Mookambika temple has a history going back to more than 1,200 years. Mookambika embodies the powers of Parvathy, Saraswathi and Mahalakshmi. She has three eyes and four arms, with the divine Sudarshana chakram and conch in her hands and is seated on a lion.
Deities in Mookambika Temple
The main deity is a jyotirlingam. A golden line cuts it in half. The left half embodies the Tridevis while the right half stands for the Trimurtis. The belief is that Mookambika Devi has merged with this lingam. Devotees most of the time see the panchaloha idol of Goddess Mookambika inside the sanctum sanctorum. The jyotirlingam is placed exactly in front of the idol of Goddess Mookambika. A golden shield usually covers the jyotirlingam.
Dashabhuja Ganapathi is on the southern side of the sanctum. The Naga Prathistha is on the south-west portion of the pradakshinavattam. There are also separate shrines for Hanuman, Veerabhadreshwarar, Subrahmanyan and Shiva.
The Saraswathi Mandapam is on the southern side of the outer circle. Vidyarambham ceremonies are conducted here. This is a Hindu tradition where children are formally introduced to learning. The ritual is ususally conducted on Vijayadashami day.
Festivals
Navaratri is the main festival at Mookambika temple. Navratri celebrates the victory of Goddess Durga over Mahishasura, the buffalo-headed demon. She fought for nine days and nine nights before rising victorious on the tenth day.
Navaratri devotes three days each towards worship of the three divine forms of Devi: Durga, Lakshmi and Saraswati. The tenth day is Vijayadashami, the day of victory.
Saraswati Pooja falls on the days of Ashtami, Navami and Vijayadashami. During this period, students worship books and learning material. The ninth day is also the day for Ayudha Pooja when you worship the tools of one’s livelihood.
Thousands of children write their first alphabets in front of Mookambika sannidhi in the morning of Vijayadashami. Devotees from all districts of Kerala come to Mookambikasannidhi. Navratri celebrations end with Vijayatra that evening.
Poojas and Sevas
The below-mentioned are among the poojas take place every day at Kollur Mookambika Temple.
- Mookambika Alankara Pooja: Mokkambika is adorned with all her jewels and worshipped reverently.
- Chandika Homam: The Chandika Homam requires the presence of 7 priests. They chant the 700 verses and hymns from the Devi Mahatmayam. Offering of the Payasam (sweet pudding ) is made to Agni during the chantings. The devotee must arrive a day before the Homam. The Homam begins at 8:00 am and ends at 11:30 am.
- Naamkaranam: The naming ceremony of the infants takes place with the blessings of the Goddess.
- Vidyarambam Pooja: This is the traditional Hindu ritual marking the formal start of a child’s education and known also as Aksharabhyasam. The pooja takes place between 6:45 am to 1:00 pm daily for children above the age of three.
Sauparnika River
Sauparnika is a sacred river that originates from the Kodachadri mountains. It flows by the temple. Many believe that the waters of Sauparnika river can cure many diseases as it courses through numerous medicinal plants. Over the years, the river has become polluted. Originating from the Kodachadri mountains, the river flows for more than 100 km and drains into the Arabian Sea at Kundapura.
Getting There
The nearest railway station is Mookambika Road. It is 29 km (39 min) from Kollur. An auto ride will set you back by ₹800 (negotiable). A one-way taxi will typically cost ₹600 to ₹1,500. Alternatively, you could hire an auto to Baindoor bus station and then board a bus to Kollur. The route winds through a dense jungle. At night many wild animals turn up on the road.
The temple town of Udupi is 73 km (1 h 35 m) by road from Kollur. It is possible to visit Udupi and Mookambika temples in a single day with meticulous planning.
A Scania luxury bus departs Kollur at 2:15 pm and reaches Trivandrum in 16 h 30 m. The fare is ₹2,311. The Kollur-Kannur segment costs ₹740 and takes 5 h 40 m. Kerala State RTC operates the bus. For online booking, click here.
History of Mookambika Temple
Lord Parashuraman created seven Mukti Sthalas (abodes of salvation) and Mookambika Temple is considered to be one of them. The temple finds a place in the 108 Durga temples of ancient Kerala. It is also one among the 108 Shiva temples in Kerala since Lord Shiva has a presence in Mookambika.
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