Sri Mookambika Temple, Kollur

Mookambika is situated in Kollur village of Udupi Karnataka. Mookambika temple is among the most important shrines for Hindus in India. Mookambika Temple is also one of the most legendary temples. Mookambika Kollur is a small village of about 6 sq. kms in area at the foot of Western Ghats. Kollur Temple itself is generally known as 'Mookambi' or 'Moogambigai' in Kerala and Tamil Nadu respectively. Though the Kollur Mookambika Temple is in Karnataka most of the devotees visiting the Mookambika temple are either from Kerala or from Tamil Nadu. Sri Mookambika is unique among the other Hindu gods and goddesses as she embodies the powers of Mahalaxmi, Mahasaraswathi and Mahakali combined into one as Adiparashakthi - Mookambika. Udbhava Linga (self manifested phallus) of Mookambika Temple represents both Purusha (male) and Shakthi (female).

The goddess Durga is called Mookambika as she is said to have slain the demon Mookasura. The goddess is described as in the form of a jyotirlinga incorporating both Shiva and Shakti. The panchaloha image of the goddess on Shri Chakra is stated to have been consecrated by Shri Adi Shankaracharya. The Divine Mother is said to be a manifestation of trigunas or triple forms such as Mahakali, Mahalakshmi & Mahasaraswati. The shikhara of the temple which is well gilded with gold is said to have been donated by Sankanna Savantha. Around the chief shrine of Mookambika, there are many other shrines. Apart from visiting the Kollur Mookambika temple, there are various other places you can visit once in Kollur Mukambika Temple. One can also visit the Souparnika river, and it would be ideal for an early morning dip in the pure and holy water flowing down the sanctified undulations of Kudachadri.

ROUTE TO KOLLUR MOOKAMBIKA TEMPLE

The port city of Mangalore on national highway 17 (N.H 17) is the nearest big city connected to all important places by road, rail and air routes. People coming from southern parts of India have to travel via Mangalore to reach Kollur Mookambika to visit the Mookambika Temple. People coming from eastern and northern parts can access Kollur Mookambika Temple via Shimoga. Travelers on Konkan route have to alight at Bhatkal or Kundapur to go to Kollur. Stage carriage buses ply frequently between Mangalore and Sree Mookambika Temple. There also plenty of buses travelling from Udupi to Kollur and also through the Kollur to Sringeri route. Mangalore, Udupi, Kundapur, Hemmadi, Vandse route is the shortest and convenient route to Kollur Sri Mookambika.

There are direct buses from important places like from Bangalore to Kollur and Chennai to Kollur. Guruvayoor, Kottarakkara, Kannur, Shimoga, Sagara etc are some other places with direct buses. People traveling in own vehicles have to take deviation from national highway at Hemmadi situated at five km north of Kundapur (100 k.m.from Mangalore). Kundapur, situated on the NH.17 and Konkan railway route, is the nearest town to Kollur Mookambika as is seen on the Kollur map. Direct buses from other cities also help in travelling. Frequent buses from Bangalore to Kollur, Kollur to Murudeshwar, Shimoga to Kollur, Kundapur to Kollur and other buses on the Kollur Mookambika route help devotees visit Kollur Mookambika Temple.