About Kollur Mookambika
A sacred pilgrimage center in the Western Ghats dedicated to Goddess Mookambika.
Kollur is a small, serene temple town located at the foot of the Kodachadri hills in Karnataka. It is famous for the Mookambika Temple, a major Shakti Peetha where the Goddess is worshipped as the supreme creator. The Souparnika River flows peacefully nearby, believed to have medicinal properties derived from the herbs of the surrounding forests.
History & Significance
The history of Kollur Mookambika dates back to ancient times and is deeply intertwined with mythology. Legend determines that a demon named Kaumasura was performing severe penance to acquire invincibility. Fearing his growing power, Goddess Saraswati rendered him dumb (Mooka), preventing him from asking for a boon. Enraged, the demon began to terrorize the sages. The Trimurti (Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva) and their consorts combined their powers to create a supreme Goddess who vanquished the demon. Since he was killed after being made dumb, he came to be known as Mookasura, and the Goddess as Mookambika.
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It is believed that Adi Shankaracharya, the great philosopher-saint, meditated here on the Kodachadri hills. Goddess Mookambika appeared before him and agreed to follow him to Kerala, on the condition that he should not look back. However, at Kollur, the sound of her anklets stopped, and Shankaracharya turned around in doubt. The Goddess stopped right there as a Swayambhu Linga. Shankara then installed the Sri Chakra and the panchaloha idol of the Goddess behind the Linga, which is worshipped to this day.
The temple architecture belongs to the Keladi Nayaka period, showcasing a unique blend of Kerala and Karnataka styles. The sanctum sanctorum houses the Jyotirlinga, which is divided by a golden line—the larger left part representing the Tridevis (Lakshmi, Saraswati, Parvati) and the right part representing the Trimurtis.
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