Kaulagiri Śaktipīṭha 

Mūkāmbikā Mahālakṣmī Temple, Kollur , Karnataka 

Introduction:— 

Kollur Mūkāmbikā Temple is one of the famous Śākta shrines in south india. Originally it is a Śaktipīṭha, the sacred seat of Ādi Parāśakti or Dākṣāyaṇī Satī. Many ancient texts like Tantrasadbhāva Tantra (तन्त्रसद्भाव तन्त्र), Niśisañcāra Tantra (निशिसञ्चार तन्त्र), Kubjikāmata Tantra (कुब्जिकामत तन्त्र), Manthānabhairava tantra (मन्थानभैरव तन्त्र), Ambāmata Saṃhitā (अम्बामत संहिता ), Vajraḍāka Tantra (वज्रडाक तन्त्र) etcetera mentioned this Pīṭha. The "Kollur" term has been derived from "Kollagiri" or Kaulagiri (कौलगिरि). 

Mūkāmbikā Devī 

The peak where Kaulācāra (कौलाचार) or Vāmācāra (वामाचारी) is observed is known as Kaulagiri . Kaulagiri pilgrimage site is important for both of Śaiva and Śākta texts because Kaulācāra is observed by both sects. 

Mahāmāheśvara Abhinavagupta expounds details regarding the Kula initiation ritual in the 29th chapter of Tantrāloka (तन्त्रालोक). Kula or Kaula is a specific tradition within Śaivism, closely related to Siddhānta and Śaktism. In the Jñānārṇava-tantra it is also mentioned as a pīṭha and is also called Kolvagiri. Mahālakṣmī of Kollur was worshipped through Dākṣīnānāya(दक्षिणाम्नाय) or Aghōrācāra (अघोराचार). The Aghōrācāra consists esoteric rituals with blood, holy mantras, erotic poses etc. 

Devī Pārvatī took the form of Mūkāmbikā,  killed Kamhāsura or Mūkāsura. 

Location:— 

Mūkāmbikā with Śivaliṅga 

 The Kuladīpikā tantra states that Kaulagiri is situated in the southern part of Indian subcontinent. 

 कामरूपं लिखेत् पूर्वे कोलगिर्यन्तु दक्षिणे ।

चोहारं पश्चिमे लेख्यमुत्तरे औणकं लिखेत् ॥

मलयं चाग्निदिग्भागे नैर्-ऋत्यां तु कुलान्तकम् ।

जालन्धरन्तवायव्ये ऐशाने देवकोट्टकम् ॥ 

[[Reference :- Kuladīpikā Tantra : 2nd Patala]] 

Kaulagiri or Kollur is situated in the range of Kodachadri hills. The Niśisañcāra tantra states,

तस्मिन् क्षेत्रे स्थिता देवि पर्वताग्रसमाश्रिता ॥११ 

[[ Reference:— Niśisañcāra Tantra : 4th Paṭala]] 

 Honourable Historian Alexis Sanderson discussed about Kaulagiri Pīṭha in his book named "Genesis and Development of Tantrism". 

The Mūkāmbikā Stotra (hymn) says she lives in Kollura hills. It uses the term "Kollurādri" which must have come from "Kaulādri" or Kaulagiri. 

कोल्लूराद्रिनिवासिनीं भगवतीं ध्यायामि मूकाम्बिकाम् ॥ १॥

Kaulagiri Pīṭhasthāna :— 

We've said that Kollur or Kaulagiri Śaktipīṭha is described in various ancient texts.  Here are some examples, 

कोलागिर्यां महालक्ष्मी करालायोनिसम्भवा ॥१०

कालरूपा स्थिता देवी दण्डहस्ता सुभीषणा । तस्मिन् क्षेत्रे स्थिता देवि पर्वताग्रसमाश्रिता ॥११

[[ Reference:— Niśisañcāra Tantra : 4th Paṭala]] 

Meaning — Mahālakṣmī in Kolagiri, is appeared with having ferocious Vulva. She is in the awful manifestation and she holds a staff (Daṇḍa). She dwells on the peak of the mountain.

The Vajraḍāka Tantra (वज्रडाक तन्त्र) states almost same, 

कोल्लगिर्यां महालक्ष्मी करालायोनिसम्भवा । करालरूपा स्थिता देवी विकृता चातिभीषणा ॥१२॥  तस्मिन् नगरे स्थिता चोग्रा पर्वताग्रसमाश्रिता । 

[[ Reference:— Vajraḍāka Tantra : Chapter 18]] 

Meaning — Mahālakṣmī in Kollagiri, is appeared with having ferocious vulva. Her form is terrible and very macabre. She dwells in the city on the top of the hills.

The Yoginī Hṛdaya Tantra, Lalitopākhyāna and many earlier texts address this Pīṭha as Kolhāpura Śaktipīṭha. Many people get confused it with Karavīra of Maharashtra. But Ambabaī Śaktipīṭha is mentioned in those texts as Mahālakṣmīpura. Both of Vajraḍāka Tantra (वज्रडाक तन्त्र) and Niśisaṃcāra Tantra (निशिसंचार तन्त्र) use Parvatāgrasamāśritā (पर्वताग्रसमाश्रिता) or "on a hilltop" for Kollagiri Pīṭha. It indicates the Kodachadri hills. 

Consort:— 

Mahālakṣmī or Mūkāmbikā's consort is Agnikeśvara Śiva (अग्निकेश्वर शिव). 

The Kubjikāmata Tantra mentions, 

अग्निकेन समोपेतां दण्डहस्तां नगौकसाम् ।

कोलागिर्ये महालक्ष्मीं नौमि लक्ष्मीविवर्धनीम् ॥

[[ Reference : Kubjikāmata: Chapter 20]] 

I salute Mahālakṣmī who increases wealth (Lakṣmī) , carries a staff and resides in Nagā plant in Kolagiri along with Agnikeśvara. 

The same Śloka is available in the Manthānabhairava Tantra. Actually, Mahālakṣmī Mūkādevī is worshipped with her consort in a Śivaliṅga. Here is the dhyāna of Agnikeśvara Śiva from Skanda Purāṇa. 

पंचवक्त्रं त्रिनेत्रं च शुद्धस्फटिकसन्निभम् । वराभयपरश्वेणपाणिं कोटिरवि-प्रभम् ॥६८ ॥ सर्वाङ्गसुन्दरं नित्यं षोडशाब्दं जगद्गुरुम् । भक्तकल्पद्रुमं शान्तं वन्दे श्रीपरमेश्वरम् ॥

Meaning — Salutation to Parameśvara who has five faces having three eyes in each face. His body complexion is as white as pure Sphatika (quartz). He is holding Vara and Abhaya Mudrās I his hands and his body is glowing like crores of suns. His all body parts are beautiful and he's looking like a 16-year-old boy. I praise to the Guru of the world who bestows boons to his devotees. 

Iconography:— 

Mūkāmbikā Mūlavigraha

Mūkāmbikā's iconography is portrayed in several texts like Skanda Purāṇa's Kolhāpura Māhātmya, Dhyānaratnāvalī etc. Here is one of them — 

शैलाधिराजतनयां शरदिन्दुकोटि-

      भास्वन् मुखाम्बुजकिरीटयुतां त्रिनेत्राम् ।

शङ्खार्यभीतिवरवर्यकरां मनोज्ञां

      मूकाम्बिकां मुनिसुराऽभयदां स्मरामि ॥ 

Meaning — "I remember Mūkāmbikā, the daughter of the king of mountains (Himalaya),

With a face like the moon, radiant with beauty,

With three eyes, holding a Śaṅkha (conch shell), a Vara Mudrā, a Cakra (discuss ) and an Abhaya Mudrā.

She is the one who grants fearlessness to the sages and Devatās, and is pleasing to the mind." 

As per the Skanda Purāṇa, she is the residing goddess of Devī Māhātmya or Durgā Saptaśatī. It states, 

प्रमत्त मधुकैटभौ महिषदानवं याऽवधीत्

      सधूम्रनयनाह्वयौ सबलचण्डमुण्डावपि ।

सरक्तदनुजौ भयङ्करनिशुभशुम्भासुरौ असौ ।

      भगवती सदा हृदि विभातु मूकाम्बिका ॥ 

May the Goddess Mūkāmbikā, who killed the intoxicated Madhu and Kaitabha,

The buffalo-demon Mahiṣa, and the powerful Caṇḍa and Muṇḍa,

As well as the bloodthirsty Śumbha and Niśumbha, the terrible Asuras,

Shine forever in my heart. 

Misconceptions regarding Mūkāmbikā :— 

Before 700CE, Kollur or Kaulagiri was famous centre for Kaulācāra and Śākta practice. But later, Jaḍabrahmavādīs(जड़ब्रह्मवादी) colonized this spot and made misconceptions and fake claims over it. They claim that their Jagatguru took Mūkāmbikā from kashmir and established here. But there is no evidence that Mūkāmbikā was worshipped in Kashmir. This seat was primarily a Śaktipīṭha mentioned in various texts. So their establishment theory is totally fake. The ancient Śāstrīya evidences made them fake. The Māyāvādīs made up that story by copying the concept from the Vaidyanātha Jyotirliṅga story from Śiva Mahāpurāṇa. Actually the Jaḍabrahmavādīs drove away Śāktas from here and stopped Aghōrācāra. They started worshipping her with Paśvācāra (पश्वाचार). Even the ancient himalayan temple structure shows that it belonged to Śākta cult.