Goddess Mookambika Temple is located on the banks of the River Souparnika that runs at the foothills of the Western Ghats. It is said that the river is named after an eagle called Suparna who did penance in this bank and attained salvation. The temple is very much associated with Guru Adi Sankaracharya - the revered Hindu saint and Vedic scholar. Udupi Temple and Murudeshwar Shiva Temple are within driving distance from Kollur Mookambika.
Importance of Kollur
Kollur is one of the Seven Muktistala (or highly revered Hindu sacred places) in Karnataka – the other six pilgrimage places are Udupi, Subrahmanya, Kumbasi, Kodeshwara, Sankaranarayana and Gokarna. While the other pilgrimages are devoted to Lord Shiva, Lord Subramanya and Lord Ganesha, this is the only one devoted to Goddess Shakti. Mookambika Temple attracts a large number of pilgrims from all over the world.
Sanctum of Mookambika Temple
Shri Mookambika Devi Temple, decorated with gold plated
pinnacle and copper roofs, stands atop the Kodachadri Peak. The temple consists
of the sanctorum, an entrance hall and the Lakshmi Mantapa at the back. The
four pillars at Lakshmi Mantapa are adorned with beautifully carved images of
various Hindu gods. Inside the sanctum sanctorum is the Lingam which is the
main deity and is known as Jyothirlingam. The Devi is incorporated as both
Shiva and Shakthi in the form of Jyothirlingam. She is seen here with three
eyes and four arms, with the divine disc and conch in her hands.
The sanctum of Goddess Mookambika Temple is a single yoni flag size and artistic in value.
The idol of Mookambika Devi is believed to be of 1200 years old. One can see a
huge deepasthambam (a pillar to hold lamps) with its base like a tortoise’s
head. It has around 21 beautiful concentric circles which resemble that of Makara Jyothi (of Sabarimala Temple)
when all the lamps are lit. Beyond the Garbhagriha are four types of idols of
Lord Ganapathi. Of these, the Dasa Bhuja Ganapathi and Balamuri Ganapathi are
of special interest as these are beautifully sculpted using white marble. There
is an image of a serpent which is worshipped to remove the evil effects of Sarpodosa and other doshas. Other
deities of the temple are Lord Muruga, Goddess Saraswathi, Lord
Pranalingeswara, Lord Prartheshwar, Mukya Prana and Veerabadra Swamy. Another
feature of the temple is the Shankara
Peeta where Adi Shankara meditated.
Mookambika Temple Festivals
The important festivals celebrated at Mookambika temple are the Pancha Pooja and Thrikala Bali festivals. Nithyotsava is a ritual, performed everyday. Varothsavam is a weekly ritual, held every Friday, at around six pm between Janmashtami and Navrathri. Pakshotsavam is a fortnightly ritual which involves carrying the deity on all new moon days and full moon days.
Varshika Uthsavam is an annual festival held every year in the month of
March and is held for ten full days.
Navratri festival, celebrated during October - November, is considered to be
most auspicious in the temple. Thousands of children are brought to Mookambika
Devi temple during Navarathri festival to perform the Vidyarambham ceremony – Vidya Arambam is a Hindu tradition of initiating
their children in to the world of education and knowledge. On the Vijaya Dasami
day, Vidyarambam begins at 4 AM in the morning.
Mookambika Temple Music Festival is a 9 day music festival celebrated at the temple every January.