Temple Details

Murudeshwara   Bhaktapur


About Murudeshwara

The name “Murudeshwara” means Shiva or Eeshwara. The significance of this holy town dates back to the time of Ramayana.  “Murudeshwara” is another name of the Hindu god Shiva.  Known for the world’s tallest Shiva sculpture, Murudeshwar beach city lies on the coast of the Arabian sea and is additionally known for the Murudeshwar temple.

The legend has it that,  when Ravana dedicated penance to the Atma Linga, the divine Linga  of Shiva procured invincibility and immortality to the Hindu Gods.  Ravana, the Lanka king,  worshipped Shiva with devotion to attain immortality,  by obtaining the AtmaLinga.  Lord Shiva appeared before Ravana and asked him what he wanted.  By this time Lord Vishnu wanted to change Ravana’s mind at the request of Narada.  As a result of this plot, Ravana asks for Uma,(Goddess Parvathi), and Lord Shiva offers him.

On his way back to Lanka,  Narada tricked Ravana that the real Parvathi was in Pathala. So Ravana let  off Parvathi and went to Pathala and married a king’s daughter thinking that she was Parvathi. When he returned  back to Lanka,  his mother then asked for Linga.  Ravana knowing that he was tricked, was angry with Vishnu and meditated to please Lord Shiva.

Lord Shiva appeared  and Ravana asked for His forgiveness. This time again, Ravana requested  the Atma Linga as his boon. Lord Shiva agreed to give him the boon with a condition that it should never be placed on the ground. It is believed that the AtmaLinga if ever was placed on the ground, all the powers would return to Lord Shiva again. Having obtained his boon, Ravana started back on his journey to Lanka.

Sage Narada, having realised that, with the Atma Linga, Ravana may obtain immortality and create havoc on earth, approached Lord Ganesha to help him. As Ravana was nearing Gokarna, Lord Vishnu blocked the Sun, to make it appear as dusk.  Ravana now had to perform his evening rituals,  but was worried because,  with the Atma Linga in his hands, he would not be able to do his rituals. At this time, Lord Ganesha, disguised as a Brahman boy came near him.

Ravana requested him to hold the Atma Linga until he performed his pooja, and told him not to place it on the ground.  Ganesha struck a deal with him, saying that he would call Ravana thrice, and if Ravana did not return within that time, he would place the Atma Linga on the ground. As predicted, before Ravana could return after completing his rituals, Ganesha had already placed the Atma Linga on the ground. Vishnu then removed his illusion and it was daylight again.
Ravana got really angry that he was tricked and tried to uproot the Atma Linga and destroy it but could not. In a fit of rage,  he threw the case covering it to a place called Sajjeshwara, 23 miles away. Then he threw the lid of the case to a place called Guneshwara (now Gunavanthe) and Dhareshwara, 10-12 miles away.  Finally, he threw the cloth covering the Atma Linga to a place called Mrideshwara in Kanduka-Giri (Kanduka Hill). Mrideshwara has been renamed as Murudeshwara.

Murudeshwar is a pilgrim's paradise. Right from the monumental entrance arch, the divinity of the place envelopes the pilgrim. The Rajagopura at the entrance of the temple is the world's tallest, standing at 249 feet height.  Inaugurated in May 2008, this mammoth structure is the latest addition to the temple. The gopura or tower  has 22 floors and is the only Gopura to be fitted with elevators.

Besides the temple, the pilgrim finds himself in the midst of numerous sculptures on the Kanduka hill. The Geetopadesha, Sun chariot, the sculpture of Lord Ganesha receiving the Atmalinga from Ravana in the form of a young boy, and others mark the landscape of the hill. On the very top is the Shiva statue. Beneath the statue is a cavern with impressive life-size sculptures, depicting the story of Murudeshwar narrated through an impressive sound and light show.

The statue of Lord Shiva in Murudeshwara is the biggest statue of Lord Shiva in the world. A recent attraction of Murudeshwara is the Lord Shiva idol erected beside the temple. The idol towers 123 feet into the sky and viewable from a very long distance from the Arabian sea. 

There is/are 1 direct train(s) from Bangalore to Murudeshwara. These train(s) is/are Karwar Exp (16523) etc. The minimum time a train takes to reach Murudeshwara from Bangalore is 15h 26m. The cheapest way to reach Murudeshwara from Bangalore takes you 15h 26m, which is to take Karwar Exp from Bangalore to Murudeshwara. The fastest way to reach Murudeshwara from Bangalore takes you 5h 18m, which is to take Air Pegasus from Bangalore to Mangalore then take Indica from Mangalore to Murudeshwara.

There is direct train between Bangalore and Murudeshwara. You can take Karwar Exp from Bangalore to Murudeshwara

BANGALOREMURUDESHWARA

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The legend has it that,  when Ravana dedicated penance to the Atma Linga, the divine Linga  of Shiva procured invincibility and immortality to the Hindu Gods.  Ravana, the Lanka king,  worshipped Shiva with devotion to attain immortality,  by obtaining the AtmaLinga.  Lord Shiva appeared before Ravana and asked him what he wanted.  By this time Lord Vishnu wanted to change Ravana’s mind at the request of Narada.  As a result of this plot, Ravana asks for Uma,(Goddess Parvathi), and Lord Shiva offers him.

On his way back to Lanka,  Narada tricked Ravana that the real Parvathi was in Pathala. So Ravana let  off Parvathi and went to Pathala and married a king’s daughter thinking that she was Parvathi. When he returned  back to Lanka,  his mother then asked for Linga.  Ravana knowing that he was tricked, was angry with Vishnu and meditated to please Lord Shiva.

Lord Shiva appeared  and Ravana asked for His forgiveness. This time again, Ravana requested  the Atma Linga as his boon. Lord Shiva agreed to give him the boon with a condition that it should never be placed on the ground. It is believed that the AtmaLinga if ever was placed on the ground, all the powers would return to Lord Shiva again. Having obtained his boon, Ravana started back on his journey to Lanka.

Sage Narada, having realised that, with the Atma Linga, Ravana may obtain immortality and create havoc on earth, approached Lord Ganesha to help him. As Ravana was nearing Gokarna, Lord Vishnu blocked the Sun, to make it appear as dusk.  Ravana now had to perform his evening rituals,  but was worried because,  with the Atma Linga in his hands, he would not be able to do his rituals. At this time, Lord Ganesha, disguised as a Brahman boy came near him.

Ravana requested him to hold the Atma Linga until he performed his pooja, and told him not to place it on the ground.  Ganesha struck a deal with him, saying that he would call Ravana thrice, and if Ravana did not return within that time, he would place the Atma Linga on the ground. As predicted, before Ravana could return after completing his rituals, Ganesha had already placed the Atma Linga on the ground. Vishnu then removed his illusion and it was daylight again.
Ravana got really angry that he was tricked and tried to uproot the Atma Linga and destroy it but could not. In a fit of rage,  he threw the case covering it to a place called Sajjeshwara, 23 miles away. Then he threw the lid of the case to a place called Guneshwara (now Gunavanthe) and Dhareshwara, 10-12 miles away.  Finally, he threw the cloth covering the Atma Linga to a place called Mrideshwara in Kanduka-Giri (Kanduka Hill). Mrideshwara has been renamed as Murudeshwara.

Murudeshwar is a pilgrim's paradise. Right from the monumental entrance arch, the divinity of the place envelopes the pilgrim. The Rajagopura at the entrance of the temple is the world's tallest, standing at 249 feet height.  Inaugurated in May 2008, this mammoth structure is the latest addition to the temple. The gopura or tower  has 22 floors and is the only Gopura to be fitted with elevators.

Besides the temple, the pilgrim finds himself in the midst of numerous sculptures on the Kanduka hill. The Geetopadesha, Sun chariot, the sculpture of Lord Ganesha receiving the Atmalinga from Ravana in the form of a young boy, and others mark the landscape of the hill. On the very top is the Shiva statue. Beneath the statue is a cavern with impressive life-size sculptures, depicting the story of Murudeshwar narrated through an impressive sound and light show.

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