Story | Chakravarthy Linga | Shri Gaudapadacharya Math, Gokarna

Today, we know of so many Hindu artifacts which were taken away during years of foreign rule or secretly stolen in recent times, coming back to Bharata. But do you know, one similar artifact was voluntarily donated to an Indian Monastery (Math) by a high ranking Britisher in the late 1800s.

This is the unique and not well known case of a lingam named Chakravarthy Lingam. Christened by a famous British personality, Sir George Birdwood and donated to the Shri Gaudapadacharya Math for safekeeping, this lingam went out of the country for being exhibited, but came back and is finally present in one of the most holiest kshetras of Hindus, Gokarna, Karnataka.

The story of this lingam appears in the book Saraswat Bhushan, by Shri. M. Ramachandra Sharma, a Saraswat Scholar who documented a lot of important items for the Saraswat Samaja in early 1900s The translated and abridged article is as below;

When a Lingam Travelled the World and Came back to Bharata

This event relates to the Chakravarthi Shivalinga that came from England. A European gentleman named General Birdwood, while holding a high position at the Belgaum military cantonment some years ago, had two sons. Among them, Sir George Birdwood was the eldest. He, too, held high positions here. Currently, he resides in London after retirement. However, since India is his birthplace, he is exceptionally knowledgeable about the history of India, the Hindu people, their religions, and the various castes within them; and because of this, he holds great pride in India and its residents. And how sincere that pride is, is easily understandable to discerning readers from the correspondence provided ahead!

The renowned Mumbai High Court lawyer, Mr. Ghanashyam Neelkanth Nadkarni, B.A., LL.B., while traveling in Europe in the year 1896, met Sir George Birdwood in London. At that time, Sir George Birdwood showed him a beautiful Shivalinga that he had carefully preserved in his home. And he told him the history regarding where and how he obtained it. After he [Mr. Nadkarni] returned to India, Mr. Birdwood started a correspondence with him. Based on that correspondence, Mr. Nadkarni later sent a letter to Pandit Mishra Ghanashyam Sharma Shastri, a Kashmiri scholar who was under the refuge of Shrimad Atmananda Saraswati Swami Gaudapadacharya at Shrimath Khanapur, and presented that information at the feet of the Swami Maharaj. Following the instructions of the Swami, the Pandit wrote a reply, and accordingly, the Shivalinga arrived at Shrimath Khanapur in the month of Ashvin in the Shaka year 1819. Mr. Birdwood had expressed his wish to name this Shivalinga "Chakravarthi Shivalinga," and as that entire account is worth preserving.

Sir George Birdwood's English letter: "To my dear friend Ghanashyam Neelkanth Nadkarni, I am sending today, via the P&O Company's steamship 'Britannia' to your address, the Shivalinga which has not had Pranapratishtha (consecration) and which has been kept in my room for all these days.

I have made all necessary arrangements from here to ensure this Shivalinga is placed in your custody. Now, this Shivalinga is making its final journey across the seven seas. As this Linga will be installed upon reaching its motherland, it would not be out of place to provide a brief history of it on such an occasion. This Shivalinga was first sent from Kolkata, India to an exhibition held some years ago in the United States, in a place called Philadelphia(1876). However, it was not admitted into the exhibition on the pretext that a 'Linga' is a symbol representing a genital organ. Later, in the year 1888, an exhibition of objects from India and other places was held in the 'South Kensington' area of London. At that time, this Shivalinga was sent here from America, and it was about to be used for the purpose of breaking stones. Just then, as the Shivalinga caught my eye, I picked it up and brought it to my room and kept it there. It remained there until today.

Because I have reached the age of 65, my connection with the 'India Office' will soon be severed, and I was worried about what would happen to the Shivalinga thereafter. Several administrators at the 'various museums' in "Oxford" were ready to take it and keep it there. But even there, the same previous reason became an obstacle.

As I was having various thoughts [regarding what to do with the Shivalinga], I met you. And as soon as you said that you would take it to Mumbai and install it, a perfect opportunity in accordance with my wishes arose, and I am extremely happy. Once this sacred object reaches you, it will have completed a journey around the earth; having traveled through four continents and crossed the seven seas, it will be as if it has returned to its motherland. In truth, whatever the merit and holiness of the Shivalingas at Jambukeshwar, Tiruvannamalai, Kanchi, Chidambaram, Kalahasti, as well as Kashi Vishweshwar, Ujjain’s Amreshwar, Tryambak’s Gautameshwar, Omkar on the Narmada, Kedareswar in the Himalayas, and Rameswar near Kanyakumari may be, the one thing to especially note regarding this Shivalinga that I am sending you now is that this name 'Chakravarthi Linga' can only be given to this one. And it is my hope that you will also refer to this Shivalinga by this name.

However, I am extremely happy to see that you have planned to place this Shivalinga in the custody of the Adi-Guru (supreme teacher) of the Gaud Saraswat Brahmins of Western India, whose math (monastery) is located at Khanapur on the banks of the Malaprabha River in the Belgaum district. I was born in Belgaum, and I went back to Belgaum in the year 1855. My childhood memories are of Belgaum, its Ghataprabha River, and Ramghat. Belgaum means Venu-gram, and Venu-gram means the village of bamboo; and I have considered bamboo as the tree of my life and the Ghataprabha as the river of my life. The Malaprabha River is also the same. Actually, my memory of the later years, the year 1855, is not just of the Ghataprabha waterfall at Gokak, but of the Malaprabha River itself. The Malaprabha is indeed the true river of life. It flows constantly. It flows through many beautiful valleys and gorges. The local Brahmins believe that to save a peacock from a cruel hunter and take it to the peak on the opposite bank, a water deity broke the rock between Saudatti and Manoli and led the river there. In almost every village along the banks of that river, the Shivalinga and Shiva's vehicle, Nandi, are worshipped. I have fond memories of the bananas of Khanapur and the various Brahmins there, such as the Gaud Saraswats, Deshasthas, and Chitpavans. I often recall how the Brahmin women there wear beautiful saris and how both women and men wear ornaments on their bodies. I feel that the math of Shrimad Atmananda Saraswati Swami is like my own home, and I consider him my reverend teacher or, as you call it, my 'Mahant'. Please offer my salutations to the Shri Swami and inform him that I have felt the utmost satisfaction since handing over the 'Chakravarthi Linga' to him.

And my only wish is that, through the grace of the Shri Swami, harmony may grow between the Hindu people and the English people because of my actions.

I am very grateful for the trouble you have taken in this matter and the care you have shown. And may the result of this entire endeavor be pleasant for everyone.

Yours, 

George Birdwood"

Description of the lingam

This Chakravarthi Shivalinga is made of black marble stone and weighs 11 maunds and 4 seers. The circumference of its base is approximately 6.5 feet. It is 3.5 feet long and 2.5 feet high. The height of the Pindika (base) is 10 inches and its circumference is 2.5 feet.

There are four snake adornments on it, both at the bottom and top. One has offered its hood to the Pindi (linga) as a canopy. The second has embraced it tightly. The third appears to be lying prostrate on the Shalunka (base) in front of the Pindi, as if teaching devotees about the loving devotion of Sadashiva. The fourth, by its embrace, has become a waistband for the Chakravarthi Shivalinga, and as if holding the entire Shalunka on its head like the earth-bearing Seshnag, it is manifesting its extraordinary power of devotion. This thought cannot help but cross the mind of a keen observer!

Upon seeing the naturally occurring Tripundra (three lines) of ash on the stone of the Pindi, one might imagine: Bholashankar (Shiva) has just come after bathing and is seated on his throne; while applying Vibhuti (ash) with water from the Ganga to wear the Tripundra on his forehead, the two upper lines are moist and thus black, while the third lower line has dried immediately, revealing its whiteness and showing a smiling face—is he perhaps absorbed in the teasing of his companions? Such strange flights of fancy automatically arise in the minds of the poetic!

The twelve Jyotirlingas exist in Bharatkhand (the Indian subcontinent), and their great glory has been described in the Puranas. There is no objection in saying that the description of this 'Chakravarthi' (Universal Emperor) Linga closely resembles the description of the Gokarna Mahabaleshwar Linga in modern times.

The ten-headed Ravana, the king of meat and liquor-consuming demons, pleased Bholashankar Sadashiva and obtained his Atmalinga on certain conditions. Because his conduct did not comply with those conditions, the Linga became Svayambhu (self-manifested). Although the mighty King Ravana tried to pull it out by force, it took the form of a cow's ear and eventually became unattainable to him. It was because of this quality that its appropriate name, 'Gokarna Mahabaleshwar,' came into usage.

Similarly, even though this Shivalinga was sent from Kolkata for the international exhibition of the meat and liquor-consuming American people due to the influence of their intense desire, its significance was incomprehensible to those impure-mannered people. Like a hidden ruby, it remained in a secret state until today, having traveled through four continents and across the seven seas. By doing so, it earned the title of 'Sarvabhauma' or 'Chakravarthi' (Universal Emperor).

To receive the uninterrupted service of the loving devotees here, and to be installed by the hands of the most holy and meritorious Shrimad Atmananda Saraswati Gaudapadacharya Swami Maharaj, it appeared with great eagerness at the Shri Khanapur Math on the banks of the Malaprabha River on the auspicious occasion of Deepavali, on Monday, the 30th day of the dark fortnight of Ashwina, in the Shaka year 1819! Truly, how extraordinary is this event!!

The story of its Pratishtha

Thereafter, thoughts began in the Samsthan (institution) regarding where to install this Linga. However, at that time, due to the outbreak of diseases that had emerged everywhere in India, which began to affect areas around Khanapur and Belgaum, and because of his own physical discomfort, upon the advice of the Sadd-gruhastha (good people/disciples) and disciples, Shri Atmananda Saraswati Swami, along with his newly initiated disciple-Swami and his family, moved to the Math at Kavale in Gomantak (Goa) in the month of Margashirsha of the Shaka year 1819. He entrusted the daily and occasional duties to the disciple-Swami, Shri Poornananda Saraswati Swami and remained only on Anupana (liquid sustenance/medicine). But, in accordance with the saying of Kalidasa, 'Death is the nature of living beings,' on Saturday night, the 12th day of the bright fortnight of the month of Margashirsha in the Shaka year 1820, he left the company of this mortal earth and became Brahmabhut (attained union with the Supreme). Due to many such unavoidable difficulties, the occasion for the installation of this Shivalinga was postponed.

Shri Poornananda Saraswati Swamiji

After a couple of years, after taking care of renovation activities in the old branches of Kavale Math and having completed various teertha yatras, Shri Poornananda Saraswati Swami arrived at the holy teertha of Gokarna. Having taken up the task of constructing the monastery (Math) that had been stalled for a long time, [they] completed it satisfactorily. In this very Gokarna Math, the ‘Chakravarthi Shivalinga’, about which information was provided earlier, was installed on February 29, 1920.

Sri Chakravathi Lingam, as in 2025, at Gokarna branch of Kavale Math.
Notice that it is West facing, as clear from the direction of the pranala (should face north)

Note - I visited the Gokarna shakha of Shri Gaudapadacharya Math in June 2026 and saw this lingam, which made me remember this article. With His motivation, i shared this information for everyone's benefit. Namah Parvati Pate Hara Hara Mahadev.