CM Vijay visited Kollur Mookambika Temple and gave a 1.6 kg silver sword to the deity. Photo: PTI
CM Vijay offers prayers at Kollur Mookambika Temple amid tight security
Tamil Nadu CM Joseph Vijay visited the revered Kollur Mookambika Temple on Friday, offering a silver sword to the deity and following in the footsteps of MGR and Jayalalithaa
Mangaluru/Udupi (Karnataka), Jun 12 (PTI) Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay visited Mookambika Temple at Kollur on Friday and offered prayers amid tight security.
Despite intermittent rain, the CM's arrival attracted the attention of devotees and visitors gathered at the shrine.
Temple authorities welcomed him with 'Poorna Kumbha' honours upon his arrival.
Vijay was received by members of the temple's administrative committee, including its president, Babu Hegde, who welcomed him at the entrance to the temple premises.
Before entering the sanctum, the CM paid obeisance at the temple's Dhwajasthambha (flagstaff), following the customary practice observed by devotees.
Temple priests then escorted him into the shrine, where prayers and rituals were performed in accordance with temple traditions.
Chief Priest Ramachandra Adiga conducted the religious ceremonies on behalf of the visiting dignitary.
According to sources, Vijay spent nearly 20 minutes inside the temple.
He offered worship to Goddess Mookambika and presented a silver sword as an offering to the presiding deity.
Priests performed the customary rituals and tied a sacred thread on his wrist as part of the blessings conferred during the ceremony.
The CM also participated in a sankalpa ritual conducted by temple priests before receiving the blessings of the goddess. After completing the rituals, he had darshan of the deity.
Vijay's visit drew large crowds to the temple town, with many devotees and admirers gathering to witness the actor-turned-politician's pilgrimage.
Additional security personnel were deployed in and around the temple premises to ensure orderly crowd movement.
According to officials, Vijay landed at Mangaluru International Airport at 1.20 pm aboard a special flight from New Delhi.
A high-security convoy accompanied the CM during the journey to the temple.
Karnataka police personnel escorted the convoy, while an elite security team from the Tamil Nadu Police travelled alongside.
Police sources in Mangaluru said 45 Tamil Nadu Police personnel had arrived in advance and coordinated closely with officials from the Dakshina Kannada and Udupi district police departments to ensure seamless security arrangements.
The convoy comprised eight cars in addition to the escort and pilot vehicles.
Security measures were heightened along the route from Mangaluru to Kollur, with police personnel deployed at key junctions and sensitive locations.
The Kollur Mookambika Temple is one of South India's most revered pilgrimage centres, with a strong following among devotees from Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Kerala.
Vijay's visit is being viewed as a significant spiritual engagement, particularly given the temple's long-standing association with prominent political leaders and public figures from southern India.
Tamil Nadu's two iconic chief ministers—late M G Ramachandran and J Jayalalithaa—were regular visitors to the temple. PTI