Kanaka Durga Temple, Vijayawada – Legends

Kanaka Durga Temple, Vijayawada – Legends

Indrakeeladri:

As per legend, Sage Keela performed intense penance on goddess Durga to annihilate the demons who were causing troubles to the common people and Sages in the region. Pleased with his penance, goddess Durga appeared before him and offered a boon. He pleased the goddess to stay in her head and keep an eye on the demons. The goddess Durga informed him that he should stay at this place in the form of mountain. She further said that after the annihilation of the demons in the Krita Yuga, she would come here and take her abode in his head.

As per the instruction of the goddess Durga, he stayed here in the form of mountain known as Keeladri. After the annihilation of Mahishasura, the goddess Durga took abode in the Keeladri mountain. She took the form of Mahisasura Mardini with eight arms holding different weapons, riding on a lion and trampling Mahishasura on the hill of Keeladri. Indra and the devas worshipped goddess Kanaka Durga on this hill. Hence, the hill came to be called as Indrakeeladri.

Daughter of Sage Indirakila:

As per Skanda Maha Purana, Sage Indirakila performed penance on Mother Parvathi requesting her to be his daughter. Pleased with his penance, Mother Parvathi granted the boon on condition that Indirakila should become a mountain to have her as his daughter. After the sage became the mountain, she took her abode on top of the mountain.

Malleswara Swamy:

Lord Shiva took his abode on an adjacent hillock as Jyothirlinga to accompany Parvati. It is said that Lord Shiva was worshipped by Lord Brahma with jasmines (Mallelu). Thus, he came to be called as Malleswara Swamy.

Bezwada:

As per legend, once, Vijayawada was a rocky area strewn with hills obstructing the flow of the Krishna River. Thus, the land was rendered unfit for habitation or agriculture. People suffered due to the heavy floods as the mountains obstructed the path of the Krishna river. People prayed to Lord Malleswara and Mother Kanakeswari to direct the mountain to give way to the river. Lord Shiva made Bejjam (Bejjam means tunnel in Telugu) into the hills and thus providing free passage to the river. Thus, the place came to be called as Bezwada and later got changed to Vijayawada.

Vijayawada:

Arjuna, one of the Pandavas, performed intense penance for Lord Shiva on Indrakeeladri mountain in Dvapara Yuga in order to get the most powerful Astra called Pasupathastra. Pleased with his penance, Lord Shiva appeared before him and bestowed him with Pasupathastra. He also blessed him and called him as Vijayan (Victorious one). Thus, the place came to be called as Vijayawada. The installation of Vijayeswara is said to have been done by Arjuna. As Arjuna worshipped here, this place was also came to be called as  Phalguna Kshetra.

Nose Ring of Durga:

The nose-ring of goddess Durga is never removed in this temple. As per the legend, Goddess Durga once borrowed the nose ring of Krishna and did not return it. Krishna took a vow that by the end of Kaliyuga he would take back the nose ring by raising its level to the hill top.

References in sacred texts:

Kalika Purana, Durga Saptashati and other vedic literature have mentioned about Goddess Kanaka Durga on the Indrakeeladri and have described the deity as Swayambhu, (self-manifested) in Tritiya Kalpa.

Kanakachala:

As goddess Durga shined on this mountain with golden colour glowing, the hill came to be called as Kanakachala, the place came to be called as Kanakapuri and the goddess came to be called as Kanakeswari.

Dharma, builder of this temple:

As per legend, the temple is believed to be built by Dharma, the eldest of the Pandava brothers.

Sage Agasthya installed a Shivalinga here:

As per legend, Sage Agasthya installed a Shivalinga here and named it as Malleswara.

Saint Shankaracharya installed Sri Chakra here:

As per legend, Saint Shankaracharya visited this temple in 8^th century CE and installed Sri Chakra at the feet of the goddess.

Bijapuri:

As many herbal plants with medicinal effects were found on the banks of the river, this place also came to be called as Bijapuri.