Kollur Mookambika Temple, Hindu temple in Kollur, Karnataka, India

Kollur Mookambika Temple stands on the southern bank of the Souparnika River, at the foot of the Kodachadri hills. Its inner shrine holds a self-born linga crossed by a golden line, the left half representing the three goddesses and the right the three gods. A four-armed panchaloha idol of Mookambika sits in the padmasana pose holding a conch and discus.

The sources attribute the temple's origin to the sage Kola Maharishi, who was troubled by the demon Mookasura. The goddess Shakti made the demon dumb and killed him, after which a self-born linga with a golden line appeared. Adi Shankara is credited with installing the four-armed Panchaloha idol of Mookambika in the form seen today.

The temple serves as a gathering place where devotees from surrounding regions come to worship and participate in major celebrations. The spiritual life here centers on daily rituals and the arrival of pilgrims, especially during the main festival seasons.

The temple opens in early morning hours with prayer sessions and maintains a strict dress code requiring full-length clothing. Wearing comfortable shoes is wise, as you will need to remove them before entering the inner sanctum areas.

The golden line on the swayambhu linga is not centred: it sits slightly to the right, so the half bearing Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva is smaller than the half of Maha Kali, Maha Lakshmi and Maha Saraswathi. Devotees also note that the temple keeps its doors open during eclipses, unlike most shrines.