Kollur Mookambika Temple

Local Highlight this week: 17 March - 25 March, 2014

Annual Rathotsava at Devi Mookambika Temple, Kollur

Kollur is a small temple-town situated about 80 km from Udupi & about 120 kilometres away from Shimoga City in Karnataka . This village lies at the foot of the Western Ghats and is famous for the Mookambika temple.

Maha Dwara at Kolluru

Mookambika Temple at Kollur, is one of the most important places of pilgrimage on the west coast, attracting pilgrims from all over the country. The temple, dedicated to  Goddess Mookambika, stands in the valley of the great Kodachadri peak, on the banks of the perennial river Souparnika.

The goddess is called Mookambika as she is said to have slain the demon Mookasura. The main idol, is in the form of a Jyothirlinga incorporating both Shiva and Shakti, and is placed in front of the image of Mookambika. It is divided by a golden line into two unequal parts, the greater representing the three Goddesses, Mahalakshmi, Mahasaraswati, Mahakali, and the smaller Brahma, Maheshwara, and Vishnu. The Divine Mother is said to be a manifestation of ‘Tri-gunas’ or triple forms. 

Use the links below to jump directly to the respective sections of this blog.

1. SWAYAMBU LINGA AT MOOKAMBIKA TEMPLE

2.LEGEND OF KOLLUR
3.MOOKAMBIKA – THE SLAYER OF MOOKASURA
4.SANCTUM OF THE TEMPLE

5.RATHOTHSAVA AT KOLLUR MOOKAMBIKA

6.FESTIVALS AT KOLLUR

7.RIVER SOUPARNIKA’S ORIGIN

8.GETTING THERE

9. CONTRIBUTE TO THIS ARTICLE

SWAYAMBU LINGA AT MOOKAMBIKA TEMPLE

The Linga at the temple is said to have come into existence when Shiva drew the Chakra with his toe. This Chakra is believed to be the Udbhava linga which has drawn its strength due its proximity to all divine beings – Swayambu or autogenetic. It is also very sacred since Kollur Devi is supposed to have merged with this Swayambulinga to acquire great power.

Here she is said to have formed part of Linga along with Lakshmi and Saraswathi on one side and Lord Brahma, Vishnu and Parameshwara on the other side. There is also a carved idol of Shiva, said to be injured during the clash with Arjuna - known as Kiratharjuna and this is on the right side of this Swayambulinga.

Adi Shankaracharya is believed to be instrumental in Mookambika taking this place Kollur as her abode. It is this place, near the bank of Souparnika River, that he stopped to fix the Chakra and on above it placed the Devi. This forms the central idol behind the Linga. This temple has been patronized by many ancient kings who have donated precious jewels to Sri Kollur Devi which are still adorned by her, since the temple was believed to be the state temple in those days.

LEGEND OF KOLLUR

Kollur is an important seat of Shakti worship. The temple is rich in puranic lore.

Legend goes that a Sage Kola was enchanted with nature’s beauty and decided to perform a penance on a rock near the Agnitheertha. Lord Shiva appeared before him and blessed him. The sage wished for the welfare of mankind and nothing else. The Lord, delighted with Kola, assured him that a Swayambulinga would appear for him to worship. However, Kola wanted to worship Devi also. A swarna rekha (gold line) then appeared on the Linga, signifying Shakti. Thus, Shiva and Shakti are worshipped together in the Linga. Besides this, a unique feature is that the other Gods and Goddess of the Hindu pantheon also believed to reside in a-roopa (non-form) in the Linga. It is thus believed to be an abode of the entire celestial congregation. 

It is said that Adi Shankara meditated at Kodachadri hills and Devi incarnated before him. He wished to install the Devi idol in a place so he could worship her wherever he wanted. Devi agreed but put forward a challenge that she would follow Shankara provided he does not look back until he reached his final destination. To test Shankara, Devi deliberately stopped the sound of her anklets when they reached Kollur whereupon he turned and looked back in doubt. Devi then asked him to install her vigraha, just as he sees her, at that very location in Kollur.

Another legend says that original temple is at Kodachadri peak which is at a distance of about 20 km from Kollur. The large mountain peak is visible in front of the temple. On the Kodachadri peak, a small temple dedicated to Mookambika is present.

MOOKAMBIKA – THE SLAYER OF MOOKASURA

Long ago, a demon called Kaumasura obtained a boon from Lord Shiva to never be destroyed by any other being in the world. Kodachadri became the hiding place for all the gods and divine beings who were helpless against his harassment. While the Saptarishis were engaged in prayers and poojas to bring about the end of demon, Guru Shukracharya enlightened him about his impending death at the hands of a woman. Learning of this, Kaumasura performed an austere penance to please Lord Shiva pleased with his prayers appeared before him and asked him to name the boon that he wished for. Vagdevi, the Goddess of speech sensed that this could lead to a greater devastation and made the demon speechless. The dumb Kaumasura was then unable to verbalise his wishes and thus came to be known as Mookasura. Soon after, on the request of Kola Rishi, the goddess created a mystical power by bringing together the individual powers of all the gods who had assembled. This Divine Power waged a war on Mookasura to bring about his destruction, thereby granting him salvation. The place where Devi killed Mookasura is known as ‘Marana Katte’. Since that day, the Goddess has resided at this holy place Kollur by the name Mookambika, fulfilling the wishes of all her devotees. Sreedevi resides here in the Padmasana posture, of a serene countenance, with 3 eyes, bearing always a shankha (conch), a chakra (wheel) and with a pleasant appearance to bless the devotees.

SANCTUM OF THE TEMPLE

The history of idol installation at Kollur Mookambika temple is nearly 1200 years old. King Halugallu Veera Sangayya is said to have laid the valuable stone to cover the inside premises and this was done by him under the instructions of Rani Chennamaji.

The temple comprises of the sanctorum, a hall and the Lakshmi Mantapa at the rear. This Lakshmi Mantapa has four pillars each about 135 feet long. These are adorned with splendidly carved images of Indian deities. The beautiful sculptures are figurines of various Gods and Goddesses such as Ganesha, Subrahmanya, Naga, Mahishasura Mardini and the Devi in various forms.

The Garbagriha at this temple is contemporary and artistic in value. A huge deepasthambam stands tall with its base like a tortoise’s head. This Deepasthamba has 21 beautiful concentric circles which appear similar to that of Makara jyothi when all the lamps are lit and viewed from distance.

The temple has a gold plated crest and copper roofs, and a temple dome and kalasha made of solid gold. 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.

The Navrathri festival begins with an invocation to Lord Ganesha who is on this pillar. As we move inside the corridor beyond the Garbhagriha there are four types of idols of Ganapathi. Among them are Dasa bhuja Ganapathi and Balamuri Ganapathi which is beautifully sculpted using white marble.

Idol of Nagadevathe - a serpent that is worshipped by all Devi’s devotees in order to wade off the evil effects of Sarpodosa and other doshas. And it is believed that when touched while offering prayers, the devotees are said to be blessed with good fortune.

The outer side of the pradikshana we see the idol of Lord Muruga followed by the idol of Saraswathi, Pranalingeswara, Prartheshwara and Mukhya Prana. This Mukya Prana is placed just opposite to Veerabhadrasamy shrine to strike a balance for its dangerous appearance. Veerabadrasamy is said to be the presiding deity here.

DEVI’S EXQUISITE JEWELLERY

Kollur Devi adorns some exquisite ornaments that has been donated by ardent devotees - among them are Gundu Rao the ex-Chief Minister of Karnataka who has donated to Devi a silver sword. The legendary Rani Chennamma offered precious emerald which is still adorned by her till date. Late M.G. Ramachandran, former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu also has gifted a golden sword to Sri Mookambika as a token of gratitude and as an ardent devotee. The Vijayanagaram king Krishnadevaraya presented Kollur Devi with a gold mask which is now considered very valuable. Chennamaji of Keladi gifted a gold face for Lingam that is also said to be of great value.

RATHOTHSAVA AT KOLLUR MOOKAMBIKA

The main festival in the temple is the Rathothsava, the car festival, in the month of Phalguna (March-April). Thousands of devotees from different parts of the state and the country visit Kollur to pay obeisance to the Goddess on this auspicious occasion. On the day of the Uthara Nakshatra in the Bright half of the month, the temple flag is hoisted and the care festival continues from that day to the day of the Moola Nakshatra – for 9 days. Surrounded by the majestic mountains and the blooming forest with varied hues and fragrance, the shrine of Sri Mookambika invokes joy on the occasion. Thousands join the Rathothsavam, by drawing the great chariot of the Divine Mother, symbolizing the need of a joint effort of mankind to bring about a new civilization based on a higher spiritual vision of life. The temple festivals suggests that man should make these inner depths a great centre of festivity, of the joy of Self-discovery. He has to make his mind a pit of Yajna fire of selfless work. He has to offer the negativity of his selfishness in that fire. From that fire will manifests the Divine Goddess, the all-loving Supreme and who allays all fears.

Read more about the 9 day celebration here: http://www.mookambika.co.in/festivals.htm

FESTIVALS AT KOLLUR

The Chariot/ Ratha

On the bright half of the Jyeshta month (June – July) on the Ashatmi day, is a special festival – this day is considered the day of the appearance of the Goddess. Special pooja is performed in the days of Mahaalakshmi Vratham, Mahaa Shivaraatri, Sri Krishna Jayanthi, Vinaayaka Chaturthi, Jyesta Lakshmi Vratham, etc.

Sri Mookambika Temple celebrates various festivals and regularly conducts Pancha Pooja and Thrikala Bali. Various celebrations of the temple can broadly be classified as Nithyothsavam, Varothsavam, Pakshothsavam, Masothsavam, and Varshikothsavam.

The main festival in the temple is the car festival, in the month of Phalguna (March-April). The Navarathri, the nine nights in the autumn (September-October), is a very auspicious occasion when thousands visit the temple. The special rites during this period are the Navakshari Kalasam, the Chandika Homam, the Rathothsavam, the Purnakumbha-abhishekam etc.

There is a very colourful festival Vana Bhojana, in November December, when during night the festival idol of Devi is carried by a decorated and colourfully illuminated country craft across the Souparnika and offered worship in the forest. There is a feast for all on the next day at the river bank amidst the forest scenes.

RIVER SOUPARNIKA’S ORIGIN

The source of this river Souparnika is from the Kodachadri hills which offer a backdrop to the temple. The mythology about this temple and river says that a Garuda named Suparna performed penance on this river bank in order to save his mother from the continuous misfortunes and sorrows. Then the Kollur Devi appeared before him to grant her good wishes and at this juncture this garuda requested Devi that this river be named after him hence forth and thus this river came to be known as river Souparnika.

The place where the Suparna garuda sat is popularly known as Garuda caves. This river is joined by two more rivers downstream. They are known as Bhrungisha and Pippalada – they now fall under the Oluru region. There after it flows west ward to meet the sea near the Maharajaswamy temple.

This river is said to be not only holy but also to contain rich extracts of valuable herbs as it passes through many mountains that has abundant herbs and rare plants.

GETTING THERE

River Souparnika on the left and the Sea on the right.  NH17 near Maravanthe, on the way to Kollur

Path leading to Sarvajna Peeta, Kodachadri

By Road: 3 hrs Approx

Mangalore city is only 50 km away from Udupi. Express buses ply between Mangalore to Udupi at regular intervals. You can reach Kollur by bus from Udupi.

By Rail  The railway station at Udupi falls on the Konkan Railway network and there are trains from most major cities of the state. From Upudi you can reach Mookambika temple by bus or by taxi easily.

By Air

The nearest airport is the Mangalore airport located at Bajpe, 60 km away from Udupi. There are 2 flights everyday from Mumbai, Bangalore and from other parts of India.

Contribute to this Article

Note to our readers: The information presented in this blog has been collated from various sources on the internet and hence Bangalore Press does not vouch for the authenticity of the same. We request you to write to us at if you think you can help us improve this article. You'll be given due credit for any information/images you provide us.

Write to us at: bangalorepressblog@gmail.com 

Thank you!

References:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kollur#Main_Temple_of_Mookambika

http://www.kollurmookambika.org

http://www.mookambika.co.in/

Image Sources:

omshivashakti.wordpress.com

http://www.mookambika.co.in/

kollur.com

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kollur#Main_Temple_of_Mookambika

Shree Lakshmivaradaraja Swamy temple at Tekal, Kolar

Local Highlight this week: 2 March 2013, Mahabhisheka to Kolar Varadarajaswamy

Reliving the golden days of Tekal

Tekal is a small town guarded by two hills on the Malur - Bangarpet Road. The northern hill is called Kurmadri and the southern hill is Hemadri. 

Located 65 kms from Bangalore, it can be reached via Hoskote on NH4. Tekal was the headquarters of a large part of the Vijayanagar Empire that extended as far as Salem, North Arcot and South Arcot. It was Goparaja, the ruler of the Saluva dynasty, who developed this town and erected a well-structured two tier-fort surrounding the whole township. It is said that during its golden days Tekal had 101 wells, 101 temples and 101 cannons. Most of them are in ruins today. The king had also built a large tank called the Gopasagara.

The town got the name from the Tamil word Tekanchi, which means southern Kanchi and this became Tekal in later years. The temple of Lakshmi Varadaraja Swamy built in Chola style is the unique attraction in this town. The temple enshrines the deity which is more powerful than the Varadaraja at Kanchi. It will be a memorable experience to explore hills, caves, and temples around the town.

Tekal is renowned for its three important temples viz, the Varadaraja, Singaperumal and the Anjaneya which are all sights to see. Several others ancient temples exist here in their ruined condition. Tekal is well known for its huge picturesque rocks. It has a huge cave, more than 150 feet deep. Formerly the place was noted for the manufacture of earth salt.

Use the links below to jump directly to the respective sections of this blog.

1. Tekal – a trekker’s delight

2. Lakshmivaradaraja Swamy temple at Tekal
3. Getting there
4. Contribute to this Article

Tekal – a trekker’s delight

Steeped in history, Tekal invites trekkers and history buffs for an enjoyable and memorable sojourn. The two hills that dominate the place are actually colossal boulders of odd shapes. 

Hemadri Hills

Hemadri, the southern hill, is smaller but not quite easy to climb. As there are no steps here, scrambling up the steep rock face is the only way to get to the top. The two circular bastions that remain at the top confirm the existence of a fort. The dhone, which is dry, opens into a tunnel which is said to lead to the temple below. However, Hemadri is known for its large cavern, called Bheemana Garadi, with an unbelievably large area of more than 900 sq.ft. This cave, formed by gigantic boulders, is believed to be the place where Bheema practised wrestling. Watch your step here as this is treacherous terrain. Remember to use the services of a local guide. 

From the Hemadri hill you can see the fort walls and the watchtower. There are no steps to climb and the rocks get very hot as the day progresses. Mid-journey, you see a small pond and a cave too. And at the hilltop you can see the ruins of the fort which was built by the Vijaynagara emperors, way back in the 14th Century. From here the entire town looks like something right out of a picture postcard. The Someswara and Anjaneya temples at the bottom of the hill are not to be missed.

Kurmadri Hills

On the other side of the town, which is about two kilometres from here, is the Kurmadri hill, full of caves. Kurmadri is the northern hill. It is the terminal point of Shathashringa range from Kolar. On the southern side of the hill, reached by a narrow mud road, stone cut steps lead to the cave temple of Bhoo-thamma. Besides the Shiva temple, a few narrow steps on the right descend to an underground cave with a perennial spring. On the left you will find another cave with an earthen image of Muneshwara and a pond. 

Avid cave explorers can do some adventurous climbing over boulders to crest of the hill where ‘Rokkada Gavi’ (a cave of treasure) lies. An easier way to reach here is from Ullerahalli, 3 kms north of Tekal. 

Also found on the crest is a rocky depression in the form of a large cauldron. A giant lamp is lit here on Ugadi day every year. The Muzrai department donates 5 tins of oil and 10 meters of black cloth for the wick. 

Watch out for wild bees and the odd panther which could be lurking in one of the many caves. Fear of panthers prevents villagers from sending their cattle to graze on the hilltop. It is said that King Goparaja used to hunt tigers here and earned the title, Pulibetegaara.

Lakshmivaradaraja Swamy temple at Tekal

Among the shrines at Tekal, the temples of Anjaneya Swamy, with a 7 ft image, and the temple of Someshwara are worth visiting. 

Certainly not to be missed is the Chola style temple of Lakshmivaradaraja Swamy. The temple of Tekal is not as big as the Varadarajaswamy shrine of Kanchipuram. A narrow lane takes you to the shrine. 

The Tekal Lakshmivaradaraja Swamy temple can be compared with the famed Varadarajaswamy temple in Kanchipuram in Tamil Nadu and it was called Tenkanchi (Southern Kanchi) in ancient times. The local lore is that the deity, as a boon, fulfills the wishes of the devotees and that's why the name Varadaraja.

The unique feature here is the 4 ft high image that has a 'Gulaganji' seed on the thumb to signify that the deity here is that much more powerful than the Varadaraja at Kanchi. That is how the town got the name Tekanchi, which means southern Kanchi. This became Tekal in later years.

The temple complex is spacious with a pakashala and kalyana mantapa on the premises. There is a shrine of Lakshmi in the south west corner. The story goes that sage Bhrigu, who lived on the adjacent hill, used to reach here through a tunnel to worship the goddess in the night because every morning garlands of fresh flowers were found at the shrine. It was he who consecrated the lord here and the small stone ‘Bhrigushila’ at the foot of Varadaraja symbolises it. 

On the left side is a hall surrounded by the stone mantaps and there are some inscriptions on Tamil in front of it. On the right side are shrines of Lakshmi and the Navagrahas which are almost in ruins.

Like other temples in this area, the statues on the top of the 50-foot Gopura are either missing or the structure was incomplete. The reason is unknown. The inscriptions in old Kannada and Tamil at the entrance are the most intricate among the 25 inscriptions of the period 1310 to 1499 AD. 

The Vaishakha Shuddha Poornima car festival and Saturdays of Shravan draw a large gathering of devotees.

Getting there

Tekal is 65 km from Bangalore. To reach here, take the Bangalore Hoskote road (NH 4), and then travel to Malur (18 km from Hoskote). Tekal is situated on Malur-Bangarapet road. Malur is six kilometres from Tekal.

Whether you climb the hills, explore the caves or worship at the temples, your visit to Tekal will surely be a memorable one.

Contribute to this Article

Note to our readers: The information presented in this blog has been collated from various sources on the internet and hence Bangalore Press does not vouch for the authenticity of the same. We request you to write to us at if you think you can help us improve this article. You'll be given due credit for any information/images you provide us.

Write to us at: bangalorepressblog@gmail.com 

Thank you!

Sources:

http://archive.deccanherald.com/deccanherald/aug262004/metro13.asp

http://www.deccanherald.com/content/109515/ipl-2012.html

http://www.hindu.com/mp/2006/05/27/stories/2006052701660100.htm