Existing since the beginning of everything, the imperium of Devadi dev Mahadev is boundless. The Aaadi Dev has been worshiped by people all over the world. There are several idols of Shiva-Shambhu with diverse legends. Today, let us take a glance at the myth behind the Lord Shiva statue in Murdeshwar.
Lord Shiva’s massive idol stands at a height of 123 feet. The construction is in such a way that the sun’s rays fall on it throughout the day, causing the idol to shine at all times. It took approximately two years to construct and cost around five crore rupees. Thousands of people travel from all over the country and the world to see this unique temple.
Location
Murdeshwar is a town in the Uttara Kannada region of Karnataka, India, located in the Bhatkal Taluk. Murudeshwar is a well-known town in the Bhatkal tehsil of the Uttar Kannada district in Karnataka, India. Murudeshwar is a different name for Shiva, the Hindu god. The city is also well-known for possessing the world’s second-tallest Shiva idol and the Murudeshwar temple, which is located on the Arabian Sea’s coast. The Konkan Railway runs from Mangalore to Mumbai, and Murudeshwar Railway Station is part of it.
Rajagopura and Murudeshwar Temple
Nestled in the Kandukagiri, the Shiva statue in Murdeshwar is majestic. Flanked by the Arabian Sea on three sides, on the small hill of Kandukagiri resides the temple of Lord Shiva. The multi-story gopuram looks majestic. There are 123-foot Shiva idols atop the 240-foot Rajgopura. At the foot of the hill, there is a Rameshwar Shiva temple and a Shivalinga, besides the Sri Akshaygun Shivalinga Shaneshwar idol.
The idol’s Mythology and Namesake
According to Hindu Mythology, the name Murudesvara came from the Ramayana period. The Hindu deities and divinities earned immortality by worshiping the Atmalinga type of divine symbol.
The tales of Ramayana
King Ravana of Lanka began worshipping Atmalinga, the symbol of Shiva’s soul, in his quest for immortality. Similarly, King Ravana of Lanka began worshipping Atmalinga, the symbol of Shiva’s soul, in his quest for immortality. Maheshwar conferred it on him once he became pleased, and Ravana voiced his wish to acquire Atmalinga from him. Shiva accepted and told Ravana that unless they put in place the idol in Ravana’s dominion, the linga would remain where it meets the ground. After obtaining this gift, Ravana embarked on his quest for his kingdom with Atmalinga.
The plot against Ravana
Sri Vishnu became aware of the entire situation and grasped the ramifications of Ravana’s immortality. Ravana would never be able to construct a Ramalinga in his empire, so Sri Vishnu sent Ganesha, Shiva’s son. Skandapurvaj knew that Ravana never left all his evening and day-to-day other puja work incomplete. This is the opportunity he uses to recover Atmalinga gifted by Shiv to Ravan.
Vishnu disguised himself as sunshine and evening weather when he reached Gokarna on his route to Lankeshwar. Ravana remembered his evening Annika at this time. However, Shivadatta was agitated by the notion of Atmalinga’s home. When Ganesha appeared in the form of a Brahmin lad named Srishivarna at that time, he entrusted him with the task of self-abnegation till the process of Ravana completed the worshipping.Srivinayak accepted on the proviso that if he did not appear after the third call to Ravana, he would be in control.
When Ravana returned, he discovered that the Atmalinga had eroded. The sunrise occurred when Keshab disposed of his Maya once more. When Ravana understood the plot against him, he tried to save the penis, but the pieces are spread all over the place. As a result, there emerged the Sadashiv Mandir 7.Later, when he attempted to smash the penis, it landed 36 kilometers distant in Sajjeshwar. Near a distance of 18 and 19 kilometers, the lower half of Abarak falls at Guneshwar and Dhareshwar.
Finally, Ravana tosses Atmalinga’s clothing, which lands on Mridheshwara of Kandukagiri; this Mridheshwara was later known as Murudesvara.