Murudeshwar Temple Karnataka – World’s Second Tallest Shiva Statue

If we talk about some fantastic and beautiful temples in India, Murudeshwar Temple in Karnataka always comes. This majestic temple is located in Murudeshwar, a town in Bhatkal Takul of Uttara Kannada in Karnataka, India. As we all know, Karnataka is a most Beautiful State and having so many tourist spots. It is a place full of lush green forest and a beautiful beach, a perfect example of natural beauty in a simple form.

When you come to this place, you find peace and relaxation because this place lies on the southwest coast of India. This place has a unique range of beautiful beaches, and you can enjoy the cold and pleasant air among the green forests. But what makes Karnataka a worth visiting destination in India is its temples.

These temples are not just religious places, but these temples have great architectural designs which alluring these temples. These temples show the culture, history, spiritual significance, and Karnataka is full of these kinds of the temple. Murudeshwar Temple in Karnataka is one of the famous Shiva temples in India.

Why Murudeshwar Temple in Karnataka is a Worth Visiting Site?

Murudeshwar Temple is built on the Kanduka Hill in Murudeshwar town of Bhatakal District in Karnataka, and this temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva. This temple house the world’s second tallest statue of Sri Anantadrishti, Lord Shiva’s another name. The temple is surrounded on three sides by the Arabian Sea water, giving it a majestic look. The statue is so tall that it can be seen from a great distance from the actual site.

Now, what makes this place worth visiting. The height of the statue is 123 Feet, the Raja Gopura, which means the king of towers, Raja Gopura has 20 floors, and devotees can visit the top floor, and the temple authorities have installed a lift on which gives an unbelievable view from the height of 123 feet. It took about 2 years and 50 crore rupees to build this temple. The idol of Lord Shiva is placed in such a way that when the sun shines on it, it sparkles.

When the morning sunlight touches, the statue gives a momentous scenery. The inticrated carved statues of Arjuna receiving Geetopadesham from Lord Krishna, Ganesh deceiving Ravana in disguise, Shiva’s expression as Bhagiratha, Ganges descending on earth can be seen around the hill. A 20-storied gopura is constructed at the Murudeshwar Shrine.

The temple is a blend of tradition and modern architecture, and technology. The main deity in the temple is Sri Mridesa Linga which we also called Murudeshwar. It is believed that this linga is a piece of the real Atma Linga and is up to 2 feet below the ground. Devotees perform Rudrabhishek, Abhishek, and Rathotsava, etc.

Murudeshwar Temple Karnataka History

Karnataka’s Murudeshwar Temple history is associated with the Ramayana period. According to Hindu Mythology, Ravana obtained self-linga from Lord Shiva through rigorous penance. Still, while giving soul linga, Shiva placed a condition, i.e., if Ravana puts it on the ground before reaching Lanka, then the linga will be established there.

Devatas were worried about this incident because they didn’t want Ravana to become more powerful. So, they rushed to Lord Ganesha and asked for his help. Ganesha tricked Ravana in the disguise of a boy to give him the Atma linga while Ravana was praying; then Ganesha keeps that linga in Gokarna; thus, the Linga gets established on the ground.

Ravana angrily tried to uprooting and destroy the linga. Still, in this effort, several pieces of the linga spread around Gokarna, and Sri Mridesa Linga of Murudeshwar is one such original piece of Atma-Linga. Murudeshwar is the place where the covering cloth of Atma linga fell. The main Atma linga is in Mahabaleshwara, Gokarna.

Marvelous Architecture and Design of Murudeshwar Mandir Karnataka

Murudeshwar Temple Karnataka is famous for being the world’s second-tallest Shiva statue that lies on the Arabian sea’s coast. The Temple is built with a mixture of modern and traditional architecture. The Shiva statue is 123 feet tall and built by the Shivamogga’s Kashinath and financed by businessman Dr. R.N. Shetty. The total cost of construction was 50 crores rupees, and it took 2 years to complete it.

The statue is designed in such a way that the Shiva statue starts shining as soon as the first rays of the sun fall, and this vision mesmerizes the devotees. The Rameshwara linga is at the base of the hill, and the Shaneshwar Temple has been built next to the Shri Akshayaguna statue.

The Murudeshwar Temple and premises, including the Raja Gopura, which is 237.5 feet tall, are among the most elevated and constructed by Dr. R.N. Shetty, whose ancestors served in the Temple. With the pleasant Arabian Sea view, this beautiful shrine is one of the perfect places to visit in Karnataka.

Things to do near Murudeshwar Temple in Karnataka

Murudeshwar Temple is one such place where visitors come from worldwide to witness the massive Statue of Lord Shiva. This place also provides a significant number of splendid activities to do. First, start your journey by taking blessings from one of the most famous temples in Gokarna and visiting the world’s second-tallest Shiva statue.

If you are an adventure lover, you can do Boating, Surfing, Water rides, Snorkeling, and Scuba Diving. Also, you can have a bird’s-eye view from the Raja Gopura and visit the Statue park, where many statues related to Hindu mythologies are featured. Enjoy the most beautiful and serene view of the Arabian sea. Take photographs of the most famous 20 storied Gopura.

How to Reach the World’s Second Tallest Shiva Statue

Murudeshwar is a place located in Karnataka, and it is 54 km away from Gokarna. Murudeshwar is a well-connected state by Rail, Road, and Air. Anyone can easily reach the temple as the local transport is easily available.

• By Air- The nearest airport is Mangalore airport which is almost 153 km away to the south. It is connected with all the major states in the country, and taxis are easily available at the airport to reach Murudeshwar Temple Karnataka.
• By Rail- The nearest airport is Mangalore airport which is almost 153 km away to the south. It is connected with all the major states in the country, and taxis are easily available at the airport to reach Murudeshwar.

By Road- Government and private buses are easily available and connect Murudeshwar to Mumbai, Kochi, Bengaluru. Bengaluru is well connected to other cities, so it is easy to reach Murudeshwar Temple from other cities.

Some valuable Information for Visitors

• Visiting Hours: 3:00 AM to 1:00 PM, and 3:00 PM to 8:00 PM.
• Opening Days: The temple is open all days of the week.
• Entry Fee: There are no entry fees to visit the temple.

Places to Visit near Murudeshwar Mandir Karnataka

Gokarna, Mirjan Fort Near Gokarna, Basavaraja Durga Fort, Kollur Mookambika Temple, Idagunji Ganapati Temple, Apsara Konda Falls, Murudeshwar Beach, Bhatkal, Netrani Island, Maravanthe Beach, Koosalli Waterfalls, Kudumari / Chaktikal Waterfalls, Baindur / Byndoor, and more.

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