Kanaka Durga Temple

Introduction to the Kanaka Durga Temple

The Kanaka Durga Temple, or Sri Durga Malleswara Swamy Devasthanam, is located on the Indrakeeladri Hills, Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh. This famous pilgrimage spot lies on the banks of the River Krishna. The Kanaka Durga Temple is the second-largest Temple in Andhra Pradesh.

Legend of the Kanaka Durga Temple

The Kanaka Durga Temple has many legends about its origin and history. According to one legend, this region was once strewn with heavy rocks, which inhibited the flow of the Krishna River. This water scarcity made this area uninhabitable. To end this problem, Shiva ordered the hills to make way for the unobstructed flow of the river. The river gained the strength to flow through the tunnels or Bejjam. Hence, the name Bezawada originated, which was later modified to Vijayawada.

Another legend says that Durga killed the demon Mahishasura and was enshrined on the Keela Mountain as Mahishasura Mardini as she had given a boon to a Yaksha named Keela. Indra and all other deities worshipped Kanaka Durga on the hill, later known as Indrakeeladri.

In Dwapara Yuga, Arjuna performed severe penance on Indrakeeladri Mountain so that Shiva would give him the most powerful weapon, Pashupatastra. Shiva appeared to fulfill Arjuna's desire and called him "Vijaya." The place came to be known as Vijayawada after the victory of Arjuna.

As per another legend, Durga borrowed the nose ring from the River Krishna and never returned it. Hence, the nose ring of Durga is never removed.

The Architecture of the Kanaka Durga Temple

The Kanaka Durga Temple was built during the Mughal reign in the 8th century. The Chinese traveler Hiuen Tsang visited the Kanaka Durga Temple. The inscriptions from various dynasties of the temple bear witness to its antiquity.

The Kanaka Durga Temple has a vast Raja gopuram with nine tiers. Dhwaja Stambham is in front of the temple. The temple’s golden crown attracts visitors even from miles away. It features the Dravidian architectural style. The Koneru is called Durga Kaunda.

The sanctum is pyramidal with an embellished surface of delicate stone carvings. The deity is Swayambhu, who is considered very powerful. In the central shrine, the 4-foot-high Kanaka Durga, the presiding deity, is in a standing pose over the demon Mahishasura. Glittering ornaments and flowers decorate her. Each of her eight arms holds a powerful weapon.

There is a separate temple for Shiva in the north-east called Malleswara Swamy temple. Arjuna is said to have been installed as Vijayeswara's idol. Thribhuvana Malla, the 10th century Western Chalukya king, contributed greatly to the expansion of the temple.

The Kanaka Durga Temple is supposedly the only temple in the world where the female deity is on the right side of the male. This uniqueness shows that the Shakti (the divine feminine power), is predominant here.

The Kanaka Durga Temple also houses shrines of various deities. Sri Nataraja Swami temple is on the northeast corner, and Sri Subrahmanyeswara Swami temple is on the sanctum's north side. Sri Sankara Bhagavat Padulu (Adi Shankaracharya) visited the Kanaka Durga Temple and installed the Sri Chakra at the feet of the deity.

Festivals in the Kanaka Durga Temple

The Kanaka Durga Temple celebrates Dussehra with great zeal. Theppotsavam is held on Vijaya Dasami when all deities are taken for a procession across the Krishna River in a swan-shaped boat. Devotees from across the city flock to the temple to worship the deity and enjoy the occasion. Shivratri Kalyanam in March / April and Bhavani Deeksha in November / December are also celebrated here.