Kollur Mookambika

ಕೊಲ್ಲೂರು ಮೂಕಾಂಬಿಕಾ

Mookambika

Jyotirlinga divided by a golden line into Shakti and Shiva halves, with an image of the Devi installed on a Sri Chakra

Kollur, Udupi district, Karnataka · Shakta tradition

Karnataka Tourism and the Udupi district administration count Kollur among the seven Mukti sthalas, places of salvation, of Karnataka.

The story begins: “Kollur lies in the Western Ghats, at the foot of Kodachadri Hill, on the banks of the Souparnika river.”

Read the story
Directions

At the gate

Darshan hours
  • 5:00 am – 9:00 pm · Temple open
Darshan times are not published separately.
Next aarti or puja (India time)
See the schedule below
Getting there
Train: Mookambika Road railway station, ByndoorAir: Mangaluru International Airport

Not yet confirmed: dress code, phone rules, entry for visitors of other faiths, walking distance. Ask at the temple office or enquiry counter — and if you know, tell us. hello@aalayakatha.com

Full visiting details

Sthala purana

The story of this place

Family note: this story includes violence or death.
Told in: The temple's account on the Kollur temple website, with Karnataka Tourism

Mooka, the divided linga and Shankara's image

Kollur lies in the Western Ghats, at the foot of Kodachadri Hill, on the banks of the Souparnika river. The temple's own account begins with a demon, Kaumhaasura, who was known as Mooka. He was killed at this place. The goddess worshipped here carries his name: Mookambika.

At the heart of the temple is a linga. The temple calls it a Jyotirlinga and describes it as divided by a gold line. The left side is Shakti and the right side is Shiva. On the left are Mahakali, Mahalakshmi and Mahasaraswati. On the right, in the Udbhava linga form, are Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. The Udupi district administration gives the same idea in a sentence, citing the Skanda Purana: the goddess is the union of Shiva and Shakti, a manifestation of Parvati, Saraswati and Mahalakshmi.

The image of the goddess came later. In the Karnataka Tourism account Adi Shankaracharya came to Kollur to perform penance. The temple says the goddess appeared to him in meditation, and that he installed her image on a Sri Chakra yantra. Karnataka Tourism credits him with consecrating it, and the temple counts Kollur among seven abodes of salvation created by Parashurama and set up by Shankara.

The two episodes explain what a pilgrim sees at the start of the day. At the Nirmalya puja at 5 a.m., the swayambhu linga itself can be seen.

The account does not say who killed Mooka or how. The temple's own history may tell the story at greater length, but we have not yet been able to read it, and the Puranic chapter behind the episode has not yet been traced.

Where this account comes from

  • Temple administration: Sri Mookambika Temple, Kollur — temple website home page (About Temple, Temple History, festivals). The site does not name the body that publishes it. kollurmookambikatemple.org · seen 2026-10-09
  • Government: Karnataka Tourism, Sri Mookambika Temple — significance, Adi Shankara, timings, how to reach, nearby karnatakatourism.org · seen 2026-10-09
  • Government: Udupi District Administration, Sri Mookambika Devi Temple, Kollur udupi.nic.in · seen 2026-10-09

In one minute

Why Kollur Mookambika matters

Each line says who it comes from and how settled it is. What the labels mean

  1. Karnataka Tourism and the Udupi district administration count Kollur among the seven Mukti sthalas, places of salvation, of Karnataka.

    2 sources for: Karnataka Tourism and the Udupi district administration count Kollur among the s
    • Government: Karnataka Tourism, Sri Mookambika Temple — significance, Adi Shankara, timings, how to reach, nearby karnatakatourism.org · seen 2026-10-09
    • Government: Udupi District Administration, Sri Mookambika Devi Temple, Kollur udupi.nic.in · seen 2026-10-09

  2. The linga in the sanctum is divided by a golden line, with Shakti on the left and Shiva on the right, in the temple's description.

    Source for: The linga in the sanctum is divided by a golden line, with Shakti on the left an
    • Temple administration: Sri Mookambika Temple, Kollur — temple website home page (About Temple, Temple History, festivals). The site does not name the body that publishes it. kollurmookambikatemple.org · seen 2026-10-09

  3. Adi Shankara is credited with installing the image of the goddess on a Sri Chakra after she appeared to him in meditation.

    2 sources for: Adi Shankara is credited with installing the image of the goddess on a Sri Chakr
    • Temple administration: Sri Mookambika Temple, Kollur — temple website home page (About Temple, Temple History, festivals). The site does not name the body that publishes it. kollurmookambikatemple.org · seen 2026-10-09
    • Government: Karnataka Tourism, Sri Mookambika Temple — significance, Adi Shankara, timings, how to reach, nearby karnatakatourism.org · seen 2026-10-09

  4. The temple lies in the Western Ghats at the foot of Kodachadri Hill, on the Souparnika river.

    2 sources for: The temple lies in the Western Ghats at the foot of Kodachadri Hill, on the Soup
    • Government: Karnataka Tourism, Sri Mookambika Temple — significance, Adi Shankara, timings, how to reach, nearby karnatakatourism.org · seen 2026-10-09
    • Government: Udupi District Administration, Sri Mookambika Devi Temple, Kollur udupi.nic.in · seen 2026-10-09

Shilpa

When you visit, look for…

Architectural style not yet identified

No published description we have found names its architectural style. Karnataka Tourism and the Udupi district administration describe the temple's gold-plated crest and copper roofs.

  • Tower over the sanctum

    Gold-plated crest and copper roofs

    The temple's gold-plated crest above copper-roofed buildings.

  • Sanctum

    The swayambhu linga

    The linga divided by a gold line into Shakti and Shiva halves. It can be seen at the Nirmalya puja at 5 a.m.

  • Inscription

    Inscription of 1481

    The temple cites an inscription dated 1481 CE describing the source of the goddess's power. Its location in the temple is not given.

    1481 CE

  • Sacred water

    Souparnika

    The perennial river beside the temple, per the Udupi district administration.

Yatra

Plan your visit

Darshan times

Temple openPer Karnataka Tourism, with brief breaks for rituals and decoration.5:00 am – 9:00 pm
Nirmalya pujaThe swayambhu linga can be seen at this puja, per the temple website.5:00 am

Confirm on the day. Times change on festival days and without notice. These times are not from the temple’s own notice.

Before you go

  • No dress code or entry rules have been confirmed for this temple yet. Traditional, modest clothing is always the safe choice; ask at the entrance.

Walking, steps and access

We have not yet confirmed how much walking or climbing is involved, or whether there is wheelchair access. If you are travelling with elders, ask at the temple office or the devasthanam enquiry counter before you set out.

Crowds: Navaratri draws the largest crowds; Tuesdays, Fridays and the month of Shravana are also busy.

Getting there

  • By air: Mangaluru International Airport · about 130 kmPer Karnataka Tourism.
  • By train: Mookambika Road railway station, Byndoor · about 30 kmPer Karnataka Tourism.
  • By road: Kundapura · about 36 kmTaxis from Kundapura and private buses from Mangaluru, per Karnataka Tourism. The Udupi district administration gives about 75–80 km by road from Udupi.

PIN 576220 (not yet checked with India Post)

The order of darshan

No published source gives the order in which to visit the shrines here, so we have not invented one. Follow the queue and the temple staff.

Festivals

  • Navaratri

    Sep–Oct

    The temple's busiest festival, per its own website.

  • Annual festival

    Mar–Apr · 9 days

    A nine-day annual festival held every year in March or April.

  • Devi's birthday

    Phalguna, Moola

    The temple marks the goddess's birthday on Moola nakshatra in Phalguna.

  • Maha Shivaratri

    Feb–Mar

    Special abhishekas, archanas and naivedyas.

Customs you will see here

Itihasa

Through time

Two registers, kept apart on purpose: what the Puranas tell, and what the historical record shows. They answer different questions and we do not force them to agree.

In the Puranas and tradition

No events in this register have been sourced.

In the historical record

  1. 1481

    Inscription of 1481

    The temple cites an inscription dated 1481 that describes the source of the Shakti. Its corpus reference is not given.

    Source for: Inscription of 1481
    • Temple administration: Sri Mookambika Temple, Kollur — temple website home page (About Temple, Temple History, festivals). The site does not name the body that publishes it. kollurmookambikatemple.org · seen 2026-10-09

  2. Adi Shankara installs the image of the goddess

    The temple credits Adi Shankaracharya with installing the Devi's image on a Sri Chakra after a vision in meditation. No date is given.

    2 sources for: Adi Shankara installs the image of the goddess
    • Temple administration: Sri Mookambika Temple, Kollur — temple website home page (About Temple, Temple History, festivals). The site does not name the body that publishes it. kollurmookambikatemple.org · seen 2026-10-09
    • Government: Karnataka Tourism, Sri Mookambika Temple — significance, Adi Shankara, timings, how to reach, nearby karnatakatourism.org · seen 2026-10-09

  3. Renovation under the Keladi rulers

    The temple says the Keladi rulers Sankanna Nayaka and Shivappa Nayaka renovated the temple and funded its upkeep. The temple gives no years.

    Source for: Renovation under the Keladi rulers
    • Temple administration: Sri Mookambika Temple, Kollur — temple website home page (About Temple, Temple History, festivals). The site does not name the body that publishes it. kollurmookambikatemple.org · seen 2026-10-09

Around here

Worth the detour

  • Viewpoint

    Kodachadri

    The hill above Kollur, usually reached by jeep, per Karnataka Tourism.

  • Beach

    Maravanthe Beach

    A beach on the coast road, per Karnataka Tourism.

  • Temple

    Sigandur Chowdeshwari Temple

    A goddess temple Karnataka Tourism lists among nearby visits.

  • Waterfall

    Jog Falls

    Listed by Karnataka Tourism among nearby visits.

Also in Udupi district

Sources

Where this page comes from

  • Temple administration: Sri Mookambika Temple, Kollur — temple website home page (About Temple, Temple History, festivals). The site does not name the body that publishes it. kollurmookambikatemple.org · seen 2026-10-09
  • Government: Karnataka Tourism, Sri Mookambika Temple — significance, Adi Shankara, timings, how to reach, nearby karnatakatourism.org · seen 2026-10-09
  • Government: Udupi District Administration, Sri Mookambika Devi Temple, Kollur udupi.nic.in · seen 2026-10-09

Cite this page

Aalaya Katha Foundation, “Kollur Mookambika”, Aalaya Katha, version last reviewed 2026-10-09. https://www.aalayakatha.com/temple/kollur-mookambika (accessed ).

Last reviewed 2026-10-09. How we label sources and confidence