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Mookambika

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Mookambika
Devanagariमूकाम्बिका
AffiliationDurga, Tridevi- (Mahasaraswati, Mahalakshmi, and Parvati/ Mahakali), Lakshmi, Parvati
MantraSarva-Mangala-Maangalye Shive Saarvartha-Sadhike Sharanye-Trayambake Devi Narayani Namostute; Om Namo Bhagavati Mookambike Namah
FestivalsNavratri
ConsortTrimurti- Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva

Mookambika is the Hindu goddess who is representing Adi Parashakti.[1][2][3] She is said to be the mother of the universe representing Adi Parashakti. This deity is beloved in mainly South Indian States such as Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh, but is especially popular in Karnataka, Tulunadu and Kerala. Mookambika Devi is said to be an incarnation of either the Tridevi, just Parvati, or just Mahalakshmi.

Legend

Goddess Mookambika is known to destroy the demon Kamasura. Once, long ago lived a demon named Kamasura. He wanted to attain Swarga look and become the lord of the three worlds, and so he did tapasya to Brahma. After completing his tapasya and pleasing Brahma, Brahma came and bestowed a boon to Kamasura. Kamasura asked Brahma to be killed only by a women, to which Brahma granted. However, on returning back to his kingdom, his guru Shukra told him the story of Mahishasura and how Devi was able to kill him. Fearing this, Kamasura asked his guru what to do, to which Shukrachrya said for him to worship Shiva, because while Brahma cannot bestow immortality to a devotee, Shiva can. Kamasura agreed with this plan and went and did tapasya to Shiva. Kamasura's tapasya was extensive and painful, which soon pleased Shiva. Shiva appeared before Kamasura and bestowed him a boon. Knowing that once Kamhasura gets his boon, he will become unstoppable, Indra and the other gods went to Satya Loka and prayed to Godess Saraswati. Godess Saraswati was pleased and decided to help the gods. Being that she was the Goddess of speech, before Kamasura could ask the boon of immortality to Shiva, Saraswati took away Kamasura's power of speech. Kamasura became mute and thus his named changed from Kamasura to Mookasura. Mookasura could not tell his wish for the boon of immortality to Shiva, and Shiva, not being able to hear his devotee's wish, vanished from his sight. Mookasura became livid with rage and used all of his might to tumble down the Gods. He was successful in doing so and too over the position of Indra and became the ruler of the three worlds. The Gods then prayed to the Trimurti for a solution. The Gods, Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva asked the Tridevi- Lakshmi, Saraswati, and Parvati to form a new goddess to destroy Kamasura. They did so and the Goddess that formed was Goddess Mookambika. Mookambika Devi then went to battle with Kamasura. A great battle ensued between Mookambika and Kamasura/ Mookasura, until finally, Goddess Mookambika slaughtered Kamasura.

Another legend states that Saint Adi Shankaracharya is believed to have the vision of the goddess Saraswati. He prayed for the Goddess to move to Kerala as there was no temple dedicated to the Goddess at the time. Saraswati agreed to move there if Adi Shankaracharya will stay in front of her and not look back till they reach Kerala. Adi Shankaracharya agreed and headed towards Kerala. As they were walking, Adi Shankaracharya was reassured of the Goddess' presence through the sound of her anklets jingling. But, when they reached the Mookambika Temple in Kollur, he could not hear the anklets. He turned back and saw that Goddess Saraswati was always with him. Staying true to the condition, Saraswati stayed at the Mookambika temple and merged with the lingam, but she promised that she will come to Kerala in the form of Chottanikkara Bhagavathi. Adi Shankaracharya then prayed to the Goddess who then came to him in the form of a four-handed idol. He then installed her in the temple and went to Kerala to the Chottanikkara Bhagavathi temple where he saw the Goddess Saraswati draped in white at dawn.

Iconography

Mookambika Devi is shown as a four-armed deity. In her upper hands, she holds the Conch and the Sudarshana Chakra, and in her lower hands, she shows the Abhaya and Varada Mudras. She is seated in Padmasana pose (Crossed legs) and is seated on an altar. When dressed, her skirt shows her vahana, the lion, but sometimes includes a white elephant or a peacock. Beneath her is the swayambu lingam holding the Rekha, usually during worshipped is covered with a head. In the Kollur temple, she is covered by an arch bearing her symbols, the chakra and the conch shell, along with two flags representing the sun and moon and a Kirtimukha that is situated in the center of the arch.

See also

References

  1. ^ "Goddess of all things". Deccan Herald. India: Deccan Herald. 29 September 2014. Archived from the original on 8 August 2020. Retrieved 23 July 2020.
  2. ^ "By God, it is the law". Bangalore Mirror. India: Bangalore Mirror. 22 December 2010. Archived from the original on 8 August 2020. Retrieved 23 July 2020.
  3. ^ "Supreme power exists within". India: The New Indian Express. Archived from the original on 23 July 2020. Retrieved 23 July 2020.
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