Mookambika Temple, Kollur – The Temple

Mookambika Temple, Kollur – The Temple

The Temple is situated in the foothills of Kodachadri hills, on the southern bank of Souparnika River. The Temple is facing towards east. The main entrance is on the eastern side. The western entrance is opened only on special occasions. It is believed that Aadi Sankara entered the temple through the western entrance. There is a 2000 years old iron pillar similar to the pillar in front of the Qutub Minar in Delhi. It has not rusted till date despite the place is prone to 6 to 8 months of rain.

It is popularly referred as Dhwaja Sthamba (flag-staff) of the temple. The flag staff weighs about 500 kg. Deepastambam can be found immediately after the main entrance next to Dhwaja Sthambam. There is a Ganapathy idol called as Kambhada Ganapathi sculpted on the pillar. The Temple consists of  Sanctum, a hall and the Lakshmi Mandapam. Presiding Deity is called as Mookambika.

She is housed in the sanctum in a unique form of a Swayambhu Jyotirlinga with a golden line cutting it into half, in which the left half represents Tridevis (Parvathy, Lakshmi & Saraswathi), and the right half represents Trimurtis (Lord Shiva, Vishnu & Brahma). There is a Panchaloka idol of Goddess Mookambika situated behind the Linga in the sanctum. It is said this Panchaloka idol have been consecrated by Adi Shankaracharya.

She has three eyes and four arms. She is in the Padmasana posture holding Shanku and Chakra and shows Abhaya and Varada Mudras. Idols of Kali and Saraswathi can be found on both sides of the idol. The Sanctum has a quadrangular shape with a Vimana Gopuram. The Shikara of the sanctum is gilded with gold. There is a room near the sanctum enshrining the Sankara Simhaasana.  It is the place where Adi Shankaracharya meditated and had a vision of the Goddess Mookambika.

The Saraswathi Mandapam is situated on the southern side of the outer prakaram. The ceremony of Vidyarambha (the initiation of learning to children) and Anna Prashana (first intake of solid food) will be held in this Mandapam. The Adi Shankaracharya Peetha can be seen on the western side of the Sanctum.

There are shrines for Lord Subramanya, Dasabhuja Ganapathi, Anjaneya, Chandramouleshwara, Pancha Mukha Ganapathy Partheswara, Nagas, Pranalingeswara, Nanjundeswara, Venkataramana, Tulsi Krishna and Veerabhadra in the temple premises. The idol of Chandramouleshwara is said to have been installed by Adi Shankaracharya.

Veerabhadra is worshipped first by devotees before entering the shrine to Mookambika. Theerthams associated with this temple are Agni Theertham, Kasi Theertham, Shukla Theertham, Madhu Theertham, Govinda Theertham, Agasthya Theertham, Archana Gundu Theertham and Souparnika River. Kodachadri mountain houses the Parvatheshwara Temple, Kalabhairava Temple, Parvathi Temple and a Ganapathi Cave Temple.

It is believed that demon Mookasura meditated at the entrance of this cave temple. Sarvanjna Peetha is the sacred place where Adi Shankaracharya performed meditation. It is situated little above the Ganapathi Cave Temple. Chitra Moola is the place where Sage Kola and Adi Shankaracharya performed penance. This place is situated little above the Sarvanjna Peetha. There is wide dense forest known as Ambavana situated below Chitra Moola. Bhagavathy Temple is situated inside this forest.