Significance of Goddess Kanaka Durga in Vijaywada

Published
25th Jul, 2022

Context

Police Commissioner and MLA of Andhra Pradesh with other officials offered ‘Ashadam Sare’ to Goddess Kanaka durga at Sri Durga Malleswaraswamy Vaarla Devasthanam.

About

This holy shrine of Goddess Durga is a Swayambhu (self-manifested).
It is the second largest temple in Andhra Pradesh.
Kanakadurgamma Temple situated on the banks of River Krishna in Vijayawada.
It is situated on Indrakeeladri Hills.
The Mythological significance of the place is learned from the story that Arjuna prayed to Lord Shiva on these Hills.

‘Ashadam Sare’:

Hundreds of devotees visit Sri Durga Malleswara Swamy Varla Devasthanam at top of Indrakeeladri to mark the beginning of Pavitra Ashada Sare Utsavalu.
The annual Sare festivities: Large number of devotees will visit the temple and offer Saree to Goddess Kanaka Durga.
On the first day, temple priests and officials under the supervision of chief priest Vishnubhotla Siva Prasada Sharma presented the Sare.
They participated in the procession from Gosala of Sri Kanaka Durga.

Significance of the Temple

The temple of Kanaka Durga the Goddess of power, riches and benevolence and the presiding deity of Vijayawada, is thronged by lakhs of pilgrims for worship during the “Navarathri” festival.
The ancient temple of Kanaka Durga, abounds with legends of historical interest.
Goddess is looking towards north-east with cool smile and bliss. Because of which the devotees are blessed with whatever they pray for.
This is only temple in the world where the main diety (moola varlu) are decorated in forms of Sri Saraswati, Sri Maha Lakshmi, Sri Bala Tripura Sundari, Sri Rajarajeswari, Sri Mahishasura mardini, Sri Durga devi, Sri Annapurna devi, Sri Gayatri, Sri Lalitha Tripura Sundari.
Here Durga is on the right side of Malleswara as against the tradition of Goddesses taking their position on the left of their consorts.
This shows that Shakthi is predominant on the

Geographical Significance: The Story

It is believed that when Indrakeeladri came in the way of the River Krishna the Gods requested the hill to allow the river to pass through it to join the sea.
Keeludu obliged and gave a small passage for the river.
But the ferocious Krishna made the passage larger than permitted and carried a part of the hill four miles downstream to Yanamalakuduru, where there is now a hillrock called “Thelukonda” or floating hillrock.
According to another legend, Kanaka Durga borrowed the nose-stud of the Krishna and to avoidreturning it jumped up the hill.
Krishna vowed to take back her ornament by raising her level to the hill top by the end of kaliyuga.

Bhakti Tradition links

Adi-Sankaracharya visited the temple and installed the Srichakra and initiated worship of Kanaka Durga in vedic ways, and avoided animal sacrifice.