Kollur Shri Mookambika Devi Temple Kollur,Karnataka
Kollur Mookambika Temple is located at Kollur, Udupi District in Karnataka. It is a Hindu temple dedicated to the Goddess known as Mookambika Devi.It is situated in the foothills of Kodachadri hills, on the southern bank of Souparnika River.Being situated in the land between Gokarna and Kanyakumari, believed to be created by sage Parashurama. The main deity of the temple is a swayambhu (self-manifested) jyotirlinga with a golden line cutting it into half, in which the left half represents Tridevis, and the right half represents Trimurtis. Along with this, a four-handed panchaloha idol of Goddess Mookambika is also installed. Rathotsava in the month of Phalguna and Navaratri in the month of Ashwina are the main festivals in this temple.
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Sri Mookambika is worshipped as Maha Kali in the morning, Maha Lakshmi in the noon and Maha Saraswati in the evening. It is believed that Sri Adi Shankara himself installed the idol of deity in the temple some 1200 years ago.
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As per mythology there lived a demon named Kaumasura, who unleashed terror upon the gods by the special powers he got from Lord Brahma. When Kaumasura realised that his life is about to end soon , he undertook a severe penance. Before Lord Shiva could appear to grant him the boon, Goddess Saraswati,made him dumb so he could not speak. Kaumasura came to be known as Mookasura (or the mute demon). Goddess Lakshmi killed the demon, and hence she came to be known as Mookambika, the slayer of Mookasura.
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Temple Legend
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As per legends Goddess Lakshmi appeared before Adi Shankara in response to his prayers and asked him his wishes. Shankara wanted her to come along with him to Kerala, where no temple was dedicated to her at that time. Goddess Lakshmi agreed to go with him on the condition that Shankara must lead the way not looking back to check if she was with him. Should Shankara break the condition, she would stop and stay right where she was at the time. Shankara agreed to the condition. So they started walking down the Kodachadri hills, with Shankara leading the way and the goddess’ anklets making sounds to know that she was with him. After walking some distance, the sounds of the anklets stopped and Shankara instinctly looked backwards to see if she was still following him. As per the condition, the goddess stopped right there and wanted to stay in Kollur. Shankara apologized profusely for breaking the condition and pleaded with Lakshmi to go with him to Kerala. Pleased with Shankara’s determination and devotion, Lakshmi agreed to be present at the Chottanikkara Temple in Kerala in the mornings and return to the Mookambika temple by mid day.
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The temple resembles the Kerala style of architecture. The swayambhu lingam considered to be a Shiva and Shakti manifestation in front of the deity is said to have been installed by Adi Shankara. This Lingam has a golden line approximately at the center that divides this lingam into two unequal parts and is visible only if a light is reflected at the lingam.The right portion of this lingam is said to represent Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva and the larger left part Lakshmi, Saraswathi and Parvathi . It is a belief that the three goddess Lakshmi, Saraswathi, Parvathi and the three lords Brahma, Vishnu and Maheshwara emerged out of it. The panchaloha idol of Mookambika is also said to have been installed by Adi Shankara and she is seen sitting in padmasana posture holding a Shanka (Conch) and a Chakra (discus) in her upper hands and while showing Abhaya and Varada mudras in her other hands. The idol of Mookambika is adorned with exquisite gold and diamond jewelry. On either side of the Mookambika Devi are the idols of Goddess Kali and Saraswathi.
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There is a room near the sanctum that has the ‘Shankara Simhasanam’ which is regarded as the very spot where Adi Shankara sat and meditated and had the darshan of Mookambika. Adi Shankara is said to have composed the Soundarya Lahiri here.