brahmanas at Gokarna and Udupi are very fixed in their duties and do not beg for money from Western devotees.

After Kotitirtha I went to Rama Tirtha. I took darsana of the Sita-Rama-Laksmana Deities while different brahmanas arrived carrying waterpots to perform abhiseka. I witnessed one elderly brahmana woman go on the altar and bathe the Deities. A fire sacrifice was being performed in the darsana hall, and a feast was being prepared in the temple kitchen. After viewing the Deities and then circumambulating Them while chanting japa, I performed kirtana.

Japa under a tree at Rama Tirtha.

About 15 minutes walk from Rama Tirtha is Jatayu Tirtha. This is the place where the great eagle Jatayu fell to earth after the demon Ravana severed his wings. Jatayu, though very aged, attacked Ravana in a valiant attempt to stop him from kidnapping Sita-devi.

We are going to see where one of Jayatu's severed wings fell to earth. To get there we have to take a rocky path right down to the edge of the ocean.

This tremendous cleft in the rock was split open by a falling wing of Jatayu!

There is a small simple stone shrine at the top where you can sprinkle drops of water on your head from a little pool. Brahmanas daily do a flower puja at this shrine.

The water drops into the pool from above.

After returning to Rama Tirtha from Jatayu Tirtha, I bathe in the sea.

Jaya Sri Rama! Jaya Sri Gokarna Tirtha!

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