Sri Mookambika Temple

The legend says that there used to live a demon named Kaumasura. He was creating a reign of terror upon all the gods with his special power given by Lord Shiva. When all the gods were trying their best to stay away from his vicinity, Guru Shukracharya brings optimistic information to the gods that this demon would face death by a woman that is Goddess Parvathi. Knowing this Kaumasura undertakes severe expiation. Lord Shiva asks this demon to ask for the boon, sensing grave danger if he his offered the boon, this Goddess of speech makes this demon dumb.

Hence this Kaumasura came to be known as Mookasura (mooka means to be dumb). Thereafter Devi mobilized all the powers of the gods and then this demon was killed by Kollur Devi Parvathi. She was hence forth called Mookambikai. This place where Devi killed Mookasura is known as Marana Katte. Her divine energy became one with the lingam worshipped by Kola Maharishi.

The Kollur Devi then became the deity of this place offering her blessings to all who sought her divinity. She poses with all her vibrancy and grace along with the shank and chakra in both her hands sitting in the padmahasana posture.

Another legend narrates that Adi shankara once worshipped Goddess Saraswati in order to bring her to Kerala, where none of her temples existed. When Devi acknowledged his prayers, he told that he wished to bring her to Kerala. She agreed to come, but only on one condition that when he was going she would follow and if he stops and looks back, she will stay there and will not continue. Adi shankaracharya agreed. So they started walking down from Kodachadri hills. While walking he could always hear her anklets,so he knew that she was with him. Suddenly, the sound stopped. Adi shankara looked back with doubt .When he saw she was still with him, Adi shankara apologized as he had broken his vow .Devi said from now on she will bless her devotees here, in Mookambika. But he was determined to take her to Kerala. On seeing his devotion she agreed to go to Chottanikkara temple in Kerala and return to Mookambika.