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Mukambika: Mother of the Truthful Word


Shri Shri Shri Shri Shri Shri Shri Shri Shri Shri Shri Shri Shri Shri Shri Shri Shri Shri Shri Shri Shri Shri Shri Shri Shri Shri Shri Shri Shri Shri Shri Shri Shri Shri Shri Shri Shri Shri Shri Shri Shri Shri Shri Shri Shri Shri Shri Shri Shri Shri Shri Shri Shri Shri Shri Shri Shri Shri Shri Shri Shri Shri Shri Shri Shri Shri Shri Shri Shri Shri Shri Shri Shri Shri Shri Shri Shri Shri Shri Shri Shri Shri Shri Shri Shri Shri Shri Shri Shri Shri Shri Shri Shri Shri Shri Shri Shri Shri Shri Shri Shri Shri Shri Shri Shri Shri Shri Shri
Aum Mukambikaya Namah


Mother of Speech,
Hidden in the Jungles of Kerala,
Giving bliss with Your Darshan,
Worshipped by great astrologers,
EnLighten us to speak the Truth.
108 Shri Shri Shri Mukambika
Bless Us with the Word
Aum Mukumbikaya Namaha


The temple of the goddess Mukambika is in Kollur, 128 Kms from Mangalore, Karnataka, India. The Goddess Mukambika is said to be in the form of Jyotir-Lingam incorporating both Shiva and Shakti.

Kollur is referred to in the Skanda Purana. It was originally known by the name Maharanyapura. It is said to have been home to several sages and yogis. A sage by name Kola was advised to worship Shakti at Kollur. A lingam appeared on its own accord at Kollur, and Shiva requested Kola rishi to worship it and that in due course Shakti would manifest herself there. The name Kolapura (city of Kola ) eventually changed to Kollur.

There was a demon named Kaumasura (also Kamha ), who obtained a boon from Lord Shiva and used his powers to reck havoc. All the gods and divine beings were helpless from his harassment and hid at Kodachadri. While the Saptarishis were engaged in prayers and pujas to bring about the end of demon Kaumasura, Guru Shukracharya (Venus) enlightened him about his impending death at the hands of a woman. Learning this, Kaumasura performed an austere penance to please Lord Shiva. When Shiva was pleased with his prayers, he appeared before him and offered a boon. Vagdevi, the Goddess of speech, knew this would lead to a greater devastation and made him speechless. The dumb Kaumasura then became unable to verbalize his wishes and from then onwards was called Mukasura (mouth-demon or demon mouth). Undaunted, the demon continued his atrocities. Soon after, on the request of Kola Rishi, the goddess created a mystical power by bringing together the individual powers of all the gods who had assembled. The Goddess waged war on Mukasura and brought about his destruction.

Upon vanquishing Mookasura, Devi is believed to have merged into the self manifested Lingam. Since that day, the Goddess has resided at Kollur by the name Mukambika, in the Padmasana posture, with three eyes, bearing a shankha, a chakra and with a pleasant appearance as the embodiment of mantra to bless devotees.

The place where the Devi killed Mukasura is known as "Marana Katte". In the temple at Maarana Ghat, there is a Sri Chakra symbolizing Devi.

Mookambika is said to have appeared before Aadi Sankara at the main temple, and he is said to have installed her image at this shrine. There is a room near the sanctum, enshrining the Sankara Simhasanam, which is regarded as the spot where he meditated and had a vision of Mookambika. Adi Sankara is said to have spontaneously composed the classic work Soundarya Lahiri here.

Mukambika is worshipped by astrologers to speak the truth and to make predictions that will come true. If you cannot tell a lie, then it is not possible to make a wrong prediction. It is said that the siddhi of not lying is the power of everything you say coming true.

Aum Mukambikaya Namaha

Last updated June 2004 | Home | yoga@shrifreedom.com | ©2004 Shrifreedom.com