Introduction
Kollur is a temple town in Udupi District of Karnataka. This temple town is one of the prime attractions of the Hindu community.
Location of Kollur
Kollur is a small temple-town in Kundapur Taluk in Udupi district of Karnataka, South Indian state. Kollur is situated about 38 kilometres from Kundapur town and 40 km from Bhatkal town and 60km from Sagara City. The temple village of Kollur lies at the foot hills of Western Ghats Mountain Range. This place is famous for Mookambika temple, a Hindu pilgrimage centre. Kollur also called Kollapura one of the important places of pilgrimage in Karnataka State, which has a temple dedicated to Goddess Mookambika.
History of Kollur
The mythological history of Kollur goes that a monk named Kola was enchanted with nature"s beauty and decided to perform a penance on a rock near the Agnitheertham.
Lord Shiva or Mahadeva was delighted with Kola, appeared before him and blessed him. The monk wished for the welfare of mankind and nothing else. The Lord, happy with Kola, granted him his wish. He assured that a swayambu (autogenetic) Linga would appear for his daily worship. However, Kola wanted to worship Devi also. So, a swarna rekha (gold line) appeared on the Shiva Lingam, which is signifying Shakti. Thus, Shiva and Shakti are worshipped together in the Lingam. Besides this, a unique feature is that the other Gods and Goddess of the Hindu pantheon also believed to reside in aroopa (non-form) in the Shiva Linga. It is thus believed to be a spiritual residence of the entire celestial congregation.
Temples in Kollur
Kollur is considered one of the 7 Mukti Sthalams of Parasurama Kshetras situated in Karnataka. The other holy centres are Udupi, Subramanya, Kumbasi, Kodeshwara, Sankaranarayana and Gokarna. Legends are integrally woven with the origin of these temples.
The sacred shrine of Devi Mookambika is at the foot of a hill known as Kudashatri. River Sowparnika, originating in the hill, flows by the side of the temple.
Yogis and rishis have performed penance on this holy soil. Skanda Purana speaks about the glory of this Maha Aranyapuram. Here a sage by name Kola did penance. Devi Adi Shakti, who vanquished demon Mookasura, was extolled by the Devas as Mookambika.
Devi Shakti appeared before Sri Adi Sankara too in this Kudashatri hills. The Swayambu Lingam with a golden rekha in the middle is worshipped as Shiva-Shakti Swaroopa. The devotees believe that all the 3 Shaktis - Mahakali, Mahasaraswathi and Mahalakshmi - are enshrined in this sacred idol of Mookambika.
The Panchaloha idol of the Devi was installed by Sri Adi Sankara himself. He prescribed the various rituals and puja rites for worship and installed Sri Chakra before the Goddess. The Devi is in Padmasana posture holding Shankha and Chakra, and is showing Abhaya Varada Mudra. The images of Kali and Saraswati are enshrined near Mookambika.
The Sankara Simhasanam, a stone peetam in the shrine, is revered highly by devotees. Sri Adi Sankara used this place for meditation. Devotees meditate here and seek the Guru`s blessings.
An Anjaneya idol is installed by Sri Vadi Raja. A marble idol of Vinayaka with ten hands is enshrined on the southern prakara.
The hill Kudashatri has some excellent places for pilgrims to explore. Ambavanam and Chitramoolam, a cave, are believed to be places where Sri Adi Sankara did tapas.
The waters of Sowparnika are said to possess medicinal properties and a bath in the river refreshes one`s mind and body.
Shukla Theertham is a tank one kilometer away. There is a shrine of Sri Siddeswara.
This temple can also be reached from Mangalore, Udupi and Kundapur.
According to Puranas, Gautama Rishi, who was doing penance in Kumbasi, was harassed by an asura by name Kumba. Pandavas, who were here on a pilgrimage, came to his rescue. Bheema invoked Lord Vinayaka, got a sword and vanquished the demon. Lord Vinayaka is a Swayambu Murthi and is in standing posture.
There is a small shrine in the midst of the temple tank. This has Surya Pushkarni on the one side and Chandra Pushkarni on the other side. There are images of Hari and Hara and the Kamandala of sage Gautama. Pujas are offered to the Kamandala as Devi Ganga is believed to be present in it.
Lord Brahma is believed to have performed penance and had darshan of Lord Siva as Kotilingeswara. In the sanctum, the Lingam is enshrined in a shallow Peetam. There are shrines for Vinayaka, Parvati and Ardhanareeswara. Koti Theertham is the sacred water. The main festival is on Full Moon day during November-December.
Sankaranarayana (24 km from Kodeshwara): The shrine of Lord Sankaranarayana is on the banks of Varahi river. A sage by name Kroda was doing penance here to have darshan of Hari and Hara in one form. There are two Swayambu Lingams in the sanctum. According to another legend, Siva and Vishnu appeared here to vanquish Kara and Ratta, demon brothers.
There are separate shrines for Sri Venugopal, Subramanya and Panchamukha Anjaneya. A rare feature in this temple is that water is perennially seeping from the sanctum and prakaram.
Agni Theertham is near this sanctum. Bhargava Theertham and Koti Theertham are outside the temple. Kroda Theertham is located on the hill.
Gokarna: This is the sacred abode of Atma Lingam brought by Ravana from Mount Kailas. According to Hindu mythology as he was carrying it to Lanka, Devas tried to stop him. Vinayaka came to their rescue. He appeared before Ravana as a Brahmachari boy. When Ravana gave the Atma Lingam to the boy to hold it, Vinayaka kept it on the ground and it got rooted. Even Ravana could not remove it. Hence the Devas named the Lingam Mahabaleshwar. The shrine faces west. Gokarna is hailed as one of the Parasurama Kshetras as the sage hurled his axe from here to redeem the land from sea.
According to Puranas, at the time of creation of the world, Lord Shiva emerged from the ears of Bhoomidevi at this spot. Hence the Lingam that appeared here came to be known as Adi Gokarna (`Go` means Earth and `Kama` means ear). The sanctum of Mahabaleshwar reveals only a 3 feet by 3 feet square Saligrama Peetam. There is a golden rekha on the Peetam and a small hole in the middle through which one can have a glimpse of the `siras` of Atma Lingam. The six foot tall Lingam inside can be seen only once in 40 years when the Ashta Bhandana Kumbabhishekam is held. In this temple devotees are allowed to perform puja to Atma Lingam.
Chandikeswara, Vinayaka, Adi Gokarneswara and Dattatreya have separate shrines too. Devi Parvati is enshrined behind the main temple. She is known as Thamra Gowri. An image of Lord Ganesha is installed outside the temple. A small dent visible on His head is said to have been caused when Ravana hit Him. Devotees congregate here for Shivaratri festival.
Koti Theertham is the sacred tank. It is customary to have a sea bath here, make a Lingam out of sand and offer worship before proceeding to the temple. Pilgrims perform the shraddh ceremony for their ancestors on the shores of Gokarna.
There are four other Shiva shrines around Gokarna, together known as Pancha Maha Kshetras. They are Sejjeshwara, Gunavanteshwara, Murudeshwara, Dhareshwara and Mahabaleshwara.
Sadhasringagiri: Indranila mountain to the east of Himalayas is the dwelling place for Lord Vishnu, Mount Kailash is the abode of Lord Shiva and Sadhasringagiri that of Lord Brahma. According to a legend, once an enraged Garuda uprooted this hill and flew down south. While the divine bird was flying over Gokarna, the weight became unbearable. Sage Agastya came to his rescue and got the hill dropped in the sea here. The hill picturesquely rises on the southern side of the sea. The scenic beauty is a visual treat.
Situated on the hill is a shrine for Rama, Sita and Lakshmana. Manikeswara and Siddeswara are also enshrined. Pandavas are said to have visited this place, and hence the other name Pandavakudi.
Tourism in Kollur
Tourism in Kollur covers the tourist importance of both pilgrimage and the leisure tourism. People of Kollur and from other states of India, come and visit this place during the time of Dussehra. The tourist spots of Kollur are Anegudde Vinayaka Temple, Arishna Gundi Waterfalls, Adi Sri Shakthi Mookambika Temple, Mookambika Wildlife Sanctuary, Maravanthe beach, Jog Falls and many other tourist importance sites.
Anegudde Vinayaka Temple : Anegudde Vinayaka Temple is one of the most important temples in Kollur. It is one of the famous temples of Udupi District. Anegudde Vinayaka Temple is located in the southern side of Kundapur on National Highway No. 66. Here the God Siddhi Vinayaka or Sarva Siddhi Pradaayaka is installed. People believe that the God Siddhi Vinayaka will grant and fulfil his devotees" wishes. People believe in Him that He will solve their problems. The garba griha or the main sanctum has the Lord Vinayaka in Chaturbuja (with 4 arms) in huge rock like structure covered in silver armour. The two arms of the God Siddhi Vinayaka are posing as "Varada Hasta" granting boons, and two hands indicate to attain salvation. There are many sculptures related to Bhargava Purana that are inscribed here.
Arishna Gundi Waterfall : Arishna Gundi Waterfall is the scenic waterfall inside the deep jungle only approachable by trekking. Due to the special effect of the sun`s rays falling on the water droplets around the waterfall, it looks orange-yellow in colour and so the name is "Arishna" (Turmeric/Yellow).
Kodachadri Mountain in the Western Ghats : Adi Sri Shakthi Mookambika Temple is located on the top of the mountain of Kollur believed to be the genuine domicile of Mookambika Devi from where Adi Shankara re-established it at the foothills at Kollur.
Mookambika Wildlife Sanctuary : Mookambika Wildlife Sanctuary is aided by the World Wildlife Fund. Mookambika Wildlife Sanctuary is the abode to endangered species called the Lion tailed monkey. Mookambika Wildlife Sanctuary is spread along the Kundapur-Kollur-Shimoga road, and is generally off the tourist map.
Maravanthe Beach : Maravanthe beach is one of the most important sea beaches in the Western Ghats region of South India. It is the sea beach where one can find the sea and river come very close, but to leave a National Highway (17) in between is a rare sight. This sea beach is situated in between Kundapur and Kollur, on the way to Kollur Sigandur.
Sigandur Forest : Sigandur is a forest village known for the temple of Goddess Chaudeshwari. Sigandur Forest is situated at a distance of 45 km from Kollur, on the way to Shimoga District, a diversion from Kollur-Shimoga Road at Nagodi. It is in Sagara Taluk of Kollur region.
Jog Falls : Jog Falls is the second-highest plunge waterfall in India. It is about two hours drive from Kollur. It is located in Sagara Taluk.