Fwd: Kollur - Mookambika Temple

[Guest guest]

"admin" <admin wrote: Sat, 31 Dec 2005 07:46:43 -0800"admin" <adminBabitha Vasanth <babitha70Re: Kollur - Mookambika TempleDear Madam,Sorry for the delayed reply.Our team members were in tour to India, mainly to Kollur to collect more information about the temple. We reached back to Singapore only on yesterday. Thanks for your details and please guide us how to use the details and make use the informations from your group also. If you're interested we can include in the development of http://www.mookambika.info .Regards,Admin Team,http://www.jsinfotech.comBabitha Vasanth wrote: Long ago when a demon called Kaumasura obtained a boon from LordShiva was reigning pompously, Kodachadri became the hiding place forall the gods and divine beings who became helpless against hisharassment.While the Saptarishis were engaged in prayers and poojas to bringabout the end of demon kaumasura, Guru Shukracharya enlightens himabout his impending death at the hands of a woman. Learning this,kaumasura performs an austere penance t please Lord Shiva. When Lordpleased with his prayers, appears before him and asks him to name theboon that he wishes, Vagdevi, the Goddess of speech senses that thiscould lead to a greater devastation and makes him speechless. Thedumb Kaumasura then becomes unable to verbalise his wishes and

thenonwards he is called Mookasura. Soon after, on the request of KolaRishi, the goddess creates a mystical power by bringing together theindividual powers of all the gods who had assembled. This DivinePower wages war on Mookasura and brings about his destruction,thereby granting him salvation. The place where devi killed Mookasurais known as "Marana Katte".Since that day, the Goddess has resided atthis holy place Kollur by the name Mookambika, fulfilling the wishesof all her devotees.Here resides Sreedevi in the Padmasana posture, of a serenecountenance, and with three eyes, bearing always a shankha, a chakraand with a pleasant appearance as the embodiment of mantra to blessthe devotees.Significance of Swayambhulinga:Swayambhulinga manifested itself when Parameshwara drew the Srichakrawith his toe and Kola Maharshi performed a long lasting penance inits vicinity, as a result of which power of meditation spread

far andwide on the earth. Udhbhava linga is the tangible form of Sri ChakraBindu that is said to have the proximity of all gods. It has a veryhigh significance since Shri Mookambika Devi has merged with thisLinga and fulfills the desires of devotees. A golden line has formedin the swayambhu Linga and it is wider on the left side as alsotaller. It is believed that Goddess Lakshmi, Parvathi and Saraswathihave all merged in the left side and the Lord Parameshwara, LordVishnu and Lord Brahma resides in the right side of the Linga.Besides the golden line, it is also said there is an image (carving)of Shiva injured by Arjuna's blow during the clash of Kiratharjuna,on the right side of the Linga. Towards the left, we may find theimage (carving) of Gopada (foot of the Holy cow) at the Shakthi Peeta.Adi Shankara (Vedic scholar and saint) has perceived and realizedGoddess Mookambika as residing thus. Adi Shankaracharya appeared

hereleading Shri Saraswathi with a view to finding a place for enshriningher. He stopped at this temple, fixed Shrichakram and on it installedthe idol of Mookambika which is the central idol behind the lingam.On the either side of this are idols of Kali or Parvathi andSaraswathi. The place where sage stayed and did penance and the gateby which he left are at the back of the Mulasthana and to northrespectively. Votaries to the temple are allowed the privilege ofsitting at the place and passing under that gate for a fee. Thetemple has been patronized by ancient Hindu Kings and several partsin it are still believed to contain valuable treasure. This was thestate temple for the Nagara or Bednore Rajas and many of the jewelsnow adorning the idol are said to have been presented by them and bytheir overlords of Vijayanagara.Sanctum of Shri Mookambika:The installation of the idol at Mookambika temple has a history asancient

as about 1200 years. As suggested by Rani Chennammaji, thefeudal lord by name Halugallu Veera Sangayya has covered the insideof the temple with stone. When we look at the temple structure, wefind the sanctorum, then entrance hall and then the Lakshmi Mantapa.There are four pillars at Lakshmi Mantapa and on upper portion ofeach of these pillars, we find beautifully carved images of variousgods. Prominently, they have sculpted the images of Ganesha,Subrahmanya, Naga, Mahishasura Mardini and the goddess in differentpostures as delineated in Devi Mahatma. Earlier, this made up thetotal temple structure and the outer prakara was not present. SoVeera Sangayya also took up the prakara, as per the principles oftemple architecture. We may also find beautiful images of Ganapathiatop the doors situated at the entrance to Garbhagriha, LakshmiMantapa and the Mukhya Dwara (main entrance). It is normal practicein any temple to depict the main

deity over the entrance, and thefact that all three doors carry the carvings of Ganesha is consideredto be of special significance.There are many inscriptions at Kodachadri that relate the tale oftime. The Prakaras, which underwent renovation from time to time,hold a mirror to the changing mores in architecture during bygonecultures. Specifically the Vaasthu of Garbhagriha structure is veryancient and extraordinary.The Garbhagriha is single yoni flag size (Eka yoni pramana dwajaaya). Pre entrance has a three flag proportion and is about 3½feetwide and 12 feet long. Lakshmi Mantapa measures 134'. 11". Then comesthe prakara. Beyond that, is Navaranga Mantapa. Outside the temple isa large and beautiful Deepa Sthambha ( a pillar to hold lamps). Thishas 21 concentric circles in which the lamps can be lighted, and whenviewed from Kodachadri, one would feel as though we were looking atthe Divine Makara Jyothi at Lord

Manikanta's Shabarimale. Thisbeautiful Deepa Sthambha rests on a Koorma Peeta (seat with tortoisehead); on this tortoise is a huge elephant upon which Lord Ganapathiis astride, looking westward and facing Goddess Mookambika Devi.During Navarathri, and during the Rathotsava on Phalghuni MasaKrishna Paksha Ashtami day (the day after Holi), the age-old practiceof starting the pooja by praying to Lord Ganesha present on thepillar is kept up even today. In the inner corridor, just beyond theGarbhagriha, as we move around the shrine in a pradakshina, we willfind totally four different idols of Ganapathi being worshipped,beginning with the Dashabhuja Ganapathi.Of these, the Balamuri Ganapathi idol that is made of white marble isbeautiful and high of significance. Then we have the image of serpentwhich has formed on the stone in the south-west corner. It isbelieved that, as we move in pradakshina, if we touch this serpentand

offer our prayers, it results in several benefits, like wardingof Sarpadosha, averting all doshas, and most importantly, acquiringgood fortune.Then we see the Shankara Peeta, where Adi Shankara Bhagavathpadameditated, and by virtue of his ascetic powers, visualized the formof Devi in all totality and realized the Devi herself. As we move ina pradakshina at the outer enclosure, we first find Subrahmanyaswamy, then Saraswathi and then Pranalingeshwara, Partheshwara, thedeity of Mukhya Prana (with a bell on the tail) installed byVadiraja, Vishnu Brindavana, a beautiful idol of Gopalakrishna withinthe Brindaana (Considered as upa-pradhana Devatha), the platform forTulasi and then the temple of Veerabhadraswamy who is the presidingdeity. Entrance to this shrine being made of wood, we may see anexcellent image, of Nrutya Ganapathi, right at the centre of thearch. It is said that the deity of Mukhya Prana has been

situatedright opposite the Veerabhadraswamy shrine with a view to balance itsfrightful appearance.Pooja practices:Here pooja practices are based on two disciplines- one as pervathula, which is one of the 28 vedas of Shaivagama, and whichincludes the rituals of Bali (sacrifice); secondly, as per Vijayayagama Shastra. The five different poojas performed at the templeeveryday are during Dantadavana (brushing the teeth), morning,afternoon, evening (pradhosha) and night. Pradosha Pooja is alsocalled as "Salam Mangalarathi". It is said that Tippu Sultan, theruler of Srirangapatna, once arrived here during pradosha pooja,witnessed the Mangalarathi, and became so impressed with the Devi,that he offered a Salaam in Muslim tradition to the Goddess, hencethe name came into use. Complementary to this account is the practiceobserved every year, when the Muslim brethren visit the temple on aspecific day for the darshana of the

Goddess. This special featurehas been in vogue for many years now. Of the various festivals andother celebrations held at the temple, "Sharannavarathri" which isheld usually during October, and "Brahma Rathotsava" held usually inthe month of March are both very prominently observed. There areseveral instances of childless couples, the dumb, the blind and manysuch other people making a vow to the Goddess and realizing theirdesires.Ornamental jewels of Sri Devi Mookambika:There is vast collection of jewels at the temple received as giftsof acknowledgement from the community of devotees who have realizedtheir dreams and desires with the blessings of the Goddess. Of thevarious jewels of the Devi, the one in emerald is very valuable.Emerald represents knowledge. This temple has two processionaldeities of gold. One is offered by Rani Chennamma as a substitute forthe missing of original one. But subsequently the missing one

foundand thus there are two processional idols. Former Chief Minister ofTamil Nadu Sri. M.G.R. gifted a god sword, which weighs one kg. Andare 2½ feet long. The former Chief Minister of Karnataka - SriGunduRao, has gifted a similar type sword made of silver. The facial maskof Goddess Mookambika is completely of gold and gifted by VijayaNagara Empire. The gold face mask of Jyothirlinga gifted byChennammaji of Keladi is another unique ornament.Sowparnika River:The two rivers Agnithirtha & Sowparnika which flow in the sanctuaryof mookambika descend from Kodachadri hills. The wee spring of coolwater situated in between the temples of Kalabhairava andUmamaheshwara is the source of river Sowparnika. Legend says thatSuparna (Garuda) did a penance on the banks of this river praying tothe Goddess for the abatement of his mother Vinutha's sorrows. Whenthe Goddess appeared before him, he prayed that the river

behenceforth known after him, Suparna, and therefore came to be calledas Sowparnika. At the location where he is said to have sat inpenance, there is a small cave even today which is known as "Garuda'sCave".This holy river takes birth at the Kodachadri and flows up to theedge of Anthargami (now oluru) region where two more streams calledBhrungisha and Pippalada join it. Then it flows westward, surroundingKollur in the name of "Sampara", and proceeds to join the sea nearthe temple of "Maharajaswamy" (Varahaswamy) at Maravanthe. It isbelieved that river absorbs the elements of 64 different medicinalplants and roots as it flows, therefore it cures all the diseases ofthose who bathe in it. Hence a bath in this river assumessignificance and is considered sacred.How to reach temple:Since the Kollur Mookambika is one of the very famous temples,transport facility from all over the Karnataka state is available.There

are frequent bus services from Mangalore and Udupi. FromMangalore it takes 3 hrs journey by bus. Many tour operators alsoincluded the visit of the temple in their conducted package tourprograms.Postal Corresponding Address:Executive OfficerSri Mookambika TempleP.O. Kollur - 576 660Udupi dist.Karnataka StateINDIAPhone: 91-8254-758221 PS: The below link is Moderated by myself. Kindly visit the same and do post your contribution in Words & Love. / Pranam, Babitha

ShoppingFind Great Deals on Holiday Gifts at Shopping

 

 

Shopping Find Great Deals on Holiday Gifts at Shopping