#Gokarna #BhāgavataPravacana

We all know about Gokarna as one of the most holy places in Bharatha varsha. It finds elaborate mention in Skandapurana.

However, do you know about a famous Bhagwatha Pravacaka called Gokarna? Why he go this name?

Read on for his story..

1/

Long back, on the banks of Tungabhadra, in one of the villages, there was a wise man called Atmadeva who was not only a scholarly Brahmana, but also quite rich.

He didn't have any sons which used to play on his mind quite often.

2/

Once immersed in his thoughts, he sat off near a lake in a forest. There he meets a Sanyasi who asks what's wrong with him.

When he learns about Atmadeva's problem, Sanyasi says: Due to your prarabdha, you don't have Santana Yoga. Focus on devotion towards almighty

3/

However, Atmadeva is not happy and persists with his request for a kid. Finally, the Sanyasi relents and gives a fruit to him and says "Give it to your wife. You will get a meritorious son as you desired"

Atmadeva comes home and gives the same to his wife.

4/

Unfortunately, his wife was a wicked woman. Not willing to take up the load of pregnancy and later labour pains, she feeds the fruit to a Cow.

She would have a pregnant younger sister whom she threatens that she should give her child to this lady once it's born.

5/

Over time, her sister gives birth to a boy who is named as Dhundhukaari.

After 3 months, the cow gives birth to a baby. Quite surprisingly, it had a body of a human except for the ears which resembled those of a cow.

Atmadeva names him as Gokarna

6/

Gokarna quickly establishes himself to be a scholar par excellence & jnani of the first order

Dhundhukaari unfortunately falls on evil ways, becomes a thief and frequents prostitutes

Atmadeva takes sermon from Gokarna, goes to forest & mediates on God becoming one with him

7/

Gokarna starts on a teertha-yatra. Dhundhukaari destroys all the wealth built up by his father and becomes more evil by the day.

His mother gives up her life by jumping into a well.

Dhundhukaari gets 5 prostitutes to his home who start living with him.

8/

Over time, they kill him and escape with all his wealth.

Due to his karma, Dhundhukaari becomes a preta

After sometime, when Gokarna returns from teertha-yatra, he goes to his home to sleep. In the night time, the preta i.e. Dhundhukaari comes to him & explains his problems

9/

To help his brother, Gokarna follows the words of Bhagwan Suryanarayana & starts the discourse on Srimad Bhagwatham following all the vrata procedures.

The preta resides within a nearby Bamboo which had 7 knots.

10/

With every passing day after the pravachana is over, one knot splits. After 7 days, all 7 knots are destroyed and the preta achieves mukti.

Gokarna performs pravachana of Bhagwatham in the next Sravana maasa too. With the grace of Bhagwan, he attains mukti

11/

Reference: Gita Press book on some prominent personalities from Srimad Bhagwatham

Śrī kr̥ṣṇārpaṇamastu