Legend of Mookambika Temple

Although Kolloor, the place where the world famous Mookambika Temple located belongs to present day state of Karnataka, it was a part of Kerala once. The legend behind the creation of Kerala is that Lord Parasurama, the sixth incarnation of Lord Vishnu has thrown his axe from the hills of Gokarna to the ocean and it fell at the place where the present day Kanyakumari is there. All the land in between those two points has been given to Parasurama and that is Kerala.

Dreaded demon Mahishasura has undergone a penance to appease Lord Shiva and when the lord appeared in front of him he asked a boon so that nobody except women can kill him. Powered with the boon he started troubling gods, saints and ordinary human beings. Fed up with the activities of this cruel demon, all gods and saints approached Lord Vishnu. He directed them to pray to Adi Parashakthi, The mother goddess and they did it. Pleased with their devotion, she appeared in front of him and promised them that she will finish the demon off.

She went to a hillside where Saint Kola was undergoing penance. Mahishasura was there to trouble that saint. There both of them had a long battle and at the end of it Goddess killed the demon. Pleased with the devotion and dedication of Saint Kola, Goddess asked him what she should do for him. He requested her that his presence should be there at that place and the place should be known in his name. Thus the place got the name Kollur.

Years have passed and saint Kola continued his penance at that place. Demon Kamsa, nephew of Mahishasura came to know about all the history and he came to that place. He started troubling saints and poor people there and when the gods approached Lord Vishnu, he directed them to Saint Kola. He agreed to help them and started praying Adi Parashakthi. She appeared and started war with Kamsa.

It was really a great war and the goddess found it difficult to kill the demon. At that time, Lord Shiva drew a wheel (Chakra) in front of a Shivalinga which he used to worship every day. That is Sree Chakra which is revered as the most powerful weapon to distance all our troubles and problems. Goddess took that chakra into her hand and threw it towards the neck of Kamsa. He became dumb. Realizing that he cannot help defeat in the battle, he requested Goddess that she should forget all his sins and give peace in the other world.

Goddess then asked him to sit in meditation and at that time she killed him. By killing a dumb person, she got the name Mookambika, (Mooka being the word for dumb person in Malayalam).

However, there is another legend about this temple which is related to Adi Sankaracharya. It is believed that he has installed the idol here. There are four holy springs here in this place and taking bath in these springs is considered to be serene. Sauparnika, the most important one among them is believed to be the river on the banks of which the Garuda did rituals for his parents after their death. The water in this spring is believed to have the medicinal properties of about 65 medicinal plants.

Sukla theertham, the other holy spring is believed to have formed from the sweat of Goddess while she was fighting with the demon.

Govinda theertham, the third one is related to Lord Vishnu. It is believed that if you chant “Govinda.. Govinda..” three times with great devotion, the water from the spring will be sprayed on your body automatically.

Agni theertham is the fourth one which is believed to have formed from the holy fire used by many saints.