Kollur Mookambika Devi Temple Karnataka India

Sri Mookambika Devi Temple in Kollur is one of the most important Hindu temples in India situated around 147 km from Mangalore and 80 km from Udupi in Karnataka. This ancient Devi temple, dedicated to Goddess Parvathi, is believed to be created by Lord Parashurama (one of the ten incarnations of Lord Vishnu). 

Kollur Mookambika Devi Temple in Karnataka 

Goddess Mookambika Temple is located on the banks of the River Souparnika that runs at the foot hills of the Western Ghats. It is said that the river is named after an eagle called Suparna who did penance in this bank and attained salvation. The temple is very much associated with Guru Adi Sankaracharya - the revered Hindu saint and Vedic scholar. Udupi Temple and Murudeshwar Shiva Temple are within driving distance from Kollur Mookambika.

The goddess is called in Tamil as Thai Mookambika who is regarded as a manifestation of Goddess Parvati, Goddess Saraswati and Goddess Lakshmi. Mookambika Temple is one of the most famous Goddess Saraswati Temples in India. 

Importance of Kollur Mookambika

Kollur is one of the Seven Muktistala (or highly revered Hindu sacred places) in Karnataka – the other six pilgrimage places are Udupi, Subrahmanya, Kumbasi, Kodeshwara, Sankaranarayana and Gokarna. While the other pilgrimages are devoted to Lord Shiva, Lord Subramanya and Lord Ganesha, this is the only one devoted to Goddess Shakti. Mookambika Temple attracts a large number of pilgrims from all over the world.

Read about the Significance of Sri Mookambika Temple

Sanctum of Mookambika Temple

Shri Mookambika Devi Temple, decorated with gold plated pinnacle and copper roofs, stands atop the Kodachadri Peak. The temple consists of the sanctorum, an entrance hall and the Lakshmi Mantapa at the back. The four pillars at Lakshmi Mantapa are adorned with beautifully carved images of various Hindu gods. Inside the sanctum sanctorum is the Lingam which is the main deity and is known as Jyothirlingam. The Devi is incorporated as both Shiva and Shakthi in the form of Jyothirlingam. She is seen here with three eyes and four arms, with the divine disc and conch in her hands.

The sanctum of Goddess Mookambika Temple is a single yoni flag size and artistic in value. The idol of Mookambika Devi is believed to be of 1200 years old. One can see a huge deepasthambam (a pillar to hold lamps) with its base like a tortoise’s head. It has around 21 beautiful concentric circles which resemble that of Makara Jyothi (of Sabarimala Temple) when all the lamps are lit. Beyond the Garbhagriha are four types of idols of Lord Ganapathi. Of these, the Dasa Bhuja Ganapathi and Balamuri Ganapathi are of special interest as these are beautifully sculpted using white marble. There is an image of a serpent which is worshipped to remove the evil effects of Sarpodosa and other doshas. Other deities of the temple are Lord Muruga, Goddess Saraswathi, Lord Pranalingeswara, Lord Prartheshwar, Mukya Prana and Veerabadra Swamy. Another feature of the temple is the Shankara Peeta where Adi Shankara meditated.

Mookambika Temple Festivals

The important festivals celebrated at Mookambika temple are the Pancha Pooja and Thrikala Bali festivals. Nithyotsava is a ritual, performed everyday. Varothsavam is a weekly ritual, held every Friday, at around six pm between Janmashtami and Navrathri. Pakshotsavam is a fortnightly ritual which involves carrying the deity on all new moon days and full moon days.

Varshika Uthsavam is an annual festival held every year in the month of March and is held for ten full days.

Navratri festival, celebrated during October - November, is considered to be most auspicious in the temple. Thousands of children are brought to Mookambika Devi temple during Navarathri festival to perform the Vidyarambham ceremony – Vidya Arambam is a Hindu tradition of initiating their children in to the world of education and knowledge. On the Vijaya Dasami day, Vidyarambam begins at 4 AM in the morning.

Mookambika Temple Music Festival is a 9 day music festival celebrated at the temple every January.

Mookambika Temple Timings

Mookambika Temple opens daily at 5:00 AM for darshan and closes at 9.00 PM at night. Here are the details of temple darshan timings

Morning – 05:00 AM to 1:30 PM
Evening – 03:00 PM to 09:00 PM

Click Here for Sri Mookambika Temple Pooja Timings

How to reach Kollur Mookambika Temple

By Road

Kollur can easily be reached from Karnataka, Tamilnadu, and Kerala by road. Kollur is about 80 km from Udupi and 50 km from Mangalore. Regular bus services are available from Mangalore and Udupi to Kollur. There are direct buses from Mangalore and Kundapur to Kollur.

Kollur Bus Station, Mangalore KSRTC Bus Station, Udupi Bus Stand, and Kundapur Bus Station are some of the nearest bus stations to reach Kollur.

By Train

Mangalore Railway Station, Byndoor Railway Station, and Udupi Railway Station are the nearest railway station to reach Kollur Mookambika Temple.

By Air / Flight

The nearest airport is the Mangalore Airport at Bajpe which is 60 km from Udupi.

Tourist Places in and near Mookambika Temple

Udupi Krishna Temple, Arasina Makki - a famous waterfall, Kudachadri - the beautiful mountain range, Mookambika Wildlife Sanctuary on the Kundapur - Kollur road and Govinda Theertha waterfalls are noteworthy places to visit.

Tourist Places Around Kollur

Some of the famous tourist attractions around Kollur Mookambika Temple are 1000 Pillar Temple at Moodabidri, Murudeshwar Temple dedicated to Lord Shiva (famous for the World's tallest Shiva Statue), Apsara Konda at Honnavar, End Point at Manipal, Gokarna, Jog Falls, Karwar Sharavathi Valley, Kudremukh, Kundapur Beach, Malpe Beach, Maravanthe Beach, St Marys Island Rocks water at udupi-Malpe, and Yana are worth visiting.