| Kanaka Durga Temple | |
|---|---|
 Kanaka Durga Temple | |
| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Hinduism |
| District | NTR |
| Deity | Kanaka Durga |
| Governing body | Sri Durga Malleswara Swamy Varla Devasthanam |
| Location | |
| Location | Vijayawada |
| State | Andhra Pradesh |
| Country | India |
.svg)  Location in Andhra Pradesh Show map of Andhra Pradesh Location in India Show map of India | |
| Coordinates | 16°31′8.50″N80°37′17.38″E / 16.5190278°N 80.6214944°E /16.5190278; 80.6214944 |
| Architecture | |
| Type | Dravidian |
| Website | |
| kanakadurgamma | |
Kanaka Durga Temple, officially known asSri Durga Malleswara Swamyvarla Devasthanam, is aHindu temple dedicated toKanaka Durga. The deity in this temple is also popularly referred asKanaka Durga. The temple is located inVijayawada,Andhra Pradesh,India on the Indrakeeladri hill on the banks ofKrishna River.[1] Kaalika Purana, Durgaa Sapthashati and other Vedic literature have mentioned about Kanaka Durga on the Indrakeelaadri and have described the deity as Swayambhu, (self-manifested) in Triteeya Kalpa.[citation needed]
The popular legend is about the triumph of KanakaDurga over the demon KingMahishasura. It is said that the growing menace of demons became unbearable for the natives. Sage Indrakila practiced severe penance, and when the goddess appeared the sage pleaded to her to reside on his head and keep a vigil on the wicked demons. As per his wishes of killing the demons, Durga made Indrakila her permanent abode. Later, she also slayed the demon king Mahishasura freeing the people of Vijayawada from evil.[2]
At the Kanaka Durga temple, the enchanting 4-foot-high (1.2 m) icon of the deity is bedecked in glittering ornaments and bright flowers. Her icon here depicts her eight-armed form, each holding a powerful weapon, in a standing posture over the demon Mahishashura and piercing him with hertrident. The goddess is the epitome of beauty.[citation needed]
A Telugu inscription dated 1229 CE from Chola era and found in Veligandla Village in Prakasam District recorded a donation to the God Bejawada Malleswaradeva at Indrakiladri, known as Dakshina Varanasi was made by Podukayuri Siddayadeva and Sivamagi Maraya for the merit of their chief Siddaraju, alias Trilochana Pallava, a Telugu Pallava King.[3]
Other than Kanaka Durga, more deities are housed within the temple complex. Those deities includeMalleswara Swamy,Nataraja andKartikeya,Valli andDevasena. Malleswara and Nataraja Swamy's shrines are located at the northeast corner of the temple, while Subramanya, Valli, and Devasena are located on the north side of the main temple.Hanuman is the kshetrapalaka (guardian) of the temple, and behind him, there is Aparajitha Devi. Both are located on the temple's backside and in the direction facing Devi. When you go up the hill, there will be Shrines ofAbhaya Anjaneya andKamadhenu Devi.
Kanaka Durga Temple is synonymous with Vijayawada. It is mentioned in the sacred texts.[4]
It is mentioned in the Hindu scriptures that the deity in the Sri Kanaka Durgamma Devasthanam is regarded asSwayambhu or self-manifested, hence considered very powerful.[citation needed]
During the month ofSraavanam,Varalakshmi Vratam is performed on all Fridays with special reverence. More than 20,000 people attends the celebrations during this month.[5]
Special pujas are performed duringDasara also calledNavaratri. The festival of Dasara is celebrated here in this temple every year. A large number of pilgrims attend the colourful celebrations and take a holy dip in theKrishna River.[6] Ten forms of Kanaka Durga are worshipped in the period of 10 days (Nine days of Navratri and one day of Dussehra). The ten forms are:[7]
Inscriptions of different dynasties are found in the temple.[9]
Located in the heart ofVijayawada city, the temple is just a 10 minutes drive from the railway station and Bus stand and about 20 km from airport. Temple buses are available at bus stand and railway station for every 20 minutes. Vijayawada is located 275 kilometers fromHyderabad. It is well connected by road, rail and air from all parts of the country.
The annualSakambhari festival is celebrated inAshadha month with deep piety and ceremonies. During the three-day-long festival, Kanaka Durga assumes the form of Sakambhari or Banasankari Amma of theBanashankari Amma Temple, wherein prayers are offered to the Goddess to bless all vegetables, agriculture, and food so that they are plentiful and capable of nourishing the multitude. Sakambari festival is celebrated from SuklaPakshaThrayodashi toPurnima, ofAshadha month every year.[10] Goddess Sakambhari temple is situated in Shivalik Mountain range near to Saharanpur in Uttar Pradesh.
