Tamil Nadu CM Joseph Vijay Offers Prayers at Kollur Mookambika Temple, Donates Silver Sword

Bengaluru, June 2026 : Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Joseph Vijay on Friday visited the revered Kollur Mookambika Temple in Karnataka’s Udupi district, offering prayers to Goddess Mookambika and seeking blessings at one of South India’s most significant spiritual centres. The visit attracted considerable public attention, with hundreds of devotees and supporters gathering along the route and outside the temple premises to catch a glimpse of the popular leader and actor-turned-politician.

Vijay, who arrived in Karnataka from New Delhi, landed at Mangaluru International Airport before proceeding by road to Kollur, located about 125 kilometres away in the foothills of the Western Ghats. Upon arrival at the temple town, he checked into the temple guest house and changed into traditional attire before heading to the shrine.

Dressed in a traditional red shalya, Vijay was welcomed by temple authorities with customary honours. The reception included a traditional Poornakumbha Swagata, a ceremonial welcome accorded to distinguished visitors. Temple priests also tied a sacred thread on his wrist as part of the rituals before he entered the temple premises.

Despite light rain in the area, a large number of fans and devotees waited patiently outside the temple. Vijay briefly paused before entering the shrine and acknowledged the crowd with greetings, drawing cheers and applause from supporters who had gathered in significant numbers.

According to temple authorities, the Chief Minister spent around 20 minutes inside the temple, offering prayers before the sanctum sanctorum. During the visit, he donated a silver sword weighing approximately 1.6 kilograms to the temple as an offering to the presiding deity.

Kollur Mookambika Temple President Babu Hegde said that Vijay visited the temple as an ordinary devotee and participated in regular worship rituals.

“He donated a silver sword weighing 1.6 kilograms to the temple and offered prayers to Goddess Mookambika. There was no special sankalpa or exclusive ritual. He stood before the sanctum sanctorum, prayed, and departed after spending around 20 minutes in the temple,” Hegde said.

The temple administration made extensive arrangements to ensure the visit proceeded smoothly. Security personnel coordinated with local authorities to manage the movement of devotees and maintain order within the temple complex.

Karnataka Health Minister U.T. Khader, along with district officials, received Vijay at Mangaluru International Airport. During the welcome ceremony, the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister was presented with a book and greeted by senior officials before beginning his journey to Kollur.

Given Vijay’s immense popularity in both Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, security was significantly strengthened for the visit. Police personnel were deployed across the temple town, along major roads leading to the shrine, and at the airport. Authorities also temporarily restricted the entry of devotees into certain sections of the temple complex while Vijay performed his prayers to ensure security and crowd management.

Officials anticipated heavy public turnout not only at the temple but also at Mangaluru airport. Security arrangements included personnel from both Karnataka Police and Tamil Nadu Police. A close protection team comprising around 40 officers, including senior Tamil Nadu Police officials such as a Deputy Inspector General and a Superintendent of Police, accompanied the Chief Minister throughout the visit. Vijay enjoys Z-category security cover.

The security measures also gained importance due to ongoing political sensitivities between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu over the proposed Mekedatu project. Vijay has publicly opposed the project and recently wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi requesting that it not be permitted to proceed. Some pro-Kannada organisations had earlier announced plans to stage protests during his visit, prompting authorities to remain vigilant.

After completing his temple visit, Vijay was scheduled to return to Mangaluru and board a special flight to Chennai later in the evening.

The Kollur Mookambika Temple holds immense religious and cultural significance and has long been associated with political leaders from Tamil Nadu. Former Tamil Nadu Chief Ministers M.G. Ramachandran, Janaki Ramachandran and J. Jayalalithaa had also visited the shrine after assuming office and sought the blessings of Goddess Mookambika.

Situated in Karnataka’s Udupi district, the ancient temple is regarded as one of the seven sacred abodes established in the legendary land of Parashurama. The shrine is closely linked with Adi Shankaracharya, who is believed to have installed the idol of Goddess Mookambika on the sacred Sri Chakra Yantra after receiving divine vision during meditation.

The temple is unique because the deity is worshipped as Adi Shakti, embodying the combined powers of Maha Kali, Maha Lakshmi and Maha Saraswati. The sacred Jyotirlinga at the temple also symbolically represents the union of Shakti and Shiva, making it one of the most revered centres of worship in southern India.

Even today, rituals at the temple continue to follow the Vijayagama system established by Adi Shankaracharya centuries ago, preserving a rich spiritual tradition that attracts millions of devotees from across the country every year.

Vijay’s visit added another chapter to the long-standing association between prominent Tamil Nadu leaders and the historic shrine, underscoring the temple’s enduring significance as a centre of faith, devotion and cultural heritage.