Temple Description

The Kollur Mookambika Temple is situated in Kollur, Byndoor Taluk, Udupi District, within the Tulunadu region of Karnataka, India. This Hindu temple is dedicated to the goddess Mookambika.

Mookambika represents the fusion of Adipara Shakti and Parabrahma, with the linga featuring an integration of “Maha Kali, Maha Lakshmi, and Maha Saraswati” on its left side. The temple holds special significance as one of the 108 Durga temples and 108 Shiva temples. It is located at the base of the Kodachadri Hills, on the southern bank of the Souparnika River, in an area believed to have been created by the sage Parashurama, situated between Gokarna and Kanyakumari.

The primary deity of the temple is a swayambhu (self-manifested) linga marked by a golden line that divides it. The left half symbolizes the goddess triad (Tridevis), while the right half represents their male counterparts (Trimurtis).

The temple also houses a four-armed panchaloha idol of Goddess Mookambika. She is depicted seated in Padmasana with two arms holding a Shankha (conch) and Chakra (divine discus), and the other two arms in the Abhaya mudra and Varada mudra (blessing gesture).

There are various sub-shrines within the temple dedicated to Ganapathi, Shiva, Vishnu, Hanuman, Subrahmanya, Virabhadra, and the Snake gods (Naga Devatas).

Key festivals celebrated at the temple include Rathotsava (Chariot Festival) in the month of Phalguna and Navaratri in the month of Ashwin. The goddess Mookambika is revered as the deity who vanquished the demon Mookasura (also known as Kaumasura).

Despite being in Karnataka, the temple attracts a significant number of devotees from the neighboring state of Kerala and is highly regarded by Malayalis of all religions and castes.