Any Indian will say the moment someone refers to the name, MURUDESHWAR, that the name has something to do with Lord Shiva. In this case, it is the name of a small town situated on the West Coast National Highway No. 17 on the shores of Arabian Sea. A beautiful town which has nothing much to boast off except a beautiful huge statue of Shiva, the God of power or ‘Shakti’ and a beautiful beach and Shiva temple.
Shiva is one of the Hindu gods called as ‘trinity’ or ‘thrimoorthy’. They are Brahma, god of creation, Vishnu the god who preserves and Shiva who destroys. Shiva is different from other godheads. He is always depicted with hair twisted high with a crescent tucked into it and the river Ganges flowing from his hairs. There is a serpent coiled around his neck which represents energy. He has trident in his left hand with a ‘damroo’ a leather drum like instrument. ( I have already written about it in my earlier blog ) He is seated on a tiger skin keeping a water pot on his right side. He also wears the ‘Rudraksha’ and his body is smeared with ash Above statute of Shiva depicts all the details stated above. The statue is 123 ft. in height (37 m) and took almost two years to complete.
When you go to Goa after Bhatkal on the west coast National Highway you can see this huge statue. Take some time to see this and go to a beautiful restaurant attached to a Hotel by the sea side and watch the sea and the sun set while sitting comfortable with your evening snack.