Kollur Mookambika
Once there lived a rakshasa named moogan. He did penance and worshipped Lord Brahma for long. His aim was to get all the three worlds in his control. All the devas went to Lord Shiva and told him about Moogan who is doing long penance to get the world under his control. Lord Shiva told them that neither He not Vishnu can do anything. There is only one person who can destroy the rakshasa Moogan and that is none other than Maha Shakthi. Goddess Shakthi told the Devas that She will kill the rakshasa.
Seeing Moogan’s penance Lord Brahma appeared before him and asked if he has any wish. Moogan became very happy. When he thought of asking the whole world to come under his control, Goddess Saraswathi came and disabled his tongue. So Moogan coudn’t ask Lord Brahma his wish. Brahma became tensed and asked him to tell his wish. Since Moogan couldn’t talk Brahma went away. Then Goddess Saraswathi left his tongue. Moogan became very angry against the Goddess.
Moogan did all sorts of bad things against the common people and the rishis. To destroy the rakshasa, Goddess Saraswathi, Parvathi and Lakshmi combined to form the Mahashakthi and fought with the rakshasa. She destroyed the rakshasa. Before his death Moogan told Mahashakthi, “Oh Holy Mother, before my death I wish to ask a boon. And that is People should remember me whenever they do prayer for you.” Goddess Mahashakthi in all her kindness told him that People will call her Mookambika hereafter.
Adi Shankara who founded Shringeri Sri Sharada Peetam at Sringeri in Karnataka wanted Devi Mahashakthi to come to his home state Kerala. Goddess accepted his wish and told him that She will follow him to wherever he took her but he shouldn’t turn back and see her at any time. Shankaracharya accepted it and he walked towards kerala. He heard the sound of Holy Mother’s foot ring. Devi followed him. Suddenly Shankaracharya could not hear the sound of Devi’s foot ring. So he turned back. Suddenly Devi disappeared there, and a loud voice was heard, “Oh Shankaracharya, I told you not to turn back, but you turned back. Hence I will stay here. This is the place where I killed Moogan. I shall be called Mookambika (Goddess Ambika who killed Moogan). Till 8 am I shall stay here in Kollur. After that I shall accept Poojas at Kodungallur, which is located in Kerala your home state.”
This is the story of Kollur Mookambika. Adi Sankara composed Soundarya Lahiri here. Kollur is located near Chowbarniga River. Amidst beautiful green surroundings Kollur is a must visit for any Shakthi devotee. The temple at Kollur is built by Shankaracharya keeping in mind the unique Kerala heritage. The temple offers annadhanam (free food) to all the devotees. The rich and the poor without any difference eat here at the temple annadhanam premises. The former Chief Minister of Tamilnadu and “Barath Rathna” Late Shri MGR was one of the frequent visitors to the temple shrine.
