Have you ever heard the story behind the Murudeshwar Temple, the mystical that it feels like it was carved out of the heavens themselves?

The legend goes back to the Ramayana, where Ravana, the mighty king of Lanka performed a fierce penance to win Lord Shivan’s favour. Pleased by his devotion, Shivan granted him the Atma Linga, the most powerful divine force. But there was one condition: Ravana must never place it on the ground until he reached Lanka.

The gods trembled at the thought of Ravana gaining such power. Desperate, they turned to Lord Ganesha for help.

During Ravana’s journey, he stopped at Gokarna for his evening prayers. At that very moment, Ganesha appeared in the simple form of a young boy. Ravana, needing help, handed the Atma Linga to him, but the boy insisted on a promise. If he felt it was too heavy, he would call Ravana only three times before putting it down.

Ganesha called out once. He called again. A third time…

And then, he gently placed the Atma Linga on the ground before vanishing. The moment it touched the earth, it became immovable.

Fuming with rage, Ravana tried with all his strength to pull it free. But the Linga wouldn’t budge. Instead, pieces of it shattered and fell across different places:

- The main portion remained at Gokarna.

- One remarkable fragment flew and settled at the spot we now know as Murudeshwar.

That fragment is worshipped today as the sacred Mridesa Lingam, the heart of the Murudeshwar Temple.

 No wonder Murudeshwar continues to inspire awe in everyone who hears its origin.

Source/ Image Credit : AbhiBus, Famous Temples of India, The Hindu Heritage,  Weekend Trips From Hyderabad