Kollur Sri Mookambika Temple

Kollur town is in the Kodachadri Peak of Western Ghats. Kollur is famous for Sri Mookambika Temple, where goddess Parvathi is worshiped as Sri Mookambika. As per the legend, there was a demon by name Kaumasura who obtained a boon from Lord Shiva and reigned over all the gods and divine beings. The terrified and helpless gods came to Kodachadri as a hiding place to take shelter from his harassment. Meanwhile, Shukracharya Guru of demons with his divine powers envisioned that his follower Kaumasura would be impending death in the hands of a woman. He advised Kaumasura to perform another penance to please Lord Shiva. Lord Shiva pleased with his penance appears before him and asks him to name the boon that he wishes. Lord Vagdevi, the Goddess of speech senses that this could lead to a greater devastation and makes him speechless. The dumb Kaumasura then becomes unable to verbalize his wish making his penance a waste and from that day onwards Kaumasura is called Mookasura.

This didn’t stop him from continuing his harassment over gods and divine beings. To put an end to his terror Kola Rishi requested the goddess to create a mystical power by bringing together the individual powers of all the gods. This Divine Power waged war on Mookasura and killed him, the place where Devi killed Mookasura is known as "Marana Katte" and the Goddess is known as Mookambika.

Mookambika Temple is situated on the banks of river Saupaarnika, the river is named after (Garuda/Eagle) called Suparna attaining salvation by performing penance on the banks of the river. The Goddess Mookambika is in the form of Jyotir-Linga incorporating both Shiva and Shakthi. Adi Shankaracharya meditated in this place and Mookambika is said to have appeared before him. In the very place where goddess appeared before him, he consecrated a Panchaloha idol of the Goddess (the current idol we can see in the temple).

Kollur is regarded as one of the seven pilgrimage places in Karnataka created by Parashurama. Among all other places that were created by Parashurama only Moolambika temple is dedicated to Goddess Parvathi however rest all other places are dedicated to lord Shiva or his children’s Ganesh and Subramanya.

One of the other attractions of this temple is a large and beautiful Deepa Sthambha (a pillar to hold lamps) with 21 concentric just before the entrance of the sanctum. This beautiful Deepa Sthambha rests on a Koorma Peeta (seat with tortoise) and on this tortoise is a huge elephant upon which Lord Ganapathi idol can be seen which is facing Goddess Mookambika Devi. The lamps are lighted on special occasions like Navarathri and during the Rathotsava.

Navarathri/Dasara is considered as one of the most important festival of Mookambika Temple. Thousands of devotees visit the place during this period of 10 days. Durgashtami falls on eighth day when Maha Chandika Yaga is organized in the temple and on the ninth day, known as Mahanavami Pushparathothsava is conducted and on the last day which is known as Dasara/Vijaya Dashami lot of devotees come here with their children’s to get goddess blessing and for beginning their child’s education as it is considered as the most auspicious day for beginning education (Vidya Arambham).

Kollur is about 406 kms from Bangalore (via National Highway NH-69) and Mangalore Airport is the nearest airport which is around 135 kms. Distance between Udupi and Kollur is around 73 kms. There is frequent bus facility and accommodation facility in Kundapur which is around 40 kms away.
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