Murudeshwar Temple: The Murudeshwar shiva Temple, stands as a testament to the rich religious heritage and culture of India. The temple is located in the coastal town of Murudeshwar city in the Uttara Kannada district of Karnataka. This majestic temple is not only a place of worship but also a symbol of architectural brilliance and spiritual significance.
Murudeshwar Temple – 2nd Tallest Shiva Statue in The World
The temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva, known as one of the principal deities in Hinduism, and is believed to house one of the largest idols of Lord Shiva in the world. The main focal point of the temple is the magnificent towering statue of Lord Shiva, which stands at a height of around 125 feet. This draws the attention of devotees all over the world. The temple complex itself is a sight to behold, with its intricate architectural details, towering gopurams, and sprawling courtyards.
The main sanctum sanctorum, where the lingam is housed, is adorned with elaborate carvings and sculptures depicting scenes from the Hindu mythology. Surrounding the main temple are smaller shrines dedicated to various deities, adding to the spiritual ambience of the place. Apart from its religious significance, Murudeshwar Temple also holds cultural and historical importance. The temple has been a center of pilgrimage for devout Hindus for centuries, and it continues to attract thousands of devotees every year who come to seek the blessings of Lord Shiva.
The Maha Shivaratri festival, which is celebrated with great fervour and enthusiasm, is a major event at the temple, drawing devotees from all over the country. Apart from that there are also many attractions in and around the Murudeshwar temple which will be covered in the later part of the blog. To know more about the temple Murudeshwar history, timings, how to reach the temple and much more continue reading the blog as it will give you better details if you plan to visit the Murudeshwar temple.
History of Murudeshwar Temple
The history of Murudeshwara Temple follows back to old times, established in Hindu mythology. It is believed that, it was here that ruler Ravana, the imposing adversary of the epic Ramayana, performed serious compensation to look for endowments from lord Shiva, the preeminent divinity of devastation and recovery. Awed by Ravana’s commitment, lord Shiva showed up and blessed him by giving the aatma lingam to Ravana, a divine lingam, with a condition that it ought to never be set on the ground.
However, the other gods were concerned about the monstrous control Ravana might use with the Atma Linga. They made a plan to stop ruler Ravana from obtaining such control over the world. When the gods prayed to Lord Vishnu, the lord in the form of a brahmin, drew Ravana’s attention and locked him in discussion. Amid their talk, Vishnu cleverly decided to trap Ravana into giving up the lingam, so while Ravana is supposed to perform a ritual by the dusk and lord Vishnu offers to hold the lingam. After Ravana performed his rituals, lord Vishnu intentionally deferred returning the lingam, causing Ravana to end up on edge.
Lord Vishnu, has then set the lingam on the ground, in this way satisfying ruler Shiva’s condition of not to place the lingam on the ground. Enraged by this double dealing, Ravana has destroyed the lingam by breaking it into several pieces and it is believed that one such part of the Atma lingam is said to have fallen in present-day Murudeshwar, where the sanctuary stands today.
The title “Murudeshwar” itself holds importance. It is determined from two words: “Muru,” which implies “shank” in the neighbourhood dialect, Kannada, and “Eshwara,” another title for Ruler Shiva. In this manner, Murudeshwar deciphers to “the Master of the Shanks,” a reference to the legend of the Atma Linga.
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How to Reach Murudeshwar Temple:
You can reach Murudeshwar by air, road, rail or by sea. Here are the ways how you can reach by each mode of transportation.
By Air: Mangalore airport is the nearest airport to Murudeshwar. As mangalore is an international airport it is connected to major cities across the world. From airport you can choose the airport taxi or rental cars that will be available in plenty, to reach Murudeshwar which is located 153 km away from the Mangalore airport
By Rail: Murudeshwar city has a railway station which is well connected to the Mumbai Mangalore cities. Reaching Mangalore is very easy as it is in the network or all the major city stations, you can either directly book to Murudeshwar railway station which is located 2 km away from the Murudeshwar city, or if not you can either travel to Mangalore station and from there you can reach to Murudeshwar station.
By Road: As Murudeshwar is located on the NH17, you can find many buses that connect the city to Mumbai, Bangalore, Kochi and other major cities. You can reach there via buses or you can even travel by cab or car based on the location you are planning to travel from to Murudeshwar.
By Sea: As Murudeshwar is a coastal area, you will have plenty options if you want to take the sea ways, there are several ports connected to the important ports and taking this route would be amazing as the journey would be via sea, to reach your destination, but you will have to plan properly to reach from there to the city.
Murudeshwar Temple Timings:
Usually the temple timings remain fixed on most of the days, only during festival seasons and special occasions. The Murudeshwar temple typically follows this timings.
- Early morning at around 6:00 am the temple opens and the cleaning and decoration of the temple takes place, making it ready for the darshan and poojas later that day.
- Post that the darshan time starts from around 7:00 am and continues till 12:00 pm where visitors with tickets will be worshipping the lord shiva.
- Afternoon break timings are 12:00 pm to 3:00 pm and the temple will be closed during this time. Cleaning rituals happen and other preparations for the evening pooja are done.
- The temple again reopens from 3:00pm and is open for darshan again to the devotees.
- The puja typically starts at 6:00 pm and is completed before 7:30 or sometimes extended till 8:00 pm . Temple closed after this puja. And reopens the next morning.
Dress Code:
- Men: Men are expected to wear traditional attire, such as dhotis or mundus. It’s common to drape a shawl or angavastram around the upper body.
- Women: Women should opt for sarees, salwar kameez, or traditional outfits that cover their shoulders and legs. Avoid outfits that are too revealing.
Murudeshwar Temple Raja Gopuram:
One of the most striking features of the Murudeshwar Temple is the towering gopuram at the entrance, which stands at a height of around 249 feet. The gopuram is adorned with colourful sculptures and intricate carvings that depict various mythological themes. Visitors can climb to the top of the gopuram to enjoy panoramic views of the surrounding area, including the Arabian Sea and the picturesque town of Murudeshwar.
The word gopuram itself carries a very high significance in Hindu temples. It refers to the gateway towers that adorn the south Indian temple entrances, that serve as symbolic portals between the divine and earthly realm. The raja gopuram at Murudeshwar temple serves the purpose with unparalleled splendour and grandeur. The gopuram is carved with several deities and the architecture seems so attractive that the devotees across the world admire it. Apart from this another attraction at the Murudeshwar temple is the tallest lord shiva statue.
Murudeshwar temple Lord Shiva Statue:
Another highlight of the temple complex is the massive statue of Lord Shiva, which is visible from miles around. The statue, which was unveiled in 2006, stands on a platform surrounded by a water body, giving it the appearance of standing amidst the sea. It is intricately sculpted and adorned with intricate details, making it a sight to behold for devotees and tourists alike.
It is known as the world’s second biggest statue of lord shiva after the statue in Nepal which is also a major tourist attraction. The Shiva statue was built by Mr R.N Shetty at a cost of around 500 million. The statue is made with a lot of detailing and there are many other statues of different gods and demons and around the shiva statue which took nearly 2 years for the construction.
Different deities like lord ganesha receiving Atma linga , sun chariot, hitopadesha etc can be seen at this statue. The statue is designed in a way that it gets the sunlight and appears sparkling.
Places to Visit in Murudeshwar:
- Murudeshwar Beach
- Kethapayya Narayan Temple
- Shiva Statue Park
- Netrani Island
Conclusion:
In addition to its religious and cultural significance, Murudeshwar Temple also serves as a popular tourist destination. The serene surroundings, coupled with the breath-taking views of the Arabian Sea, make it a favorite spot for tourists seeking spiritual solace and natural beauty.
Visitors can also indulge in various activities such as swimming, beachcombing, and exploring the nearby attractions. With its awe-inspiring architecture, spiritual ambiance, and amazing natural beauty, it continues to captivate the hearts and minds of all who visit, leaving a lasting impression that transcends boundaries of faith and belief.
I hope this blog helps you get clear insights on the temple and its significance, if you are planning to visit this temple plan the tickets well before as you might not get them in the last minute and the best time to plan a trip here is between July to december. I hope this blog has helped you understand about the temple better so that you can plan your travel, stay and the trip with more comfort and ease.
