Murudeshwar Temple: History, Timings, Location And What’s So Special About It?
Temple tourism in coastal Karnataka is going to get a further boost with BMTC and KSRTC buses offering better connectivity to the religious circuits in these regions. Tourism Minister of Karnataka, Ramalinga Reddy, has made this recent announcement.
Murudeshwar Temple, with its towering Shiva Statue, remains one of the crown jewels in the temple tourism landscape of coastal Karnataka. So, with improved connectivity, this one, among the most famous temples in South India, will have more footfall.
Furthermore, with its 123-foot-tall Shiva statue, the second tallest in the world, the temple is located on the Kanduka Hill, just like the Arunachalam temple, another powerful Shiva temple in Southern India, is located on a hilltop.
The temple overlooks the Arabian Sea. So, the overall scenic beauty and ambiance here are transcendental.
Moreover, recently, the temple has been in the news with the temple authority announcing a formal dress code for visiting the sanctum. The latest notice permits men to wear dhotis or Panches or full trousers while visiting the temple.
On the other hand, women must wear a saree or salwar kameez to maintain the sanctity of the temple.
Do you want to learn more about this temple? We have discussed the location, temple timings, fees, history, significance, festivals, and more in this Dream and Travel Guide.
Murudeshwar Temple In Which State?
The magnificent Murudeshwar temple is located in the Murudeshwar town of Karnataka. The exact location of the temple is Bhatkal Taluk, Uttara Kannada District, Karnataka.
Also, the contact number of the temple is +91-8385-260-121.
What Is The Murudeshwar Temple Distance?
Mangalore International Airport (IXE) is the closest airport to the Murudeshwar Temple. The distance between these two places is around 150 km.
On the other hand, Murudeshwar Railway Station (MRDW) is the closest railway station to the temple. The distance is just 8 km. Bhatkal Railway Station is another railway station close to the temple. The distance is a little over 15 km.
Furthermore, Mangalore is the closest big city to the Murudeshwar Temple. The journey between these two places by road takes around 3 hours.
Also, the Murudeshwar temple to Bangalore distance is close to 500 km, and the journey by road takes around 10 hours.
Moreover, if you are on a Hyderabad to Gokarna trip, you can plan a visit to the Murudeshwar Temple, which is around 80 kms away.
The distances of Murudeshwar Temple from other major cities and locations are:
- Chennai to Murudeshwara Temple – 850 Km
- Goa to Murudeshwara Temple: 190 Km
- Mumbai to Murudeshwara Temple: 745 km
- Madurai to Murudeshwara Temple: 945 km
How To Reach Murudeshwar Temple?
You can reach the Murudeshwar Temple by air, road, or train. You will get buses to the temple from Gokarna, Mangalore, and Bangalore.
From the Murudeshwar Railway Station, you can take an auto or taxi to reach the temple. Also, as mentioned, the nearby airport station, Mangalore International Airport, is located at a distance of 150 km.
Reserve a cab or take a taxi to reach the temple from there.
What Is The Best Time To Visit Murudeshwar Temple?
October to March is the best time to visit the Murudeshwar Temple. The temple observes two major festivals during these months.
Karthik Purnima is observed during November and December. On the other hand, Mahashivratri falls in the months of February and March.
Furthermore, the weather conditions are pleasant in Murudeshwar during these months. You can even visit the temple during July and August to offer prayers to Lord Shiva during the holy months of Shravan.
Murudeshwar Temple Timings: (Darshana, Pooja, And Food Timings)
The temple opens at 3 AM every day, and throughout the day, devotees can visit the temple for Darshana. Also, throughout the day, various rituals are performed in this temple.
| Murudeshwar Temple Timings | Darshana And Rituals |
|---|---|
| 6 AM to 1 PM | Darshana |
| 6:30 AM to 7:30 AM | Morning Pooja |
| 6 AM to 12 PM | Rudrabhishekam |
| 12:15 PM to 1:00 PM | Afternoon Pooja |
| 12:00 PM to 2 PM | Temple Lunch |
| 1 PM to 3 PM | Temple Closed |
| 3 PM to 8:15 PM | Darshan |
| 3 PM to 7 PM | Rudrabhishekam |
| 7:15 PM to 8:15 PM | Evening Pooja |
| 7 PM to 9 PM | Temple Dinner |
What Is The Murudeshwar Temple Entry Fee? What Are The Special Poojas/Rituals At Murudeshwar Temple?
Entry to the Murudeshwar Temple is free. However, if you want to offer the Rudrabhishekam services to the Lord, the cost is INR 55 for two persons.
Also, there are prices for special rituals observed throughout the day. There is no online pooja or darshan booking facility for the temple. So, you can call at +91-8385-260-121 or visit the temple office to know about the prices.
Having said that, many special pujas and rituals are performed here throughout the day and on an annual basis. Here are the details.
| Daily Pooja | Significance |
|---|---|
| Rudrabhishekam | Special Pooja of Lord Shiva or Rudra to Purify the Atmosphere |
| Panchamrutha Abhishekam | Bathing Lord Shiva with Panchamrutha, Made Using Sugar, Ghee, Curd, Milk, and Honey |
| Panchakajjaya | Prasadam Made of Ghee, Cardamom. Coconut and Sesame are Offered to Lord Shiva |
| Bilvarchana | The Worship of Lord Shiva Using Bilvarchana or Bel Patra |
| Chandan Abhishekam | Bathing the Shiva Lingam with Sandalwood Paste |
| Bhasmarchane | Worshipping Lord Shiva with Bhasm/Bibhuti or Ashes |
| Ekadasa Rudra | Worshipping the 11 forms of Lord Shiva, such as: Shiva Shankara Eesana Maha Rudra Vijaya Rudra Neelalohita Devadeva Bhima Bhavodbhava Adityamaka Srirudra |
The annual pujas include the Nanda Deepa Pooja. In this Pooja, the priests light the Deepa, and the ritual signifies the divine presence, blessings, and enlightenment.
What Is The Murudeshwar Temple History? Murudeshwar Temple Story
The answer to when the Murudeshwar temple was built is a tricky one. History says that the origin of the temple goes back to the 16th century, when a Tuluva King, a local chieftain, built the temple.
However, over time, the Keladi Nayakas, the Wadiyar Dynasty, and the Vijayanagara Empire made significant contributions to the temple’s development. Also, the 20-tiered Raja Gopura you see today was constructed by R.N. Shetty in the early 2000s.
Having said that, the ancient Hindu scriptures have a fascinating tale to share about the origin of the temple.
The Story Of Atma Linga And Lord Ravana
Lord Ravana received the Atma Linga from Lord Shiva as a blessing for his penance. He was going back to Lanka, and the Gods were not willing to see him succeed as they were afraid of Ravana misusing the power of Atma Linga.
So, they asked Lord Ganesha for help and created the illusion of sunset on the earth. Ravana was very sincere about his evening rituals, and when he saw Lord Ganesha in the disguise of a boy, Ravana requested him to hold the Atma Linga and not to keep it on the ground.
The boy also said that he would call Ravana three times if his hands started to hurt.
As Ravana got busy in his evening rituals, Lord Ganesha called his name thrice, and before Lord Ravana could reach him, he kept the Atma Linga on the ground. Despite endless efforts, Ravana could not lift the Atma Linga, and he could only break a few pieces of it.
Thus, Mahabaleshwara was established, and Murudeshwar Temple is the place where the cloth covering of the Atma Linga is present.
Today, the temple complex has the Bhukailasa cave museum. The sculptures and casts in the museum narrate the story of Lord Ganesha, Ravana, and Atma Linga. There is also an audio guide for a more immersive experience.
What Is Special About Murudeshwar Temple?
Murudeshwar Temple is one of the five holiest places, or Pancha Kshetras, of Karnataka. Other holy places in the state are Dharmasthala, Gokarna, Nanjangud, and Dhareshwara.
All these temples are special as they house five different pieces of the Atma Linga, which Ravana had broken out of anger.
The Murudeshwar Temple is also known as the Mrideshwara Kshetra, meaning the place of the Atma-Linga.
Also, the architecture of the building stands out with its 123 feet tall Shiva statue, facing the Sun. Businessman R.N. Shetty built it in 2006. Next to the Shiva statue is the Sun Chariot.
The chariot depicts the scene where Arjuna received the teachings of the Bhagavad Gita from Lord Krishna.
R.N. Shetty also built the 237.5 feet tall and 20-storied tower with inscriptions from Hindu mythologies and the story of the Atma Linga and Lord Ganesha. This tower, or Gopuram, has an elevator which visitors can use to reach the top.
Overall, it is a place where divine blessings, spirituality, architectural marvels, history, and mythology come together to create an atmosphere filled with positive fervor.
What Are The Festivals Of Murudeshwar Temple?
Karthik Purnima and Mahashivratri are the two major festivals of the temple. Mahashivratri, observed during the months of February and March, is a celebration of transformation through the cycle of creation, preservation, and destruction.
It is also a festival to connect to Lord Shiva, the greater consciousness.
“Mahashivratri in Isha has become a massive festival of Consciousness over the years. Only by turning inward can we create a world full of love, light, and laughter. Let us make it happen.” – Sadguru.
On the other hand, Karthik Purnima is the day when Lord Kartikeya or Murugan, the son of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati, was born. It is also believed that on this day, Lord Shiva destroyed Tripura, or the three demon cities.
Yana Caves, Murudeshwar Beach, And Murudeshwar Jog Falls: Attractions Near The Murudeshwar Temple
The Yana Caves, located at a distance of 76 km from the Murudeshwar temple, are another nearby attraction, and it is associated with the myths of Bhasmasura, Lord Shiva, and Lord Vishnu.
Yana Caves is also an important ecotourism site in Kartanaka, and it is protected as a National Natural Heritage Site.
Further, a visit to the Jog Falls is often included in the Murudeshwar tour package. Formed by the Sharavathi River, it is the second-highest plunge waterfall in India. It is also one of the most famous waterfalls in Asia to visit.
Moreover, the nearby Murudeshwar Beach is a popular destination for watching the sunset, birdwatching, and participating in adventurous watersports.
