Murdeshwar is a metropolis in Bhatkal Taluk of Uttara Kannada district inside the nation of Karnataka, India. The town is placed 13 km from the taluk headquarters of Bhatkal. Murdeshwar is well-known for the world’s second tallest Shiva statue, the city lies on the coast of the Arabian Sea and is also well-known for the Murdeshwar Temple.The starting place of the call “Murdeshwar” dates to the time of Ramayana.

The Hindu gods attained immortality and invincibility by worshiping a divine Linga referred to as the Atma-Linga. The Lanka King Ravana desired to obtain immortality through obtaining the Atma-Linga (Soul of Shiva). Since the Atma-Linga belonged to Shiva, Ravana worshipped Shiva with devotion. Pleased by his prayers, Shiva seemed before him and asked him what he wanted. Ravana requested for the Atma-Linga. Shiva agreed to give him the boon on the condition that it need to in no way be located at the ground before he reaches Lanka. If the Atma-Linga was ever placed on the ground, it’d be not possible to transport it. Having received his boon, Ravana began lower back on his journey to Lanka. Lord Vishnu, who got here to understand of this incident, realised that with the Atma-Linga, Ravana may additionally obtain immortality and wreak havoc on the earth. He approached Ganesha and asked him to save you the Atma-Linga from reaching Lanka. Ganesha knew that Ravana changed into a very devoted character who performed prayer rituals every nighttime without fail. He determined to utilize this truth and got here up with a plan to confiscate the Atma-Linga from Ravana.

As Ravana become nearing Gokarna, Vishnu blotted out the sun to give the advent of nightfall. Ravana now needed to carry out his evening rituals however became concerned because with the Atma-Linga in his arms, he could no longer be able to do his rituals. Right now, Ganesha inside the hide of a Brahmin boy accosted him. Ravana requested him to maintain the Atma-Linga till he achieved his rituals, and asked him no longer to vicinity it on the ground. Ganesha struck a deal with him saying that he would call Ravana three times, and if Ravana did not return within that point, he could area the Atma-Linga at the floor. Ravana lower back to discover that Ganesha had already placed the Atma-Linga at the ground. Vishnu then eliminated his illusion and it was daylight hours once more. Ravana, realising that he have been tricked, tried to uproot and wreck the linga. Due to the pressure exerted by means of Ravana, a few portions had been scattered. One such piece from the pinnacle of the linga is stated to have fallen in present-day Surathkal. The famous Sadashiva temple is stated to be built around that piece of linga. Then he determined to ruin the covering of the Atma-Linga, and threw the case masking it to a place called Sajjeshwar, 37 kilometers away. Then he threw the lid of the case to an area known as Guneshwar (now Gunavanthe) and Dhareshwar, sixteen-19 kilometers away. Eventually, he threw the cloth covering the Atma-Linga to an area referred to as Mrideshwar in Kanduka-Giri (Kanduka Hill). Mrideshwar has been renamed to Murdeshwar.

Murdeshwar Temple and Raja Gopura: This temple is constructed on the Kanduka Hill which is surrounded on 3 sides by using the waters of the Arabian Sea. It’s miles committed to Sri Lokankara, and a 20-storied gopura is built on the temple. The temple authorities have set up a lift that gives a breath-taking view of the 123-toes Sri Shiva idol from the top of the Raja gopura. There is additionally a Rameshwara linga at the bottom of the hill, wherein devotees can do seva themselves. A Shaneswar temple has been constructed subsequent to the idol of Sri Akshayaguna. Two lifestyles-length elephants in concrete stand shield at the stairs main to it. The complete temple and temple complicated, along with the 249-feet-tall Raja Gopura, is one some of the tallest, changed into built to its present form via businessman and philanthropist R. N. Shetty, who hails from Murdeshwar and whose ancestors served in the temple. There are statues of solar Chariot on side of a park, pool, statues depicting Arjuna receiving Geetopadesham from Lord Krishna, Ravana being deceived through Ganesha in disguise, Shiva’s manifestation as Bhaghirnath, descending Ganga, carved around the hill.

The temple is totally modernised with exception of the sanctum sanctorum which remains darkish and retains its composure. The main deity is Sri Mridesa Linga, additionally referred to as Murdeshwar. The linga is assumed to be a chunk of the authentic Atma Linga and is ready two feet under floor stage. The devotees performing unique sevas like Abhisheka, Rudrabhisheka, Rathotsava etc., can view the deity by using status before the edge of the sanctum and the Linga is illuminated by using oil lamps held nearby the clergymen. The Linga is largely a rough rock internal a hollowed spot in the ground. Access into the sanctum is banned for all devotees. Statue of Lord Shiva: A massive towering statue of Lord Shiva, seen from splendid distances, is gift within the temple complex. It is the second one tallest statue of Lord Shiva within the global. The tallest Lord Shiva statue is in Nepal, known as the (Kailashnath Mahadev Statue). The statue is 123 toes (37 m) in peak and took approximately years to construct. The statue was constructed by way of Shivamogga’s Kashinath and several different sculptors, financed by way of businessman and philanthropist Dr. R.N. Shetty, at a fee of approximately Rs 50 million. The idol is designed such that it receives the sunlight immediately and for this reason appears glowing.