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Karnataka Murudeshwara Temple
Murudeshwara is a town located in the Taluk of Bhatkal in the district of Uttara Kannada in the Indian state of Karnataka. "Murudeshwara" is the other name referred to the God Shiva of Hindus. This place is well known as it comprises of the second-tallest statue of Shiva in the entire world. The Murudeshwara beach town is located on the coast of Arabian Sea and is also popular for the temple of Murudeshwar.
History
The name of "Murudeshwara" got its origin dating back to the time of Ramayana. The Hindu gods had gained immortality as well as invincibility by worshipping Lingim, a divine Atma-Linga. The king of Lanka, Ravana, was willing to attain immortality by getting the Atma-Linga which is the Soul of Shiva. Because the Atma-Linga was of Lord Shiva, Ravana started worshipping Shiva with dedication and devotion. Lord Shiva got impressed by his prayers and appeared before Ravana for what he wanted. But by this time, Narada asked Lord Vishnu for changing the mind of Ravana. Consequently, Ravana asks for Goddess Parvati and Lord Shiva offered her to him. While he was on the way back to Lanka, Narada told him that Lord did not give him the real Parvathi as the real Parvathi was in Pathala. So Ravana frees the companion, and went to Pathala to marry the king's daughter, and assumed her to be the real Parvathi. Then he returned to Lanka, where his mother asked him for the Linga. Thereafter, Ravana came to know about the tricks played on him by Lord Vishnu. Therefore he prayed to Lord Shiva again and begged for forgiveness. Lord Shiva appeared and this time, Ravana requested the Atma Linga as his boon. Lord Shiva agreed for giving him the boon making it conditional that it should never be kept on the ground. If the AtmaLinga was ever kept on the ground, all the powers might be returned to Lord Shiva one more time. Having got his boon, Ravana began back on his journey to Lanka.
Narada when came to know about this incident, he realized that having the AtmaLinga, Ravana would obtain immortality and might create havoc on earth. He went to Lord Ganesh and asked him for preventing the AtmaLinga from reaching Lanka. Lord Ganesh was aware of the fact that that Ravana was a very devoted man who performed prayer rituals during evening time without fail. He took advantage of this fact and went to him with a plan of confiscating the AtmaLinga from Ravana.
Ganesha convinced Ravana that he would not be able to offer his prayers properly with AtmaLinga in his hands, so Lord Ganesh in the form of a Brahmin boy accosted him. Ravana asked him for holding the AtmaLinga until he accomplished his rituals Ganesh struck a deal with him that he is going to call Ravana thrice, and if Ravana he would not return within that time, the AtmaLinga would be kept on the ground.
Ganesh placed the AtmaLinga on the ground before Ravana returned. Ravana realized that he was again tricked and out of rage he tried to uproot as well as destroy it. Because of the exerted force by Ravana, few pieces got scattered. One piece from the top of lingam is believed to fall in present day Surathkal and hence formation of popular Sadashiva temple is constructed around that lingam.
Architecture
Murudeshwara Temple has been constructed on the Kanduka Hill having three sides surrounded by waters of Arabian Sea. There is a 20-storied Gopuram built at the temple. 2 life-size elephants are seen made up of concrete for guarding at the steps leading there. The whole temple along with the complex includes 237.5-feet-high Raja Gopuram.
The temple is modernized having exception of the sanctum sanctorum which remains dark and retains the composure. The major deity here is Sri Mridesa Linga, also referred to as Murudeshwara. The lingam is said to be a piece of original Atma Linga and is 2 feet below the ground. The Lingam is illuminated with oil lamps kept close by the priests. The Lingam is significantly a rough rock from inside. Entry into the sanctum is not allowed for the devotees.
There is a gigantic towering statue of Lord Shiva, which can be viewed from long distances. It is the second highest statue of Lord Shiva in the entire world. The highest statue of Lord Shiva is in Nepal called as Kailashnath Mahadev Statue. The statue has a height of 123 feet and 2 years were taken to complete it. The idol is designed in such a way that it may get the sunlight directly and hence appeared to be sparkling. The statue originally had 4 arms and was decorated in gold paint.
How to Reach
The closest airport to Murudeshwar is the Mangalore International Airport at 160 kilometer distance. Murudeshwar consists of railway station on the route of Konkan railway.
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