Mookambika
 |
| Mookambika | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Devanagari | मूकाम्बिका |
| Affiliation | Adi Parashakti, Lakshmi, Saraswati, Parvati, Tridevi |
| Mantra | Om Namo Bhagavati Mookambike Namaha, namastestu mahamaye shreepithe surapujithe shanka chakra gadha haste Mahalakshmi namosthuthe |
| Festivals | Navratri |
Mookambika is a Hindu Goddess who is said to represent Goddess Adi Parashakti.[1][2][3] She is mostly worshipped in South India, where she is seen as an incarnation of either Goddess Durga, Goddess Parvati, or all the Tridevi’s.
Legend
Long ago lived a demon named Kamasura. He wanted to attain Swarga Loka and become the Lord of the three worlds, and so he performed Tapasya towards Brahma. After completing his penance and pleasing Brahma, Brahma came and bestowed a boon to Kamasura. Kamasura asked Brahma to be killed only by a woman, to which Brahma agreed. However, on returning back to his kingdom, his Guru, Shukra told him the story of Mahishasura and how the Devi was able to kill him. Fearing this, Kamasura asked his Guru what to do, to which Shukrachrya suggested he worship Shiva, because while Brahma cannot bestow immortality to a devotee, Shiva can. Kamasura agreed with this plan and went and did penance for Shiva. Kamasura's penance 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 Goddess Saraswati. Goddess 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 from Shiva, Saraswati took away Kamasura's power of speech. Kamasura became mute and thus his named changed from Kamasura to Mookasura. Mookasura could not ask the boon of immortality from 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 take down the Gods. He was successful in doing so and took 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 invoked the supreme Goddess Adi Parashakti once again, like they had in the past when Mahishasura’s atrocities had reached their peak. It is said that the Tridevi’s combined their energies to create this new Goddess. Armed with lethal weapons from the Trimurti, she rode off towards Mookasura’s abode. A long battle lasted between the two, which resulted in the Goddess killing the demon. After she had killed him, she was forever known as Goddess Mookambika.
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
- ^ "Goddess of all things". Deccan Herald. India: Deccan Herald. 29 September 2014. Archived from the original on 8 August 2020. Retrieved 23 July 2020.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "Supreme power exists within". India: The New Indian Express. Archived from the original on 23 July 2020. Retrieved 23 July 2020.