Kolluru Sri Mookambika temple recalls Jayalalithaa’s visit
Kundapur: Most of the national and international leaders devotees and pilgrims have visited the historical Kollur Sri Mookambika Temple many times. Twelve years ago Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, Jayalalithaa a great devotee of Kolluru Sri Mookmbika had visited the temple.
In 2004 July 30 Jayalalithaa arrived at Mangaluru by plane from Chennai. She then flew on a helicopter to Areshiroor in Udupi district and reached Kollur by car.
Jayalalithaa was accorded a Purnakumbha welcome at the Mahadwara of the temple. Managing trustee of the temple, B M Sukumar Shetty, received Jayalalithaa. Jayalalithaa’s associate, Sasikala, was also with her.
Jayalalithaa participated in the Mangalaarti to Goddess Mookambika and offered prayers. The Goddess was decorated in Rajarajeshwari Alankaram on that day. Jayalalithaa then had a darshan of the Shankara Peetha, Lord Veerabhadra and the Parivara deities on the temple premises.
Jayalalithaa also participated in the Chandika Homa at the Yaga Shala of the Temple. After the Purnahuti, she went to the temple for the Mahamangalaarti and donated Rs 30000 and 1 ton Ghee to the Temple during her visit.
Jayalalithaa instructed her secretary to ensure that the Tamil Nadu Road Transport Corporation started daily bus services from Chennai, Coimbatore and Salem to Kollur.
During her visit, Sukumar Shetty displayed the golden sword to Jayalalithaa which was offered by Her mentor and the former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, the late M G Ramachandran to the Goddess.
After Jayalalitha’s visit, the number of devotees to Kolluru Temple has increased. During the first week of every month, a maximum number of devotees from Tamilnadu visit the Kolluru Temple.
With media Inputs
