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Mookambika temple is an ancient temple located at Kollur in Karnataka. The place Kollur is about 135 away from Mangalore which is easily accessed from Tamilnadu, Kerala and Karnataka by train and road. About 135 Kms from Mangalore, Kollur has the famous Mookambika Temple at the foot of the Western Ghats.

The Mookambika temple with gold plated crest and copper roofs attracts thousands of devotees. This is an ancient known temple in Kundapur region of Karnataka state, visited by pilgrims from all over India.


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

This famous temple in Karnataka has a long history for its origin. It is believed that goddess Parvathi killed the Kamsasuran who lived here and had attempted to become all powerful through his penance. Then Devi along with the help of Veerabadra, Ganapathi and Shiva initially made him the dumb and he came to be called Mookasuran, mooka means to be called as dumb. Later the goddess killed him with her Chakra in the midnight of Shukla Astami. From then onwards Devi came to be called as Kollur Devi Mookambika. The Devi's divine energy became one with the lingam worshipped by Kola Maharishi. At the Sri Mookambika temple this holy 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 Mookambika temple in Kollur of Karnataka state 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 is a common feature of the presiding lingam. The perennial and auspicious Souparnika river's pure water is used for theertham and puja. The Kollur Mookambika temple celebrates Navrathri with pomp, show and gaiety.

Kolloor has been believed to be one of the seven pilgrimages which were created by Parashurama. While the other pilgrimages created by the great Parashurama are devoted to Lord Shiva, Lord Subramanya and Lord Ganesha, this is the only one devoted to goddess Parvathi. It is a belief that an eagle (Garuda) called Suparna performed penance on the banks of the river and attained salvation hence the name Sauparnika. It is a pleasant experience to take a dip in the holy river and then head for the darshan of the goddess at the Kolloor Mookambika temple .

The legend goes like there was an agora that lived in the place, called Kamsasuran. He was performing auspicious penance for being invested with the boon of immortality. The celestials were afraid that if this boon was granted to him, he would become uncontrollable and his misdeeds could come to an end.

They then prayed to Devi that such a boon should not be granted to him. Devi, along with Veerabadra, Ganapathi and Lord Shiva, rendered him dumb so that the boon could not be asked for at all. Mooka is Sanskrit for a dumb person. It was thus that Kamsasuran became Mookasuran.

The left portion of the temple which is larger, represents the consorts of the Trinity, Saraswathi, Lakshmi and Parvathi, the creative energy. According to the tradition, Lords Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva and their consorts Saraswathi, Lakshmi and Parvathi emerged out of it.

Adi Sankara installed the image of Mookambika, made of metal, behind the Lingam. Devi is seen with three eyes and four arms, with the divine disc and conch in her hands. The roof of the temple is made of copper and is gold crested. Adi Sankara is said to have composed his Soundharya Lahari when he was here.

Swayambhulinga which has manifested itself when Parameshwara drew the Srichakra with his toe and Kola Maharshi performed a long lasting penance in its vicinity, as a result of which power of meditation spread far and wide on the earth. Udhbhava linga is the tangible form of Sri Chakra Bindu that is said to have the proximity of all gods. There is a huge significance since Shri Mookambika Devi has merged with this Linga and fulfills the desires of devotees. A golden line has formed in the swayambhu Linga and it is wider on the left side as also taller.

The legend says that Goddess Lakshmi, Parvathi and Saraswathi have all merged in the left side and the Lord Parameshwara, Lord Vishnu and Lord Brahma resides in the right side of the Linga. Besides the golden line, it is also said there is an image (carving) of Shiva injured by Arjuna's blow during the clash of Kiratharjuna, on the right side of the Linga. Towards the left, we may find the image (carving) of Gopada (foot of the Holy cow) at the Shakthi Peeta.

Decoration is the only rite that is performed to the idol of Mookambika temple. All the other rituals like abhisheka and aradana are performed only to the Lingam. The theertham for abisheka is brought from the Sauparnika river.

Navarathri is celebrated in a very grand manner in Kollur. There are special decorations and puja on all the nine days. Besides this, the nine days in the month of Panguni are celebrated with flag hoisting on Panguni Uthram.

Pooja practices here at Mookambika Temple are based on two disciplines- one as per vathula, which is one of the 28 vedas of Shaivagama, and which includes the rituals of Bali (sacrifice); secondly, as per Vijaya yagama Shastra. The five different poojas are performed at the temple everyday are Dantadavana (brushing the teeth), morning, afternoon, evening (pradhosha) and night. Pradosha Pooja is also called as "Salam Mangalarathi". It is said that Tippu Sultan, the ruler of Srirangapatna, once arrived here during pradosha pooja, witnessed the Mangalarathi, and became so impressed with the Devi, that he offered a Salaam in Muslim tradition to the Goddess, hence the name came into existence.

Other celebrations held at the temple, "Sharannavarathri" which is held usually during October, and "Brahma Rathotsava" held usually in the month of March are both very prominently observed. There are several instances of childless couples, the dumb, the blind and many such other people making a vow to the Goddess and realizing their desires.

Nearby tourist places to Mookambika Temple Mangalore Maravanthe Beach Mysore

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About 135 Kms from Mangalore, Kollur has the famous Mookambika Temple at the foot of the Western Ghats. The attractive Mookambika temple has been built with gold plated crest and copper roofs which attracts thousands of devotees. This is a well known temple in Kundapur taluq of Karnataka visited by pilgrims from all over India.

Since the Kollur Mookambika is one of the very famous temples, transport facility from all over the Karnataka state is available. There are frequent bus services from Mangalore and Udupi. From Mangalore it takes 3 hrs journey by bus. Many tour operators also include the visit of the temple in their conducted package tour programs.