Murudeshwar is a town in the Bhatkal Taaluk of Uttar Kannad District in the state of Karnaatak, India. "Murudeshwar" is another name of Shiv. This Temple is famous for the world's second tallest Shiv statue, 123 feet (36 m) high, as the tallest statue is located in (Nepaal) at Kailaashnaaath Temple, and also the tallest Raaj Gopuram (249 feet). A huge towering statue of Lord Shiv, visible from great distances, is in the Temple complex and is erected by an Indian Kamal Jain. which has been built out of a single stone found right there in the sea! The statue looks to be at least 100 feet high but carved with so much attention to detail - the long shapely fingers, intricately knotted hair, the serpent coiled around its neck and the tiger skin he's seated on. This beach town lies on the coast of the Arabian Sea and is also famous for the Murudeshwar Temple. It is 180 Kms from Mangalore and is situated on West coast of India.

This Temple is built on the Kanduk Hill which is surrounded on three sides by the waters of the Arabian Sea. It has a 20-storied Gopuram, supposed to be tallest in the world, is constructed at the Temple. Two life-size elephants in concrete stand guard at the steps leading to the Temple. The entire Temple and Temple complex, including the 249 feet tall Raaj Gopuram, which is considered the tallest Gopuram in the world, was constructed to its present form by businessman and philanthropist RN Shetty.

The Temple is entirely modernized with exception of the Sanctum Sanctorum which is still dark and retains its composure. The Main deity is Sri Mridesa Linga, also called Murudeshwar. The linga is believed to be a piece of the original Atma Linga and is about 2feet below ground level. The devotees performing special Sevaa like Abhishek, Rudraabhishek, Rathotsav etc can view the deity by standing before the threshold of the Sanctum and the Lingam is illuminated by oil lamps held close by the priests. The Lingam is essentially a rough rock inside a hollowed spot in the ground. Entry into the Sanctum is banned for all devotees.

Legend Related to Murudeshwar
Read also  Mahaabaleshwar Temple   for this story

The origin of the name Murudeshwar dates to the time of Raamaayan. The Hindu gods attained immortality and invincibility by worshipping a divine Lingam called the Aatm Ling. The Lankaa King Raavan also wanted to attain immortality by obtaining the Aatm Ling. Since the Aatm Ling belonged to Lord Shiv, Raavan worshipped Shiv with devotion. Pleased by his prayers, Lord Shiv appeared before him and asked him what he wanted. By this time Naarad had asked Lord Vishnu to change Raavan's mind. As a result of this plot, Raavan asked Shiv for Goddess Paarvatee as his boon, and Lord Shiv offered him Paarvatee. On his way back to Lankaa Naarad told him that Shiv had not given real Paarvatee to him and that the real Paarvatee was in Paataal Lok.

So Raavan let off Paarvatee given by Shiv and went to Paataal and married a king's daughter thinking that she was Paarvatee. When he returned back to Lankaa and told his mother that he had brought Paarvatee, his mother asked for the Ling. Raavan then came to know that Vishnu had done all these tricks. Now Raavan went back and meditated a lot to please Lord Shiv. Lord Shiv appeared again and Raavan asked for his forgiveness. This time, Raavan requested his Aatm Ling as his boon. Lord Shiv agreed to give him the boon with a condition that it should never be placed on the ground. If the Aatm Ling was ever placed on the ground at all, all the powers would return to Lord Shiv again. Having obtained his boon, Raavan started back on his journey to Lankaa.