Kollur Mookambika Temple is located at Kollur, Udupi District in the state of Karnataka, India. It is a Hindu temple dedicated to the mother Goddess known as Mookambika Devi.[1][2][3][4][5] It is situated in the foothills of Kodachadri hills, on the southern bank of Souparnika River. Being situated in the land between Gokarna and Kanyakumari, believed to be created by sage Parashurama. The main deity of the temple is a swayambhu (self-born) jyotirlinga with a golden line cutting it into half, in which the left half represents Tridevis, and the right half represents Trimurtis. Along with this, a four-handed panchaloha idol of Goddess Mookambika is also installed. Rathotsava in the month of Phalguna and Navaratri in the month of Ashwina are the main festivals in this temple.
Legend
It is believed that Adi Shankaracharya had a vision of Sri Mookambika Devi and installed the deity here. One day Devi appeared before Adi Shankaracharya asking for his wish. He revealed his wish to install the Devi idol in a place in Kerala to worship. Devi agreed but put forward a condition that she will follow Shankara and he should not look back till he reaches his destination. But to test Shankara, Devi deliberately stopped the noise of her anklets when they reached Kollur whereupon Shankara turned and looked back because of doubt. Devi then asked Shankara to install her vigraha at that very location at Kollur. The original temple where Shankara meditated and Devi appeared before him is at Kodachadri peak (1343 mt) which is at a distance of about 21 kms from Kollur, also visible as a large mountain peak from Kollur Shri Mookambika Devi Temple.[citation needed]
India
