kolluru Mookambika Temple
Devi Mookambika is one of the most legendary shrines for Hindus in India. Mookambika temple is situated at Kollur village of Kundapur taluk in Udupi district of Karnataka. Kollur Mukambika Temple is a small village of about six square kilometers in area at the foot of Western Ghat. Kollur is generally known as ‘Mookambi’ in Kerala and Tamil Nadu. Though the Kollur Mukambika Temple is situated in Karnataka most of the pilgrims visiting the temple are from Kerala and Tamil Nadu.
Sree Mookambika is unique among the Hindu gods and goddesses as she embodies the powers of Mahalaxmi, Mahasaraswathi and Mahakali merged into one as Adiparashakthi. Udbhava Linga (self manifested phallus) of Kollur Mukambika Temple represents both Purusha (male) and Shakthi (female). Kollur Mukambika Temple is one of the most hallowed shrines for Hindus in India. It is one of the holiest Siddhi Kshethras (abode of mystic powers) of the world today. Sree Mookambika is an embodiment of all divine powers. So she can be worshipped in any form. It is said in Skanda Purana that the jyothirlingam of Devi Mookambika is the unification of Purusha and Prakruthi. A sojourn Kollur Mukambika Temple is equivalent to praying at thousand temples.
Legend has it that Srikrishna along with Rukmini and Sathyabhama observed Sambavrutham at Kollur Mukambika Temple. Indra, Suratha, Kashyapa , Bhargavarama, Sage Shukracharya, Sage Bruhaspathi, Pradyumna, Lokadithya Brahmana, Samadhi Vaishya etc were other epic characters who did penance at Mookambika temple. Devi Mookambika as Saraswathi is patron Goddess of education and fine arts. She can be propitiated for progress in education and accomplishment in fine arts. Great artists like Ravi Varma , Swathi Thirunal etc were devotees of Sree Mookambika. Late Thiru M.G.Ramachandran, Late Guru Gopinath, Jesudas, Ilayaraja etc are great contemporary artists who were/are ardent devotees of Mookambika. Sree Mookambika as Mahalakshmi is the Goddess of wealth. So She can be worshipped for progress in business and profession. Devi Mookambika as Kali or Durga will be helpful to secure health, extinguish ailments and eliminate enemies.
Mookambika Temple Route
Port city of Mangalore on national highway 17 (N.H 17) is the nearest big city connected to all important places by road, rail and air routes. People coming from southern parts of India have to travel via Mangalore to Kollur ( Kollur Mookambika Route). People coming from eastern and northern parts can access Kollur via Shimoga. Travelers on Konkan route have to alight at Bhatkal or Kundapur to go to Kollur (Mookambika Temple Route). Stage carriage buses ply frequently between Mangalore to Kollur. Mangalore, Udupi, Kundapur, Hemmadi, Vandse route is the shortest and convenient route to Kollur. There are direct buses to Kollur from important places like Banglore, Guruvayoor, Kottarakkara, Kannur, Shimoga, Sagara etc. People traveling in own vehicles have to take deviation from national highway at Hemmadi situated at five km north of Kundapur (100 k.m.from Mangalore). Kundapur situated on the NH.66 and Konkan railway route is the nearest town to Kollur.
Distance from Kollur:
Kollur to Byndoor – 27 km
Kollur to Bhatkal – 45 km
Kollur to Gokarna – 140 km
Kollur to Kundapur – 42 km
Kollur to Udupi – 75 km
Kollur to Mangalore – 135 km
Kollur to Dharmasthala (via Halady) – 168 km
Kollur to Dharmasthala (via Udupi) – 185 km
Kollur to Subrahmanya (via Dharmasthala) – 235 km
Kollur to Subrahmanya (via Mangalore) – 250 km
Kollur to Sringer – 115 km
Kollur to Bangalore (via Mangalore) – 485 km
Kollur to Bangalore (via Shimoga) – 400 km
Kollur to Mysore – 385 km
Kollur to Guruvayoor – 450 km
Kollur to Cochin – 585 km
Kollur to Panaji – 290 km
Kollur to Thiruvanathapuram – 775 km
Kollur to Shimoga – 140 km
How to get there:
Nearest Airport: Mangalore International Airport
Nearest Railway Station: Byndoor
Road: Kollur well connected by road network. It lies on National Highway NH-66. Direct buses are available from Bangalore, Mangalore, Udupi, Kundapur, Kollur and other main places of Coastal Karnataka.
Route map to reach Byndoor:
From Bangalore: via Nelamangala – Hassan – Sakaleshpura – Mangalore – Mulki – Udupi – Kundapur-Byndoor-Kollur
From Mysore: via Hunsur – Kushalanagar – Madikeri – Sulya – Puttur – Mangalore – Mulki – Udupi – Kundapur-Byndoor-Kollur
From Mangalore: via Surathkal – Mulki – Udupi – Kundapur (NH-66)-Byndoor-Kollur
From Udupi: via Kundapur on National Highway NH-66-Byndoor-Kollur
