Kollur

KOLLUR

 

Kollur is about 135 away from Mangalore. There are bus services from Udupi and Mangalooru to Kolluru at regular interval.

Historically, the temple is at least 1200 years old and it was mentioned in conjunction with the king

Halugallu Veera Sangayya who installed an idol there.

Outside the temple is a large and beautiful Deepa Sthambha ( a pillar to hold lamps). This has 21 concentric circles in which the lamps can be lighted, and when viewed from Kudachadri, one would feel as though we were looking at the Divine Makara Jyothi at Lord Manikanta’s( Swamy ayyappa) of Sabarimala. This beautiful Deepa Sthambha rests on a Koorma Peeta (seat with tortoise head); on this tortoise is a huge elephant upon which Lord Ganapathi is astride, looking westward and facing Goddess Mookambika Devi.

In the inner corridor, just beyond the Garbhagriha, as we move around the shrine in a pradakshina, we will find totally four different idols of Ganapathi being worshipped, beginning with the Dashabhuja Ganapathi. Of these, the Balamuri Ganapathi idol that is made of white marble is beautiful and high of significance. Then we have the image of serpent which has formed on the stone in the south-west corner. It is believed that, as we move in pradakshina, if we touch this serpent and offer our prayers, it results in several benefits, like warding of Sarpadosha, averting all doshas, and most importantly, acquiring good fortune.Then we see the Shankara Peeta, where Adi Shankara Bhagavathpada meditated, and by virtue of his ascetic powers, visualized the form of Devi in all totality and realized the Devi herself. As we move in a pradakshina at the outer enclosure, we first find Subrahmanya swamy, then Saraswathi and then Pranalingeshwara, Partheshwara, the deity of Mukhya Prana (with a bell on the tail) installed by Vadiraja, Vishnu Brindavana, a beautiful idol of Gopalakrishna within the Brindaana (Considered as upa-pradhana Devatha), the platform for Tulasi and then the temple of Veerabhadraswamy who is the presiding deity. Entrance to this shrine being made of wood, we may see an excellent image, of Nrutya Ganapathi, right at the centre of the arch. It is said that the deity of Mukhya Prana has been situated right opposite the Veerabhadraswamy shrine with a view to balance its frightful appearance.

Sri Mookambika temple

 

 

It is the only temple that is dedicated to goddess Parvathi and believed to be created by Parashurama. This temple is very well known among the people of Tamilnadu and the goddess Parvathi is called in Tamil as Thai Mookambika. Parvathi temple is located exactly on the banks of the perennial river Souparnika that runs close to the foot hills of the Western Ghats. River Sauparnika has its attribute to the eagle called Suparna that did penance in this bank and attained salvation.

This temple has a long history for its origin. It is said goddess Parvathi killed the Kamsasuran who lived here and who attempted to become all powerful through his penance.It was predicted that the demon will be killed by a woman, and, indeed, it was killed by Parvati Devi.

Devi along with the help of Veerabadra, Ganapathi and Shiva initially made him dumb and he came to be called Mookasuran, mooka means to be dumb. Later the goddess killed him with her Chakra on the midnight of Shukla Astami. From then on Devi came to be called as Kollur Devi Mookambika. Then her divine energy became one with the lingam worshipped by Kola Maharishi. The establishment of the temple is attributed to Parameshwara, who has drawn a chakra with his toe.

 

At the Sri Mookambika temple the Lingam is the main deity and is known as Jyothirlingam. Devi Mookambika has three eyes and four arms, with the divine disc and conch in her hands. The idol of Mookambika is in a seated posture, bearing the conch and the discus. Also enshrined near this image are those of Mahakali and Saraswathi. There are also shrines to Veerabhadra, Subramanya, Naga, Panjamugha Ganapathi(five-faced ganapathi) and Anjaneya. Veerabhadra is worshipped first by devotees before entering the shrine to Mookambika

 

 

The Mookambika temple is renowned for its beauty and aesthetics, all over the world. Goddess Kollur Mookambika is adorned with flowers. Ritual bathing and prayer to the idol are a common feature of the presiding lingam. The perennial Souparnika river’s pure water is used for theertham and puja. The kollur Mookambika temple wears a festival look during Navarathri and Navarathri is celebrated with pomp, show and gaiety.

 

The Legend

The story thus goes in very intresting way
One Auspicious day Adi Sankara reached Kollur. The Kudajagiri was the place Sankara chose to offer penance to Mookambika, which was a dense forest at that time. Devi was pleased by the prayers of Sankara and asked him of his needs. Sankara had an intention to bring Devi from Kollur to Kerala. Devi told sankara that she will follow him where ever he goes but he should never look back once he started the journey. Sankara got thrilled after hearing this, soon started his travel and could distinctly hear the sound of chilambu(ornament worn on the lower leg by women – usually dancers) which was the only indication that Devi was following him. When he reached near the present day temple premises, he couldn’t hear the sound anymore and turned around. According to the treaty, Devi stopped there and Sri Adi Shankara although disappointed, soon installed a panchaloha idol upon sree chakra and enshrined Devi near the age-old Jyotir Linga.