Kollur Mookambika Temple

Kollur Mookambika Temple is an important seat of Shakti worship located in the Western Ghats in Kundapur taluk of Udupi district, on the banks of river sauparnika, 135 Kms from Mangalore. Kollur Mookambika Temple is surrounded by thickly wooded hills and has a natural formation resembling the Sri Chakra. It is believed that rishis have performed penance on this holy place. Mookambika temple has gold plated crest and copper roofs.



Kollur is one of the seven mukti places which were created by Parashurama. Kollur is one of the seven pilgrimages which were created by Parashurama. While the other pilgrimages created by Parashurama are devoted to Lord Shiva, Lord Subramanya and Lord Ganesha, this is the only one devoted to goddess Parvathi. The seven muktistalas of Karnataka are Udupi, Kollur, Subrahmanya, Kumbasi, Kodeshwara, Sankaranarayana and Gokarna.

Sauparnika River at Kollur

It is a belied that Garuda (eagle) called Suparna performed penance on the banks of the river and attained salvation hence the name Sauparnika. It is also believed that river absorbs the elements of 64 different medicinal plants and roots as it flows, therefore it cures all the diseases of those who bathe in it.

Legend of Kollur

Skanda Purana speaks about the glory of this erstwhile Maha Aranyapuram (Kollur). Kola Maharshi, a sage was advised to worship Shakti at Kollur, in the banks of river Sauparnika. The place was known as Kolapura, after him.

Kola Maharshi found a swayambu linga (Shiva Linga, appeared on its own) and was offering ablutions and was worshipping it regularly. Kola Maharshi who was doing penance here, was disturbed by a demon, Kamasura.

Kamasura, learned from his guru sukracharya that his death is at the hands of a woman and performed rigorous penance to please Lord Shiva and get the boon of immortality. All gods learned that, Kamasura will become all powerful and no one can stop his misdeeds, if he gets this boon. All gods prays vagdevi not to grant his wish.

When Lord Shiva, appeared before Kamasura and asks him to name the boon that he wishes. Vagdevi, the Goddess of speech makes him dumb so that the boon could not be asked. Thus Kamasura became Mookasura (Mooka means dumb).

On the request of Kola Maharshi, the goddess creates a mystical power by bringing together the individual powers of all the gods who had assembled and wages a war on Mookasura.

Devi then killed Mookasura using her charka on the midnight of Jyesta Sukla Ashtami. 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. After killing Mookasura, Devi is believed to have merged into this swayambu linga in this temple.

The main deity in the temple is the Jyothirlinga (Shiva linga). This Jyotirlinga in front of the idol of the Goddess Mookambika. A golden line divides this linga into two unequal parts and is visible only in the light of reflected sunlight pointed at the linga. The smaller right portion of this linga is said to represent Brahma, Vishnu & Shiva (as he conscious static principles) and larger left part Lakshmi, Saraswathi and Parvathi (as the creative energy principles)

Adi Shankaracharya, is said to have installed the metal image of the Goddess behind the Jyothirlinga. Godess Mookambika is in Padmasana posture holding Shanku and Chakra, and is showing Abhaya and Varada Mudras. On the either side of this are idols of Kali and Saraswathi. The roof of the temple is made of copper and is gold crested. Adi Shankaracharya is said to have composed his Soundharya Lahari when he was here.

Places to Visit near Kollur

  1. Mookambika Temple
  2. Sauparnika River
  3. Arasina Makki, a famous waterfall.
  4. The Kudachadri range is a beautiful place and attracts a large number of trekkers.
  5. Mookambika Wildlife Sanctuary: Spread along the Kundapur-Kollur road.

Festivals at Kollur Moonkambika Temple

  1. The main festival in the temple is the car festival, in the month of Phalguna (March-April).
  2. Navarathri: Special Poojas are performed on all nine days. Vidyarambha (Starting education) to kids is done on Vijayadashami day.

Facilities Available At Kollur Mookambika Temple

  1. Accommodation at Kollur Mookambika Temple: Temple guest house is available.
  2. Lunch and Dinner is provided free.
  3. Medical Care Centers, Hospitals and Dispensaries opened in Kollur for devotees

Distances from Kollur

  1. Distance from Kundapur to Kollur: 40 Kms
  2. Distance from Udupi to Kollur: 80 Kms
  3. Distance from Murudeshwara to Kollur: 55 Kms
  4. Distance from Mangalore to Kollur: 140 kms
  5. Distance from Bangalore to Kollur: 405 Kms (via Shimoga)
  6. Distance from Sringeri to Kollur: 115 Kms

How to Reach Kollur

Kollur is well connected to Mangalore, Bangalore and Mysore. Regular buses ply from Udupi. Kollur is a 2 hour drive from Udupi. On the National High 17, after around 7 Km from Kundapur, at Hemmady one has to take right deviation to reach Kollur. The nearest railhead is at Udupi.

How to reach Kollur from Bangalore: Kollur can be reached from Bangalore via Arsikere, Kadur, Bhadravathi, Shimoga, Hosanagar, Nagar and Nagodi

How to reach Kollur from Gokarna: Kollur can be reached from Gokarna via Kumta, Honnavar, Bhatkal and Byndoor

How to reach Kollur from Kodachadri: Kollur can be reached from Kodachadri via Gowrikere, Nittur and Nagodi

Postal Address of Kollur Mookambika Temple:
The Executive Officer
Sri Mookambika Temple, Kollur
Kundapur Taluk, Udupi District.
Pin Code: 576 220

There are couple of places worth visiting in the vicinity of the temple. One of them is Arasina Makki, a famous waterfall. The Kutachadri range is a beautiful place and attracts a large number of mountaineers and trekkers. Kollur is well connected to Mangalore, Bangalore and Mysore. Regular buses ply from Udupi.

Kannur Byndoor Passenger Train Timings

Byndoor (or Bynduru, Baindur, Bainduru) is a coastal town in Udupi district in Karnataka. Byndoor town lies on NH-66 running between Panvel and Kochi and is one of the major stations along the Konkan Railway line-(Mookambika road Byndoor) running between Mumbai and Mangalore. The nearest airport is Mangalore International Airport. This place was also known as Bindupura. Byndoor is notable for the Kollur Temple, Someshwara beach, Kosalli Falls, Ottinene Sunsent Point.

The Kasaragod-Byndoor (Mookambika Road) passenger train has been extended to Kannur in Kerala from May 2015. The train would run as a regular service between Kasaragod and Byndoor and as a special train from Kasaragod to Kannur. It had been scheduled to leave Kannur at 4.15 AM and arrive Kasaragod at 6.35 AM. The Byndoor-Kasargod passenger train would depart from Kasaragod at 6.55 PM as Kasaragod-Kannur passenger special and reach Kannur at 8.55 PM.

The railway has taken up track maintenance work between Kuttipuram and Pallipuram from May 21 to May 24 and between Kadalundi and Feroke from May 26 to June 6. Consequently the Parasuram Express and Chennai Egmore-Mangaluru Express, are expected to arrive late by 30 minutes during this period.