Sri Mookambika temple is an ancient temple located at Kollur in Karnataka. Kollur is about 135 away from Mangalore. And is easily accessed from Tamilnadu, Kerala and Karnataka by train and road.
About Mookambika Temple :
Mookambika temple is an ancient temple located at Kollur in Karnataka. Kollur is about 135 away from Mangalore. And is easily accessed from Tamilnadu, Kerala and Karnataka by train and road.
It is the only temple that is dedicated to goddess Parvathi and believed to be created by Parashurama. This temple is very well known among the people of Tamilnadu and the goddess Parvathi is called in Tamil as Thai Mookambika. Parvathi temple is located exactly on the banks of the perennial river Souparnika that runs close to the foot hills of the Western Ghats. River Sauparnika has its attribute to the eagle called Suparna that did penance in this bank and attained salvation.
Attractions Of Mookambika Temple, Kollur In Karnataka :
Mookambika is one of the most legendary shrines for Hindus in India. Mookambika temple is situated at Kollur village of Kundapur taluk in Udupi district of Karnataka. Kollur is a small village of about six square kilometers in area at the foot of Western Ghat. Kollur is generally known as ‘Mookambi’ in Kerala and Tamil Nadu. Though Mookambika temple is situated in Karnataka most of the pilgrims visiting the temple are from Kerala and Tamil Nadu. kollur mookambika is unique among the Hindu gods and goddesses as she embodies the powers of Mahalaxmi, Mahasaraswathi and Mahakali merged into one as Adiparashakthi.
Port city of Mangalore on national highway 17 (N.H 17) is the nearest big city connected to all important places by road, rail and air routes. People coming from southern parts of India have to travel via Mangalore to reach Kollur Mookambika. People coming from eastern and northern parts can access Kollur Mookambika Temple via Shimoga. Travelers on Konkan route have to alight at Bhatkal or Kundapur to go to Kollur. Stage carriage buses ply frequently between Mangalore and Sree Mookambika Temple. Mangalore, Udupi, Kundapur, Hemmadi, Vandse route is the shortest and convenient route to Kollur. There are direct buses to Kollur from important places like Bangalore, Guruvayoor, Kottarakkara, Kannur, Shimoga, Sagara etc. People traveling in own vehicles have to take deviation from national highway at Hemmadi situated at five km north of Kundapur (100 k.m.from Mangalore). Kundapur situated on the NH.17 and Konkan railway route is the nearest town to Kollur.
Location :
Sri Mookambika Devi Temple in Kollur is one of the most important Hindu temples in India situated around 147 km from Mangalore and 80 km from Udupi in Karnataka. This ancient Devi temple, dedicated to Goddess Parvathi, is believed to be created by Lord Parashurama (one of the ten incarnations of Lord Vishnu). The goddess is called in Tamil as Thai Mookambika who is regarded as a manifestation of Goddess Parvati, Goddess Saraswati and Goddess Lakshmi. Mookambika Temple is one of the most famous Goddess Saraswati Temples in India.
Mookambika Devi Temple Overview :
The Kollur Mookambika Temple is one of the most famous pilgrimage centers in India. This temple is dedicated mainly to Parvati Devi or Shakthi, and also the Female Trinity, Mahashakthi, Mahalakshmi, and Saraswathi. This temple shrine has a Jyotirlinga that is considered to embody the male and female Trinities.
The right half stands for the Static Conscious Principle as represented by Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. The left half stands of the Creative Energy Principle as represented By Parvati, Lakshmi and Saraswathi. The Mookambika Temple in Kollur is considered one of the Seven Mukthisthalas in Karnataka.
Mookambika Temple History :
The Traditional Origin of the Shrine
Once, Sage Kola Maharishi was performing Tapas here when he was persistently troubled by a demon. This Demon had also been praying to Lord Shiva to get powers that would make him invincible and let him do whatever he wanted. Knowing the evil mind of this demon, Devi Shakthi made him Mooka (Dumb). So, when Lord Shiva appeared before him, he was unable to ask for any boon. Enraged by this, the Demon began to harass Kola Maharishi, who was also praying to the Lord. Kola Maharishi appealed to the Divine Mother for help. So, Devi Shakthi came down and vanquished the Demon, Mookasura.
Henceforth, in this region, she came to be known as Mookambika. Lord Shiva also appeared before the sage. Maharishi Kola asked that the Lord with His Consort should remain here forever. To grant his wish, a Jyotirlinga appeared, with a Swarnarekha (golden line) in the middle. Thus, one half of this Linga stands for the conscious principle as embodied by Shiva, Vishnu and Brahma, while the other stood for the Creative Principle in the form of Parvati, Lakshmi and Saraswathi.
Recent History
Adi Shankaracharya was meditating on the Kodachadri Hills near here, when he had a Vision of Goddess Mookambika. He expressed a desire to install an idol of the Devi in a place in Kerala. The Goddess agreed, on one condition. She said that she would follow Sri Shankara, but that He should trust Her and not look back. He agreed, and proceeded on his way, assured by the sound of her anklets that She was following him. Suddenly, the anklets stopped tinkling. Surprised, Sri Shankara looked back to see if the Devi was indeed following him. She was right behind him, but as per the condition, she would not follow him any further. So, he installed a beautiful metal Idol of the Devi here behind the Jyotirlinga. In those days, Kollur was a part of Kerala.
Mookambika Temple Facts :
The Idols and Ornaments :
- This temple has two processional idols in gold. One was donated by Kittur Rani Chennamma during the period when the original idol was missing. Later, the original idol was also recovered.
- The temple has several beautiful ornaments donated by various devotees. There is a famous emerald jewel for the Devi in this temple. Emerald signifies knowledge.
- The former Chief Minister of Tamilnadu, M.G. Ramachandran gave a beautiful 2.5 feet long golden sword as an offering to the temple. The former Chief Minister of Karnataka offered a similar sword made of Silver.
- The golden face mask of the Devi was offered by the Vijayanagara rulers. There is also a similar golden face mask for the Jyotirlinga.
The Shrines :
Beside the Jyotirlinga and Devi Mookambika, there are other shrines here for :
- Shri Subramanya
- Shri Partheeshwara
- Shri Panchamukha Ganapathi
- Shri Chandramouleeshwara
- Shri Pranalingeshwara
- Shri Nanjundeshwara
- Shri Anjaneya
- Shri Venkataramana
- Shri Thulasi Gopalakrishna
Special Occasions :
- Navaratri or Dussera celebrations
- Sri Krishna Janmashtami
- Music Festival
- The famous singer K.J. Yesudas has been visiting this temple for the past 30 years and singing Keerthans on Devi Saraswathi. To mark his sixtieth birthday, a music festival was started here in 2000. This nine day Music Festival is held in January of each year. This is a good time to visit the town.
How to Get to Get to Mookambika Temple :
Kollur Mookambika Temple is a famous pilgrimage spot. It is easy to get buses from Mangalore, Udupi and the nearby Kundapur. Kundapur also has a railway station which is on the Konkan Railway route.