The belief in the presence of a divine power is what keeps us going forward in the face of all adversities. The situations that we meet, the ways we follow in our lives might sometimes go opposite to our expectations. The results of such happenings could be really crushing and desolating at times. In these situations, we need to reaffirm our beliefs into that superior presence through certain rituals to clear the doubts that circle our heads and see the greater good that lies ahead for us. Chandika Homam is one such ritual that helps one gain the control and balance of one's life by the blessings of Goddess Chandika- the fiercest manifestation of Goddess Durga. This Homam is performed at several places in India by devotees seeking a solution to the unending problems of life. One such shrine of importance where Chandika Homam is carried out with full fervor and virtue is Sri Mookambika Temple.

Sri Mookambika Temple, Kollur is one of the places of utmost significance in the picture of shrine tourism in India. Located in the Kollur Village of Udupi, Karnataka, Mookambika temple is believed to be the abode of the Aadiparashakti- Mookambika. Udupi is a small village of six sq. feet area, situated in the foothills of the Western Ghats significant only for the location of the temple here. The temple is often referred to as Mookambi, relating to the name of Devi Mookambika. Sri Mookambika is considered the supreme Goddess, being the union of Mahalaxmi, Mahasaraswati, and Mahakali into one. The unique Udbhava Linga situated inside the temple is a manifestation of the join of Purusha (Male Divine) and Prakriti or Shakti (Female Divine).

Significance of Chandika Homam
Chandi Homam is committed to Lord Durga Devi. Goddess durga Devi provides non-stop blessings throughout this Homam. Goddess durga is the ancient energy that is liable for the closure and making of this whole world. She is the entire energies of this entire globe. Chandi or chandikahomam is said to be one of the most prevailing and great homam for an individual to get success and accomplishment in their life plus also it is helpful to defeat all sorts of barriers and Doshas in a person's entire life. This homam assists an individual to get victory in the Court Cases and over Enemies. By executing the Maha Chandi Homa, you can be free from barriers, troubles, evil eyes plus they are also conferred with getting prosperity, chastity, wealth, and good health.

Chandi yagna is considered as the most influential yagna in Hindu belief. It is performed across India at the time of various festivals, particularly at the time of navaratri festival. Chandi Homa is performed by specifying rhymes from the Durga-Sapthasathi and providing oblations within the sacrificial fire. Doing chandi yagna at least one time in a year provides accomplishment in life plus also provides positive vigor to face all barriers in their life.

Lord Chandi is the epitome of all the extraterrestrial powers plus she is the creator of the whole planet. Lord Chandi is the caretaker of all her brood on the earth plus protects them from the wicked effect. Well, there are approximately 700 effortful and secret mantras that are present to admire of godess Durga wherein she overcomes different requirements for her worshipper. During chandi homa, godess Durga is assumed as a two to ten year old girl.Thus, while doing this homam, girl child of these ages are worshipped and gived dress as well as other valuable gifts. By doing this homa for about 7 times, life threads and frightens are eliminated, for doing chandi yagna for 11 times, it provides wealthy and royalty life, and by doing this homa for 16 times, it provides success and victory in life.

Basically a chandi homa is an important and one of the strongest homam to get the entire success in all activities and also for elimination of all sorts of Obstacles and Doshas in someone's life. This homam helps an individual to get accomplishment in life and win over adversaries whether in litigations, business or family life . In general, a huge Homam and puja are performed in this homam to please Goddess Durga. In this chandika homa, devi durga is worshipped as a two to 10 year oldgirl or kanya and therefore girls from this age group are worshipped throughout this homam and puja.

Why perform Chandika Homam?
In our life, some problems are beyond the control of human being. These problems can be rather stressful and harrowing and people finish up being miserable. Invoking celestial energies could give the best possible resolutions to these hindrances. Goddess durga aids us to reach our objectives and takes away all problems from our way. If you really want to get success in your life then you should know the chandi homa significance which is legendary and super powerful. Usually 10 pujaris are involved to perform this puja. They offer the homam to devi durga and assists to clear obstacles and deterrents in the way to success. The trait of the homam is the reading of the Durga-Saptashati. Actually, there are nearly 700 effective and obscure mantras in the praise of the Goddess durga who is cited to provide the different requirements of her disciples. The chandika homam provides strength to face barriers in life and carries success in almost all walks of life. In fact, there are loads of chandika homam benefits but the most prominent one is that it wins over opponents and also aids to win in court cases. It is said to be a significant form of adoration to the Mother Durga

Kollur being the abode of the majestic Mookambika has attained the privilege of being a 'sidhhikshetra' or a focal center of the mystic power. Any orisons made here are known to be immediately granted. This is probably the reason why the devotees perennially come rushing to this place of legendary significance.

Sri Mookambika Temple, Kollur boasts of an expert panel of learned purohits many of whom have been Vedic Scholars and are trained in doctrines and rituals to perform these homams and poojas. The prolific purohits come from the traditional Brahmin priest families and undergo a rigorous examination of their knowledge before being bestowed with priesthood at the Mookambika Temple.

Since Chandika Homam is a Vedic ritual, it is very important that it is performed with vigilance and caution. A reckless performance of rituals can lead to counter-productive effects. The rituals performed under the guidance of the experienced purohits at Mookambika are often very accurate in terms of results and any chance of a folly is eliminated.

The Kollur Temple also provides the services of online homams to the devotees who are unable to travel to the temple due to unavoidable circumstances. Although it is believed that a ritual of Chandika Homam performed first-hand by the devotee himself under the guidance of an erudite priest is most productive and beneficial, under certain cases, the Homam can be performed in the absence of the devotee by the priests in his name. In case of confusion about the rituals of Chandika Homam or other doubts, the Kollur temple provides free consultation services by the learned purohits on the methods, rituals, requirements and benefits of the homam.

According to Skanda Purana, the Jyotirlinga situated in the Kollur Temple is the ultimate union of 'Purusha' or male element and 'Prakrithi'- the divine natural feminine force. It is thus believed that the essence of all divinity spread out in the world can be found centered here and thus be visiting and praying to Mookambika Devi at the Kollur temple is the gist of prayers offered at a thousand other shrines.

The legend of Krishna performing a sacred ritual named 'Sambayrutham' in the Kollur temple with his wives Satyabhama and Rukmini, is renowned. It is also said that the king of devs, Indra himself visited Kollur Mookambika to atone for his wrong deeds. Many enlightened sages such as Kashyap, Suratha, Brahaspati, Bharagavarama, Shukracharya among many are believed to have bowed to the divine presence in the temple. Devi Mookambika is considered to be a guardian deity of education and art forms as she is the manifestation of Mahasaraswati.

Since goddess Mookambika is a patron of fine arts and education, the Chandika Homam to negate the bad influences acting as a barrier to educational progress, or to ameliorate skills in art forms performed at her abode strengthens the might of rituals. The establishment prestige of Kollur as a 'Sidhhi Kshetra' serves as another factor why performing a Homam here can be more fruitful than any place else.

The individuals facing education and career-related problems, seeking improved performance in academics, or a career in arts come to Mookambika temple to appease the Goddess. It is said that a suppliance to the goddess' Mahasaraswati form through a Chandika Homam at Kollur preserves the might to free the petitioner of all grievances and enlighten them towards a path leading to a brighter, better future.

The seekers of blessings from the Mahasaraswati form of Chandika are mostly students and artists vying to improve and enlighten themselves with the wonders of the Goddess. Chandika Homam is one determined, virtuous way to please the goddess into fulfilling their wishes.

Other devotees who come here are either ailed by household problems, suffering from bodily malfunctions and illness or are struggling through tough financial times. It is religiously trusted that if a devotee performs the Chandi Homam rituals properly with a pure and truthful heart complete with a Hawan or Homa Kunda, dry Coconut, Ghee, rice, Kumkum, ladle, incense sticks, Deepaks or lamps, flowers, and water along with an offering of Prasad preparations made of Urad dal, curd, jiggery, fruits, and the Panchamritham (five nectars- honey, milk, curd, ghee, jaggery), Devi Chandika grants all his wishes and blesses him with long lasting prosperity and happiness.

The 'Yajmaan' or devotee performing the Chandika Homam is believed to be eligible to attain success in every venture he undertakes. His quest for purpose is blessed. His mind is bestowed with rationality and clearance and his spirit is freed of all tempts.

The physical and visible benefits of performing Chandika Homam include success in competitive examinations, settlement and dismissal of legal disputes, improved performance in examinations for students, excellent accolades in arts for artists, success in business enterprises for businessmen, longevity and a new energy to lead a healthy life for the sick and ones suffering from bodily or mental disorders, and a blessing of bearing healthy offsprings for the expectant.

The bad and harmful influences due to faults in the planetary motions are also known to be forfended by the benediction of Goddess Chandika in the form of Mookambika at Kollur. The household problems originating from Vastu Doshas are also obviated by the grace of Devi Chandika.

Apart from these physically visible benefits, the Chandi Homa also aids in achieving a mental state of peace and positivity. Goddess Chandi being the fiercest and the most powerful avatar of Goddess Durga is the protector of the truthful and the destructor of the malicious. She protects her devotees from all negative charms and influences and keeps draining forces at bay. She is free-spirited and the possessor of the supremest of divine powers. She is the Goddess of action, a vehement embodiment of 'Shakti' or might. When an individual performs the Chandika Homam with total submission and faith at a sacred place of historical significance like Kollur, all these divine superpowers of Devi Chandika are summoned at the Homam Site. The place is reverberating with a humongous source of infinite positive energy which is soaked in by the devotee and the people surrounding him.

These powers are then manifested in the behavioural patterns of the devotee who feels rejuvenated, replenished, at peace with himself and with the world outside. Not only he shapes his material life but is also guided ahead on a spiritual path of greater understanding. There is no sense of helplessness with him as he cites the immense power of Goddess Chandi to accomplish his feats and achieve his goals. The person also grows more tender and benevolent to other people which in turn results in happier relationships and a happy household.

When the person is calm and composed, his tendency of outperforming himself increases. As a result, the person is able to achieve goals that daunted him in the past. This increases the chance of him being content and successful in life and also grants financial stability.

The positive shield of Devi Chandika keeps the evil eyes that hamper one's growth and progress at bay. The black magic and black charms do not work on the devotee of Goddess Chandika who protects her children with an adamant ferocity.

The observation of the Chandi Homam rituals, thus come with greater goods to the very existence of the observant or the performer who undergoes a holistic development of body, mind, and spirit and an upliftment of his surroundings to aid a happy and flourishing life booming with possibilities.

It helps to persuade the enemies and defeat obstacles

• It is helpful to get success
  
• It defeat all distress
  
• It accomplishes all desires
  
• It provides strength and eliminates all threat.
  
• It reduce terrestrial influence
  
• It provide respite from all sorts of dosha
  
• The effects of obstacles and curses eliminated from the horoscope of a person
  
• Doing the homam gives win and success over antagonistic elements or enemies in life
  
  

Keep in mind that Chandi Homam is not a average Homam, but it has to be carried out by professional priests. The professional priests will execute the Chandi Homa by singing the mantras from Durga-Saptashati. Then it is followed by doing the real homa with other customs which consist of: saptashati parayanam, kalasa sathaapna, punyahavachanam, Anugna sankalpam, kanya pooja, Ganapathi pooja etc. Ganapathi pooja is done first before executing any yagna. It is considered that Lord ganesha eliminates all the problems in their life.

Chandika Homam is essentially an elaborate Homam or Hawan performed by a group of knowledgeable priests proficient in the recitation of Sri Durga Saptashati's shlokas. Considered as a nostrum for the ill, the grieved and the troubled, Chandika Homam is believed to be the remover of all obstacles and doshas that prevail in one's life, finally unveiling paths to happiness, prosperity, and well-being. A myriad number of devotees flock the Kollur temple each year to perform the rituals of Chandika Homam.

The principal deity involved in the Chandika Homam is Devi Durga in her nine forms. The Adi Parashakti- conjugation of the original divine with the female Shakti is courted in this powerful ritual to grant the wishes of the 'Yajmaan' or devotee performing the Homam. The Devi is considered to be the deity of Shakti or power and is trusted to drive away negative influences and instill positive life-energy. All nine forms of Maa Durga are believed to be the bearers of different important powers and Chandika Homam is the best and most efficient way to summon all those powers together. The worship of the goddess is performed by the recitation of the 700 hymns from Durga Saptashati directed towards the different forms of the Devi including Mahalaxmi, Mahasaraswati, Durga, and Mahakali or Chandika. The rituals in the Homam usually extend up to four hours but can be extended, too according to the needs of the devotee. An offering of 'prasad' made of urad dal and curd is made to the Devi Chandika as Ahuti in the Homam. As the notion prevails that the goddess prevails in the kumara form, the ritual of Kanya-Poojan or the worship of girls belonging to the age group of two years to ten years is performed, too.

The Chandika Homam can be performed at any time of the year as per one's needs and convenience. But it is considered to be the most fruitful and rewarding if performed on auspicious occasions like Mahaashtami, Mahanavami, Chaturdasi, Magha Amavasya, Jyeshtha Amavasya, Chaitra Poornima and Kartik Poornima are considered propitious to perform the Homam. The nine days of Navaratri hold special significance in the performance of Homam rituals as it is believed that the powers of the Goddess are most prominent and awakened during those days and thus the rituals performed at that time garner amplified outcomes.

It is advised that the rituals of the Chandi Homam should be performed during daytime while the Sun is up and should get over well before sunset. It is said that the bad and negative influences become powerful during the hours of the night and can hamper or counter-effect the results of the Homam.

Devotees are often needed to book months in advance to get the Homam performed at the Kollur temple as there are seldom any free slots available and the purohits are always rushed by the myriad devotees seeking to perform their rituals. Last minute availability of Purohits as well as resources in the temple premise is a rarity.

According to Vedas, all times are favorable to worship the God. However, Friday is considered as the most favorable day in a whole week. Some other favorable days for performing chandi homa are Navarathri, Dasara, Chathurdashi, Navami, Ashtami, Full moon day, New moon day, Tuesday etc. In general, people can visit the temple between 5 AM and 1 PM and between 3 PM and 9 PM. Some of the temples have flexible time routine and therefore the timings are not set. However, you can talk to the brahmin or purjari of the temple to perform chandika homam in kollur.

In Kollur Mookambika Temple, Chandika Homa is done throughout the year.

Advance booking for Mookambika temple Chandika Homam is available but will need to be performed months to years in advance. You will need to call the Mookambika Temple office for the same, costs about INR 10,000.