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About 80 kms from Udupi,
is the tiny hamlet of Kollur. The attractive Mookambika temple at the
foothills invites thousands of devotees. The idol that installed by Adi
Shankara is confined in a copper-roofed and gold crested temple. Arasina
Makki, a famous waterfall nearby, is a must see.
Legend
Skanda Purana speaks about the glory of this erstwhile Maha Aranyapuram,
where a sage named Kola underwent severe penance as a result of which a
linga appeared at that spot.
Lord Shiva advised him to worship it and told him that that in due
course, Shakti would manifest herself as Mahalakshmi there. Later goddess
Adi Shakti, who vanquished demon Mookasura, was extolled by the gods as
Mookambika.
Mookambika Temple
Kollur is one of the seven 'Mukti Sthalams' of Parasurama Kshetra situated
in Karnataka. The sacred shrine of Devi Mookambika is at the foot of a
hill known as Kudashatri.
The Devi is in Padmasana posture holding Shanku and Chakra, and is
showing Abhaya Varada Mudra. The images of goddesses Kali and Saraswathi
are enshrined near Mookambika.
The other holy centres are Udupi,
Subramanya, Kumbasi, Kodeshwara,
Sankaranaryana and Gokarna. River Sowparnika,
originating in the hill, flows by the side of the temple. Yogis and rishis
have performed penance on this holy soil.
The idol of the goddess was installed by Adi Shankaracharya. He
prescribed the various rituals and puja rites for worship and installed
Sri Chakra before the Goddess.