Mythical Murudeshwar

Tripoto
31st Jul 2017

Murudeshwar Shiva Temple

Photo of Mythical Murudeshwar by Nidhi Jain

Murudeshwar Shiva Temple is one the most visited pilgrimage and tourist destinations in Karnataka. The temple is situated on the Kanduka Hill which is encompassed on three sides by the waters of the Arabian Sea. Karnataka is believed to contain Lord Shiva’s Pancha Kshetra and Murudeshwar temple is one of the Pancha-Kshetra of the state, and the four other being Dharmasthala, Nanjanagud, Gokarna and Dhareshwara.

Photo of Mythical Murudeshwar 1/3 by Nidhi Jain
Temple entrance
Photo of Mythical Murudeshwar 2/3 by Nidhi Jain
The Gopuram
Photo of Mythical Murudeshwar 3/3 by Nidhi Jain
Inside the temple

This 123ft high Shiva statue is the second highest Shiva Statue in the world and First in Asia.

Day 1

123 Feet high Shiva Statue

Photo of Murudeshwar, Karnataka, India by Nidhi Jain

The temple is entirely modernized with lift facilities in 237.5ft tall Raja Gopura which allows visitor to experience the panoramic view of the Shiva temple surrounded by water and the entire temple complex with a nominal entry fee of 5/- or 10/-. The entry to the lift starts from morning 6 am on-wards so this would be the best time visit.

View of the beach from 20th floor of Gopuram

Photo of Mythical Murudeshwar by Nidhi Jain

The temple complex is beautiful all around with the sound of splashing waves and cool breeze adding to its glory. The chronicles of building this temple dates back to the ages of Ramayana. The cave below the large Shiva statue beautifully depicts this in the form of smaller statues. The entire story is narrated also by an audio recording played inside the cave. Here is a glimpse of it:

Photo of Mythical Murudeshwar by Nidhi Jain

Ravan's mother Kaikesi,devotee of Lord Shiva, worshiped Shivlinga made of Sand. She always wanted to worship Aatmalinga of Lord Shiva and expressed her wish to her son Ravan.

Ravan promised his mother

Photo of Mythical Murudeshwar by Nidhi Jain

Ravan promised his mother that he would get AtmaLinga for her from Lord Shiva

Raavana praying

Photo of Mythical Murudeshwar by Nidhi Jain

Ravan starting praying to Lord Shiva for Atmalinga.

Narada requesting Lord Vishu to change Raavana's mind

Photo of Mythical Murudeshwar by Nidhi Jain

Meanwhile, Narada asked Lord Vishu to change Ravan's mind realizing that Ravan might use his powers to cause evil on earth

Ravan lifting Kailasa Parvat

Photo of Mythical Murudeshwar by Nidhi Jain

Even after praying so much when Lord Shiva did not appear, angry Ravan lifted the entire Kailasa Parvat to show his strength

Lord Shiva appeared before Ravan

Photo of Mythical Murudeshwar by Nidhi Jain

Being happy with Ravan's devotion Lord Shiva with wife Parvati appeared before him. By this time, Lord Vishnu tricked Ravan's mind and he asked for Goddess Parvati instead of Atmalinga. Shiva let Parvati go with Ravan.

Parvati appearing as Mahakali

Photo of Mythical Murudeshwar by Nidhi Jain

On the way back to Lanka, Narada met Ravan and told that Lord Shiva fooled him by not giving the real Parvati. Instead she is in Paatala Lok (world below earth). When Ravan turned towards Parvati he saw Mahakali.

Ravan marrying Mandodari

Photo of Mythical Murudeshwar by Nidhi Jain

Ravan frees Kali and went to Paatala and married Mandodari assuming her to be real Parvati.

Ravan returned to Lanka with Mandodari

Photo of Mythical Murudeshwar by Nidhi Jain

Ravan then returns to Lanka, where his mother asks him for the Atmalinga. Ravan then realizes that he was tricked.

Ravan started worshiping Lord Shiva again

Photo of Mythical Murudeshwar by Nidhi Jain

Ravan then started worshiping lord Shiva again but this time with much more strong devotion.

Ravan sacrificing himself before Lord Shiva

Photo of Mythical Murudeshwar by Nidhi Jain

Ravan started cutting his organs and sacrifice them before Lord Shiva. It was when he began cutting his heads, Lord Shiva appears again and this time, Ravana requests theAtmaLinga as his boon. Lord Shiva agrees to this with the condition that it should never be placed on the ground. If the Atmalinga was ever placed on the ground, all the powers would return to Lord Shiva again.

Narada requesting Lord Ganesha to get back Atmalinga from Ravan

Photo of Mythical Murudeshwar by Nidhi Jain

Narada, who came to know of this incident, realized that with the Atmalinga, Ravana may obtain immortality and create havoc on earth. He approached Lord Ganesh and requested him to to take Atmalinga from Ravan.

Lord Ganesha disguised as a brahmin boy came to get back the Atmalinga

Photo of Mythical Murudeshwar by Nidhi Jain

Lord Ganesh knew that Ravan was a very devoted person who used to perform prayer ritual in the evening every day without fail. He decided to make use of this fact and came up with a plan to take possession of the Atmalinga from Ravan. Lord Vishnu blotted out the sun to give the appearance of dusk. Ravan now had to perform his evening rituals but was worried because with the Atmalinga in his hands, he would not be able to do his rituals. At this time, Lord Ganesha in the disguise of a Brahmin boy accosted him. Ravan requested him to hold theAtmaLinga until he performed his rituals, and asked him not to place it on the ground

Ganesha told Ravan, since the Atmalinga was very heavy, he would call Ravan only three times. If Ravan did not come within that time, then he would place the Atmalinga on ground.

Photo of Mythical Murudeshwar by Nidhi Jain

As planned , Ganesha, called Ravan three times and placed the Atmaling on the earth.

Angry Ravan hit Lord Ganesha after Atmalinga placed on ground

Photo of Mythical Murudeshwar by Nidhi Jain

Lord Vishnu then removed his illusion and it was daylight again.

Ravan trying too uproot the Atmalinga

Photo of Mythical Murudeshwar by Nidhi Jain

Ravan, realised that he had been tricked by the Gods .He tried to uproot and destroy the Atmalinga. Due to the force exerted by Ravan, some pieces were scattered

Places where the pieces of Atmalinga fell

Photo of Mythical Murudeshwar by Nidhi Jain

The case of the Atmalinga fell in Sajjeshwara, lid of the case fell at Gunavanthe (Gunavatheshwara), thread fell at Dhareshwara, cloth covering at Mrideshwar in Kanduka Giri, now it is called Murudeshwara. Finally the Atmalinga itself fell in Gokarna, the only place in the entire world which has Shiva's Atmalinga.

Apart from the depictions inside the cave there are many statues in the temple premises which portray this tale.

The Chariot

Photo of Mythical Murudeshwar by Nidhi Jain

Entrance and exit of the shrine where there is statue of Ravan giving the Atmalinga to Ganesha, disguised as a boy

Photo of Mythical Murudeshwar by Nidhi Jain

Temple has been maintained well with green lawns and clean surroundings.

View from temple

Photo of Mythical Murudeshwar by Nidhi Jain

Outside the temple complex there are lots of places for snacks and meals. But if you want to enjoy the sea view while having the food I would suggest you must go to RNS Residency.

Besides RNS Residency

Photo of Mythical Murudeshwar by Nidhi Jain

On the way to RNS hotels

Photo of Mythical Murudeshwar by Nidhi Jain

Seeing these places at night with twinkling lights is also very satisfying

Gopuram at night

Photo of Mythical Murudeshwar by Nidhi Jain

Temple at night

Photo of Mythical Murudeshwar by Nidhi Jain

With this the trip to Uttara Kannada came to end. There were mountains, waterfalls, beaches , temples and what not in this trip.

Hope to cross these roads again.. Keep traveling. :)