Photo: Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SAOpen NowMurudeshwara Temple
Type
Hindu Temple
Deity
Lord Shiva
Pincode
581350
A coastal Shiva temple on the Arabian Sea in Karnataka, overlooked by one of the world's tallest Shiva statues, standing around 123 feet high. Its hilltop location on Kanduka Hill, surrounded by water on three sides, makes it one of the state's most photographed pilgrimage spots.
History & Significance
Significance
Murudeshwara Temple on the Arabian Sea coast of Karnataka is famous for housing one of the world's tallest statues of Lord Shiva — a 37-metre monolithic structure visible from the sea. The temple sits on Kanduka Hill, flanked by the ocean on three sides, creating one of the most scenic temple settings in India. The Atma Lingam — the original sacred lingam brought by Ravana from Kailash — is believed to be buried beneath the temple.
History
The temple's significance stems from the Ramayana legend of the Atma Lingam. The current temple complex with the famous Shiva statue was developed largely in the modern era, with philanthropist R.N. Shetty commissioning the 37-metre Shiva statue and the 20-floor Raja Gopura in the early 2000s. The statue was completed in 2008 and has made Murudeshwara one of Karnataka's top tourist-pilgrimage destinations.
Ravana obtained the Atma Lingam (Shiva's soul) from Kailash after intense penance. Lord Vishnu devised a plan with Ganesha to prevent Ravana from taking the lingam to Lanka: Ganesha disguised as a boy tricked Ravana into handing the lingam temporarily, then placed it on the ground at Murudeshwara — after which it could not be moved. Ravana, furious, broke the covering of the lingam into pieces, which scattered at various locations. The lingam at Murudeshwara is believed to be the place where the main Atma Lingam fell.
Architecture
The 37-metre Shiva statue is made of M-Sand and painted white, depicting Lord Shiva in a seated position. The 20-floor Raja Gopura (entrance tower) is one of the tallest gopurams in Karnataka, with a lift for visitors. The temple complex also contains a life-size diorama of Ravana receiving the Atma Lingam from Shiva, and the Ganesha scene. The coastal setting with the Arabian Sea backdrop makes this a uniquely picturesque temple.
Nearby Temples
Closest temples by distance — worth combining into the same trip.