Mookambika Devi
The presiding Goddess of Kollapura or Kollur Temple is Devi Mookambika. It is also called as Maharayanpur and Parushuram Kshetram.
Names of Temple:
Mookambika Temple is called Kollur, Kollapur, Maharayanapur and Parasuramakshetra.
Location of Temple:
The temple is located in small town Kollur, Kundapur Taluq, Udipi District, Karnataka State situated on the banks of Sauparnika River in the dense forest of Kodachadri Hills, Western Ghats, Sahyadri Mountains in the shape of Sri Chakra.
History of Temple:
Parushuram:
This temple vicinity is within Parashuram Kshetram. Lord Parashuram is incarnation of Lord Vishnu in Dasaavatar. He is son of Jamadagni Rushi and mother Renuka Devi. He created seven Mukti places located in Kollur, Kodeshwar, Gokarna, Udupi, Kumbasi, Sankarnarayana and Subramanya. Except Kollur rest of the place are belong to Lord Ganesh, Subramanyam and Shiva. Kollur is Devoted to Shakti.
Kolla Rushi:
In Agnitheertham within rock Kolla Maharshi performed Tapasya for welfare of mankind (Lok kalyanam). He was blessed by Lord Shiva to appear in form of Lingam and Shakti as Swayam bhulingam in form of Ardha Narishwar. On the head of Shivling there is a golden line and unification of Trimurti and TriShakti.
Adi Shankaracharya:
The great Saint Adi Sankaracharya performed Tapasya to know real vision of Devi and she become visible as Adiparashakthi in form Trishakti as Mahakali, Mahalakshmi and Maha Saraswati with Sudershan Chakra, Shank, Abhayamudra and Kaumodaki. Thereafter Adi Shankaracharya installed idol of Mookambika devi. In Left side of Shivling Mahakali, Mahalakshmi and Mahasaraswati reside. Wherein Trimurti Lord Brahma, Lord Vishnu and Lord Maheshwar reside in the right side of Shivling.
Mahakali:
In the morning Mookambika Devi is worshipped as Mahakali to attain Spiritual Power. The demon Kaumasura is devotee of Lord Shiva and perform Tapsya to attain boon and distributing earth then devi Devatha prayed Adiparashakthi to protect them and she made him dumb and he was uable to speak before Lord Shiva what he wants. Since then he was calked as Mookasura and killed him with Chakra on Shukla Asthami. Since then She is named as Mookambika Devi.
Maha Lakshmi:
Mookambika is worshiped in afternoon as Mahalakshmi for prosperity and wealth. Lord Brahma, Shiva and Indra pray as mother of universe. She reside in Sri Chakra in Padmasan and her mercy fulfill desires of devotees.
Mahasarawati:
In Evening she is worshipped as Mahasaraswati for education and knowledge. Mooka means Dumb and speechless in Kannada. It is believed that if Devotees worship in the form of Mahasaraswati and Offer Tambulam (edible pan) helps to improve vagsiddhi, dumb person can speak and can become orator. She exist in all forms as Mahasaraswati to develop intelligence, talent, wise and wisdom and devotees are blessed with Good education. It is auspicious to perform Aksharbhyasam in this holy shrine on Ashwin Shukla Navami of Sharan Navaratri. Even Annaprasana is performed to children.
Kaumasura:
The demon Kaumasura performed penance to gain powers to disturb living of earth. All God and Goddess prayed Adishakti to stop Tapsya of demon. Then Shakti made him Dumb to ask any boon and he called as Mookasura.. Even then he tried to disturb and Shakti killed him with Sudershan Chakra on Shukla Asthami night. Since then Shakti is worshipped as Mookambika Devi.
Suparna:
Sowparnika is holi river to piligrims of Kollur Village called as Kollur River.An eagle Suparna performed Tapasya and obtained salvation near banks of river Sowparna. Thus the River named as Sowparnika. It is originated as droplet in center of Kalabhiarava and Uma Maheshwar temples. It joins with Panchagangavali rivers of Varahi, Chakra, Kubja with Souparna and merge into Arabian Sea. It enjoins 64 varities of ayurvedic herbs and flows through Mookambika temple at Kollur.
Mookambika Jayanthi:
Phalguna Month Moola Nakshtra is grandieur celebration and considered as Mookambika Jayanthi. Moola Nakshatra belongs to Goddess Mahasaraswathi. During Navaratri on Moola Nakshatra day Pulihora a tamarind rice is offered as Naivedyam. In this Plavanama year Phalguna Shukla Asthami with Moola Nakshatra falls on March 22nd 2025 and an Annual Rathosavam is performed. Like wise Ashwin Navaratri is also celebrated.
