Kanaka Durga Temple Vijayawada
Kanaka Durga Temple is a famous Hindu Temple of Devi Kanaka Durga located in
Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh. The temple is located on the Indrakeeladri hill, on the banks of Krishna River. A very famous Temple in Vijayawada Andhra pradesh dedicated to Kanaka Durga Devi
This temple is next to only the temple of Lord Venkateswara Swamy in attracting devotees. Devi is considered to be Shaktipeetham. But, there is no reference in “Ashtadasa Shakti peetha stotram”.
Her original idol in the temple is in the form of Mahishasura mardini. A lion and Mahishasura are also present. People tell a story for this. Previously, Devi was worshiped by Vamachara devotees who were used to give animal sacrifice to Devi. Later in the period of Shankaracharya, he converted the temple to Dakshinachara by establishing a Srichakra before Kanaka Durga Devi. He stopped sacrificing the animals. Even though people are doing the same. Then to change the behavior of people Shankaracharya decorated the Goddess which seems as today. The deity in the Kanaka Durga temple is regarded as Swayambhu or self-manifested, hence is considered very powerful.
According to a legend, Vijayawada at present , was once a rocky region scattered with hills that obstructed the flow of River Krishna. The land was thus rendered unhealthy for crop cultivation. Prayer to Lord Shiva for His interference intended to the hills to make way for the river. And lo! the river started flowing without hindrance with all its might, through the tunnels or “Bejjam” bored into the hills by Lord Shiva. That is how the place got its name “Bezawada”.
One mythology associated with this place is that Arjuna prayed to Lord Shiva on top of Indrakeela hill to win(Vijay). His desires and blessings had given the name to city as “Vijayawada” after his victory.
At the Kanakadurga temple, the delightful 4-foot-high (1.2 m) idol of the deity is decorated in magnificent ornaments and bright flowers. She is shown eight arms, each holding a powerful weapon, in a standing position over the demon Mahishashura and stabbing him with her trident. The goddess is the essence of beauty
Adjacent to the Kanakadurga temple is the holy place of Malleswara Swamy on the Indrakiladri. By ascending the steps on the hill, one comes across little images of different holy temples, prominent among them are Kali, Shiva, and Krishna.