Mookambika Temple, Kollur

Sri Mookambika Temple Kollur

As per ancient Scriptures and inscriptions, along with other proofs found in the locality, it is clear that the Kollur Mookambika Temple has been an abode of Devi Shakthi’s worship for centuries. In an ancient inscription (dated 1481 A D) found here, the source of the Shakthi has been described. Shree Mookambika Devi in the form of Linga is the Adi Shakthi, the Creator and the protector of all forms of life.

Many of the local Kings have given lots of donations to this Temple. Prominent among them are the Kings of the “Keladi Dynasty”. They have been offering a variety of worships to the Goddess. Prominent Kings of the Keladi Dynasty, Sankanna Nayaka and Shivappa Nayaka had renovated the Temple and gave donations for the maintenance of the Temple. The Kings of Keladi Nayak Dynasty had believed that the Goddess is the symbol of victory. As such whenever they would win a war or drive away their enemies they were devoting the victory and celebrating it before the Goddess.

The Kollur “Shree Kshntram”, situated in the Udupi Disctrict of Karnataka State, is one among the seven abodes of Salvation, in the creation of Parashurama. The Shree Kshethram is set up by Adi Shankaracharya. This is an abode where the Goddess Shakthi is worshiped. Devi Mookambike is worshiped here as the Shakthi Devatha. The Monster or troll Kaumhaasura, known as Mooka was put to death in this Kshethra. Mookambike is an Adi Shakthi as the Linga has integrated on it’s left side ” MahaKali”, Maha lakshmi” and Maha Saraswathi”. The Adi Shakthi in this form can be seen only here. In the form of Udhbhavalinga, Mookambike has also integrated Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva on the right side. A gold Chain is dividing this Jyothirlinga into left and right portion. The left side of the Linga represents the Shakthi and right represents Shiva. Since Devi had appeared in his devine sight during his meditation, Adi Shankara had set up the statue of Devi on “SriChakra Yantra”. Shri Shankaracharya’s Peetha is on the western side of the Sactum Sanctorum of the Temple. Even today the worshiping ritual is being continued as per the Vijayagama system formulated by Adi Shankaracharya

Every day morning at 5.00 am “Nirmalya Pooja” takes place and during that time the Devotees have an opportunity to see the Swayambhoo Lingam. Every day Trikala Pooja is performed in the Temple. Thousands of devotees visit the temple to find solace, from their problems, pains and difficulties or to dedicate their religious vows or to enjoy the natural scenic beauty of the environment. Thousands of devotees from various states are visiting the Shree Kshethra on every Tuesday, Friday, and during the month of Shravana or on the Moola Nakshathra day of the months of Phalguna (Which is the birthday of Shree Devi) Important Politicians (Representatives of People) Film Stars, major Industrialists etc are visiting this Temple regularly. The famous singer Mr. Jesudas is performs Chandika Homa seva and “darshan” of Devi, every year on his birthday. The Temple celebrates all traditional Hindu Festivals and during the days of Navarathri Festival the visits of the Devotees reaches the peak.

“D. Ella Vyalle” has written that being the abode of Mookambike, Kollur has become one of the important pilgrimage Centre. This place is very sacred and devotees from within and outside the Nation are visiting this place on pilgrimage and perform penance and other religious worships and return with protected feelings. About 50% of the devotees visiting this Temple are from Kerala and 25% are from Tamilnadu and 25% are from Karnataka. Devotees from Andhra and Maharashtra are also visiting the Temple.

The Temple is undertaking major social works. Many Highschools and Pre-University Colleges are maintained by the Temple around Kollur. Good lodges and Parks are set up for the benefit and comforts of the Devotees visiting the Temple.

TEMPLE WORSHIP TIMINGS

TEMPLE WORSHIP TIMINGS

Morning5.00 am : The Temple opens 5.15 am : “Abhishekam” to the Lingam 5.30 am : Ganahoma (1 Coconut) 6.30 am : The morning worship ( Pooja) starts 7.15 am : Dantha Dhavana Mangalarathi 7.30 am : Panchamritha Abhishekam 7.45 am: Naivedya 8.00 am: Morning Mangalarathi and “Bali” Utsavam 8.15 am : End of Morning Bali UtsavaFrom 5.00am to 7.15am and 7.45am to 11.30am Devotees are allowed for “Darshan”Noon11.30 am Noon Pooja starts 12.30 pm maha Mangalarathi and afternoon “Bali Utsava” 1.30 pm The Temple ClosesNoon 12.00 to 12.20 pm and 12.45 to 1.30pm, devotees are allowed for “Darshan” 3.00pm The Temple door opens Afternoon 3.00 pm to 6.30 pm Devotees are allowed for “Darshan” ( Afternoon 3.00 pm to 5.00pm there can be only “ Darshan” and Sevas will not be performed)Evening6.30 : Pradosha Pooja starts. Panchamritha Abhisheka 7.00 pm: Naivedya 7.15 pm: Mangalarathi 7.30 pm Salam Mangalarathi Evening7.45 pm Mangalarathi for all accompanying Deities. 8.00 pm Naivedyam, “ Bali” and Mangalarathi 8.15 pm Night “ Bali” Utsava 8.30 pm Utsava Moorthi is placed at the Saraswathi Mantapa, and naivedya with Beaten rice, coconut. After that,Mangalarathi and Ashtavadana Seve Vedaghosha, Sangeetha, Shruthivadya,Sarvavadya). Once it is over Shree Devi will be taken inside the Temple 9.00 pm Kashaya MangalarathiEvening 5.00pm to 9.00 pm Devotees are allowed Darshan (except on days special Festivities/occasions)

THE LEGEND

A troll or monster known as Kaumhasura, wanted to get a boon from God Shiva, that, he should not get death from any living being. To disable him from asking the boon Vagdevi makes him dumb. Accordingly he became Mookasura or Dumb troll. Due to this, Mookaasura became furious and wanted to take revenge against the Gods. The Gods could not withstand the trouble imparted by him and sought refuge from Devi. In response the Devi had integrated the powers of the Trimurthis and all the Gods into her to put the Mookasura to death and after that, assimilated into the Linga and now exists known as Mookambike and protects her devotees The supremacy of the Kollur Kshethram is described in the Skanda Puranam which has the legendary background of Kollur. Since Kola Maharshi had meditated in the Khshethra, which was named as Kolapura. Today it is known as Kollur. Kola Maharshi was fascinated to see a Cow pouring milk onto a linga from her udder. Then he started to worship the linga. Since we can see the symbol of the hoof of the cow on the Linga, it shows that the linga has got the godly powers. The architecture of the Kollur Temple belongs to the Keladi period. Recently the Temple was renovated. The Sanctum Sanctorum which is in a Quadrangular shape has a tower known as Vimana Gopura which is in the Dravidian Architecture. The tower of the sanctum sanctorum is covered by gold donated by local king centuries ago. Around the sanctum sanctorum of goddess Devi, we can see the retinue deities like Subrahmanya, Dashabhuja Ganapathi, Anjaneya, Chandramouleeshwara, and Gopalakrishna. The statue of Mookambike is very attractive and has four arms The upper two arms are holding Shankha and Chakra and the palms of the lower two arms are held as blessing the devotees with the Abhaya and Varada Hastha .