Kollur Mookambika Temple: Mythology, History, Significance, Timings

India is a country full of temples and the most are in South India.

Kollur Mookambika is one such temple in Kollur in Udupi District in Karnataka. The temple is located 80 km from Udupi and 135 km from Mangalore. The famous pilgrimage site is near the valley of Kodachadri peak, on the southern bank of Souparnika River.

The Hindu temple is dedicated to Mookambika Devi.

Mythology behind temple

Bhagwan Shiva is a god known to give blessings to every demon who did Tapasya and took his blessings. One such case is the story of Kaumasura, a demon who caused terror for the local people, and disturbance to Kola Maharishi. Guru Shankaracharya knew that his terror could only end by his end with the hand of a woman. With the efforts of Bhagwan Shiva, Bhagwan Ganesha and Veerbhadra who made Kaumsura dumb, after which he was called Mookasura, was killed by Devi Mookambika by her chakra. Devi Mookambika is a form of Devi Parvati and since then, Devi is believed to reside in the place of the temple to bless her devotees and end evilness from the world.

History of Mookambika Temple

The temple is believed to be 1200 years old. There exist two different stories of the temple, which are believed to be true by different people.

One says that Devi Mookambika appeared before Adi Shankara while he was meditating Devi Saraswati and, on her appearance, he established a shrine at the place of her image.

Another story speaks, that the idol of Devi was installed by King Halugallu Veera Sangayya.

Significance of the temple

The temple is believed to have an idol of Devi Mookambika along with a shiv linga, which gets included in Jyotirlinga. Kollur stands as one of the seven pilgrimages set by Parashuram and is called One of the seven ‘Muktisthal’.

 

Puja and Celebration at the temple

Every day at 5 AM Nirmalaya Puja takes place and devotees can see Swayambhoo Lingam. Trikala Pooja is also performed at the temple every day. Shree kshetra is visited by various devotees from different cities and states regularly, mostly on Tuesdays and Fridays.

The temple celebrates all major Hindu Festivals and occasions. Temple also witnesses huge crowds during Falgun month and Navratri Month.

Brahma Rathotsava is also enthusiastically celebrated at the temple during March.

How to reach the temple?

Kollur is 130 km from Mangaluru.

By Air, Mangaluru is the nearest airport from the temple.

By Rail, Mookambika Railway station at Baindur is a railway station at a distance of 30kms. Bijoor station is at a distance of 20kms from Kollur and Kundapura Station is at 40kms distance from Kollu.

By road, private bus services to reach the temple from Mangaluru city. Four-wheeler vehicles and taxis also run to reach the temple.

 

Timings

The general timing of the temple is 

Morning Puja Timing’s	Evening Puja Timing’s
5 AM to 1:30 PM	3 PM to 9 PM

 

Contacts

Address – Mookambika Temple, Kollur, Kundapur Taluk, Udupi District, Karnataka. 576220.Temple also has its own website, through which it offers online Pooja services,

www.kollurmookambika.co.in/tm

Email – esomtkollur@gmail.com

Phone number – 8254258221, 8254200200

Karnataka tourism supports the tourism of this temple as this is one of the famous Hindi Pilgrimage and attractions of Kollur city.