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Murudeshwar · Karnataka

Sri Mridesha / Murudeshwar Temple

Sri Mridesha / Murudeshwar Temple — Murudeshwar, Bhatkal Taluk, Uttara Kannada District, Karnataka

Sri Mhatobar Murudeshwar (Mridesha) = the site where the cloth-covering of Ravana's Atma-Linga case fell; on Kanduka/Mridesha-giri hill; surrounded on three sides by the Arabian Sea; world-renowned 123-foot Shiva statue + 237.5-foot 20-storey Raja Gopuram (modernised under R.N. Shetty's funding)

अन्य नाम: Murudeshwar Temple · Mridesha Temple · Sri Mhatobar Murudeshwar · Murudeshwar Shiva Temple

  • The world-renowned 123-foot
  • 237.5-foot 20-storey Raja Gopuram
  • A lift inside the gopuram
  • Per traditional narrative, the clo…
Sri Mridesha / Murudeshwar Temple
दर्शन समय
03:00 (Wikipedia + Astroved) – 20:00
स्वरूप
A svayambhu Shivalinga in the sanctum be…
स्थान
Murudeshwar · Karnataka
उत्तम ऋतु
Maha Shivaratri 15 February 2026
काल
Very ancient

इस मन्दिर की विशेषता

  • The world-renowned 123-foot (37 m) Shiva statue — the world's third-tallest Shiva statue (Wikipedia; after the 'Statue of Belief' and the 'Kailashnath Mahadev Statue, Nepal'); R.N. Shetty-funded (~Rs.5 crore); sculptor Kashinath of Shivamogga; built over ~2 years
  • 237.5-foot 20-storey Raja Gopuram (completed 2008; among the tallest gopurams in India — comparable with the Srirangam Ranganathaswamy Rajagopuram ~239 feet; the 'world's tallest' claim is dropped)
  • A lift inside the gopuram — the view of the giant outdoor Shiva statue from the top
  • Per traditional narrative, the cloth-of-Ravana's-Atma-Linga-case-falling site; with Gokarna (the case-itself site) — Mridesha/Murudesha is the cloth-falling site; Gokarna + Murudeshwar + Sajjeshwar + Guneshwar + Dhareshwar form a five-kshetra cluster (partially verified — flag)
  • Surrounded on three sides by the Arabian Sea on Kanduka hill; a principal coastal-Karnataka site; the Murudeshwar Railway Station (MRDW) is on the Konkan Railway nearby
  • NOT one of the Parashurama Kshetra Seven Mukti Sthalas (those are: Udupi + Kollur + Subrahmanya + Kumbashi + Koteshwara + Shankaranarayana + Gokarna; Murudeshwar is NOT included — multi-source verified)
01
मूल विग्रह

मुख्य देव एवं स्वरूप

Sri Mridesha Linga / Mhatobar Murudeshwar — a svayambhu lingam in the sanctum ~2 feet below ground level; believed to be a fragment of the Atma-Linga; upadevathas: the 123-foot tall outdoor Shiva statue (separate; near the temple), Nandi (near the gopuram)

A svayambhu Shivalinga in the sanctum below ground level; the sanctum is dark; direct entry into the sanctum is restricted (Wikipedia); the 123-foot outdoor Shiva statue is a separate display site

सम्प्रदाय: Shaiva tradition; administered by the R.N. Shetty Trust / Shri Mhatobar Murudeshwar Temple Trust; R.N. Shetty (RNS Group founder; a Padma-Shri-class businessman-philanthropist) funded the temple management and modernisation; the prior hereditary Muktesar tradition was held by R.N. Shetty's father

02
स्थल-पुराण

कथा, इतिहास एवं महत्व

The Ravana-Atma-Linga-cloth-falling narrative (the Murudeshwar name etymology)

A traditional Treta Yuga narrative: Ravana, after receiving the Atma-Linga from Bhagavan Shiva, set out for Lanka. Ganesha (disguised as a Brahmin boy) tricked Ravana into placing the linga on the ground at Gokarna (the linga became fixed there = Gokarna Mahabaleshwar). In his anger, Ravana flung the parts of the Atma-Linga case in various directions — the cloth (covering) fell on the Kanduka hill at the 'Mrideshwar' site (hence 'Mridesha' → Murudeshwar). Other sites: Sajjeshwar (the decorative string), Guneshwar (the case lid), Dhareshwar (the case itself) — these plus Gokarna form the traditional pancha-kshetra cluster (partially verified — flag). The main sanctum's lingam is, per belief, a small portion of the Atma-Linga in svayambhu form; below ground level ~2 feet.

The R.N. Shetty modernisation narrative (late 20th century)

R.N. Shetty (Ravindranath Shetty; founder of the RNS Group; a prominent businessman-philanthropist), after the hereditary Muktesar tradition passed from his father, became the trustee of the temple and in the late 20th century carried out the temple's modernisation — the 237.5-foot 20-storey Raja Gopuram (construction began 1990; phase 2 in 1998; completed 2008) + the 123-foot tall Shiva statue (sculptor: Kashinath of Shivamogga; built over ~2 years; ~Rs.5 crore R.N. Shetty-funded) + the development of Murudeshwar town.

The 123-foot Shiva statue uniqueness (world's third-tallest; Wikipedia)

123-foot (37-metre) tall outdoor Shiva statue; the world's third-tallest Shiva statue (per Wikipedia; after the 'Statue of Belief' Rajasthan 369 feet + the 'Kailashnath Mahadev' Nepal 144 feet); designed for direct sunlight. With the Arabian Sea as the backdrop.

The 237.5-foot 20-storey Raja Gopuram + lift narrative

The 20-storey 237.5-foot Raja Gopuram was completed in 2008 (construction began 1990; phase 2 in 1998); among the tallest gopurams in India (comparable with the Srirangam Ranganathaswamy Rajagopuram ~239 feet; the 'world's tallest' claim is disputed — dropped; 'among the tallest in India' phrasing is correct). The lift inside the gopuram goes up to the top — with a view of the 123-foot outdoor Shiva statue from the top. Sculptor: S.K. Achar (Tamil) leading 500 Tanjore artisans (single-source A Soul Window — flag).

संत एवं परम्परा

  • Ravana (traditional Treta Yuga narrative) — central to the Atma-Linga-cloth-falling-site narrative
  • Ganesha (as a Brahmin boy in the traditional narrative) — the trickster who fixed the Atma-Linga at Gokarna
  • R.N. Shetty (Ravindranath Shetty) — RNS Group founder; temple trustee (a hereditary Muktesar descendant); funder of the late-20th-century modernisation
  • R.N. Shetty's father — hereditary Muktesar (traditional administrator) before R.N. Shetty
  • Kashinath of Shivamogga — chief sculptor of the 123-foot Shiva statue
  • S.K. Achar (Tamil) + 500 Tanjore artisans — Raja Gopuram sculptors (single-source flag)
  • R.N. Shetty Trust / Shri Mhatobar Murudeshwar Temple Trust — the modern governing body

ऐतिहासिक घटनाक्रम

  1. Traditional Treta Yuga narrative — the site where Ravana's Atma-Linga cloth fell (Mridesha/Murudesha) — Wikipedia + tradition
  2. 1990237.5-foot 20-storey Raja Gopuram construction begins — A Soul Window + Mahashivratri.org
  3. 1998Raja Gopuram construction phase 2 — A Soul Window
  4. 2008237.5-foot 20-storey Raja Gopuram completed — A Soul Window + Mahashivratri.org + Pravase + Wikipedia multi-source
03
नित्य उपासना

दर्शन समय एवं आरती

03:00 (Wikipedia + Astroved) से 20:00 तक · मध्याह्न विश्राम 13:00-15:00 (Wikipedia + Astroved)

Temple opens03:00 (Wikipedia source; other sources give 06:00)
Daily
Morning darshan03:00-13:00
Daily
Morning Aarti~06:30 (Temples.bio source — single-flag)
Daily
(Temple break)13:00-15:00
Daily
Evening darshan15:00-20:00
Daily
Sandhya Aarti~19:00 (Temples.bio source — single-flag)
Daily

वस्त्र-संहिता: Modest traditional attire (no codified rule in official sources — advisory level)

फोटोग्राफी: Sanctum photography policy not in official sources — likely-forbidden inferred

विशेष नियम: The sanctum is dark + below ground level; direct entry into the sanctum is restricted; midday break 13:00-15:00; the lift fee is separate; daily times disagree across sources — confirm with the temple

04
दर्शन

दर्शन के प्रकार

General Free Darshan (the sanctum sthala-lingam)निःशुल्क
समय
03:00-13:00 + 15:00-20:00

The svayambhu Shivalingam in the sanctum below ground level; the dark sanctum.

The 123-foot outdoor Shiva statue darshanनिःशुल्क

A separate display site near the sanctum; with the Arabian Sea as the backdrop.

Raja Gopuram lift (the Shiva statue view from the top)₹10

A lift inside the 20-storey 237.5-foot gopuram; a top view of the 123-foot Shiva statue; ~Rs.10 fee (A Soul Window single source — likely outdated).

Rudrabhisheka seva

Rs.500-2,500 in the morning (Temples.bio single source — flag); book at the temple office.

Archana seva

Rs.51-201 (Temples.bio single source — flag).

Maha Shivaratri darshan (15 February 2026)निःशुल्क

The annual peak utsava; Suprabhata Seva + Maha Rudrabhishekam + Murudeshwar Ratha Yatra + midnight Maha Aarti + all-night jagran.

05
उत्सव

प्रमुख पर्व एवं उत्सव

Maha ShivaratriPhalguna Krishna Chaturdashi; 2026: 15 February 2026 (Sunday)

The annual peak utsava; Suprabhata Seva + Maha Rudrabhishekam + Murudeshwar Ratha Yatra + midnight Maha Aarti + all-night jagran

Kartika Purnima / Kartika ShivaratriKartik Purnima (November-December); 2026: 25 November 2026

Kartik-month Shiva-special day

Monthly Pradosha pujaTrayodashi tithi

Pre-sunset special abhisheka

Shravana Maas (Shiva month)Shravana (July-August)

Month-long special Shiva pujas

06
आस्था

मनोकामना एवं फल

Maha Shivaratri vrata sankalpa (annual 15 February 2026)

The site of the Ravana-Atma-Linga-cloth narrative; coastal-Karnataka's principal Shiva-tirtha Shivaratri sankalpa

स्रोत: Drik Panchang + Hindutone multi-source

Svayambhu-lingam darshan sankalpa (an Atma-Linga fragment per belief)

A svayambhu lingam in the sanctum below ground level ~2 feet; believed to be a fragment of the Atma-Linga; a unique darshan sankalpa tirtha

स्रोत: Wikipedia + tradition

123-foot tall Shiva statue darshan sankalpa (world's third-tallest)

The world's third-tallest Shiva statue (Wikipedia); R.N. Shetty-funded; with the Arabian Sea as the backdrop; a modern-pilgrimage sankalpa tirtha

स्रोत: Wikipedia + A Soul Window + Astroved multi-source

237.5-foot 20-storey Raja Gopuram + lift view sankalpa

Among India's tallest gopurams (completed 2008); from the gopuram lift, the view of the Shiva statue from the top; a modern-architecture sankalpa tirtha

स्रोत: Wikipedia + A Soul Window + Mahashivratri.org + Pravase multi-source

Ravana-Atma-Linga pancha-kshetra pilgrimage sankalpa

The traditional Gokarna + Murudeshwar + Sajjeshwar + Guneshwar + Dhareshwar pancha-kshetra cluster (partially verified — flag)

स्रोत: Wikipedia + tradition (partially verified)

Shravana-month vrata sankalpa + Pradosha-puja sankalpa

Weekly/monthly Shiva vrata tirtha

स्रोत: Shiva Purana + tradition

07
जप

मन्त्र एवं स्तोत्र

  • Shiva Panchakshari mantra (Om Namah Shivaya)Panchakshari mantraShaiva tradition
  • Sri Rudram + ChamakamVedic stotraKrishna Yajurveda Taittiriya SamhitaThe recitation tradition during the Rudrabhisheka
  • Shiva Tandava StotraStotraPer tradition, by Ravana — central to the Murudeshwar narrative (during the Atma-Linga journey)इस मन्दिर हेतुSpecifically connected to the Ravana narrative
  • Murudeshwar AshtakamAshtaka stotraCoastal-Karnataka Shaiva traditionइस मन्दिर हेतु
08
तीर्थाटन

समीप के तीर्थ एवं परिपथ

The 123-foot tall outdoor Shiva statue (near the temple)200 मी

The world's third-tallest Shiva statue; R.N. Shetty-funded; the Kashinath of Shivamogga sculpture

237.5-foot 20-storey Raja Gopuram + lift100 मी

Among India's tallest gopurams (completed 2008); from the gopuram top, a Shiva-statue view via the lift

Nandi mandapa100 मी

A giant Nandi murti

Arabian Sea coast (surrounding the temple on three sides)0 मी

The Kanduka hill juts into the Arabian Sea on three sides; a natural coastal view

Gokarna Mahabaleshwar (a Parashurama Kshetra Seven Mukti Sthalas member; the Atma-Linga's primary site)75 किमी

Where Ravana fixed the Atma-Linga; the central tirtha of the pancha-kshetra cluster; central to the Murudeshwar-cloth-falling narrative

Dhareshwar / Guneshwar / Sajjeshwar (the rest of the pancha-kshetra sites)60 किमी

The traditional sites where parts of Ravana's Atma-Linga case fell (partially verified — flag)

Udupi Sri Krishna Matha (120 km)120 किमी

The Madhva sampradaya centre; in the coastal-Karnataka tirtha cluster

Kollur Mookambika (60 km)60 किमी

The Devi station of the Parashurama Kshetra; in the coastal-Karnataka tirtha group

Ravana-Atma-Linga pancha-kshetra pilgrimage (Gokarna + Murudeshwar + Dhareshwar + Guneshwar + Sajjeshwar)

The cloth-falling-site origin; central to the pancha-kshetra cluster's Murudesha name-etymology

5 मंदिर

Coastal-Karnataka pilgrimage (Murudeshwar + Udupi + Kollur + Gokarna + Mangalore)

The principal coastal-Karnataka Shiva site; the Arabian-Sea-coast view centre

5 मंदिर

The world's tallest Shiva statues pilgrimage (Murudeshwar 123 ft + Statue of Belief 369 ft + Kailashnath Mahadev Nepal 144 ft)

The world's third-tallest Shiva statue site

3 मंदिर

09
मार्गदर्शन

यात्रा एवं संपर्क

पता
Sri Mhatobar Murudeshwar / Mridesha Temple, Kanduka hill, Murudeshwar, Bhatkal Taluk, Uttara Kannada District, Karnataka — PIN 581350 (surrounded on three sides by the Arabian Sea)
हवाई अड्डा
Mangalore International Airport (IXE) — ~165 km; Goa (GOI) ~250 km alternative
रेलवे
Murudeshwar Railway Station (MRDW; Konkan Railway) — 2 km from the temple
बस-स्टैण्ड
Murudeshwar bus stand (next to the temple); 1 km detour from NH-66 (between Honnavar and Bhatkal)
उत्तम ऋतु
Maha Shivaratri 15 February 2026; Kartika Purnima 25 November 2026; monthly Pradosha; Shravana month July-August; winter months (November-February) most comfortable for coastal-Karnataka travel; in the monsoon (June-September) the Western-Ghats coast sees heavy rain
प्रबन्धन
R.N. Shetty Trust / Shri Mhatobar Murudeshwar Temple Trust; R.N. Shetty (Ravindranath Shetty; RNS Group founder) is the temple trustee and the late-20th-century modernisation funder; R.N. Shetty's father held the hereditary Muktesar (traditional administrator) role
वेबसाइट
https://rnsil.com/rn-shetty-trust/ ↗
2 किमीMurudeshwar Railway
14 किमीBhatkal
22 किमीHonnavar
75 किमीGokarna
85 किमीKarwar
120 किमीUdupi
60 किमीKollur Mookambika
165 किमीMangalore
250 किमीGoa
491 किमीBangalore
← सभी मंदिर निर्देशिका
Sri Mridesha / Murudeshwar Temple — दर्शन, आरती, इतिहास एवं यात्रा | Pauranik | Pauranik