Sri Kanaka Durga Temple Vijayawada

Kanaka Durga Temple

Kanaka Durga Temple  is a famous Hindu Temple of Goddess Kanaka Durga located in Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh. The temple is located on the Indrakeeladri hill, on the banks of Krishna River.

Goddess Legend
According to a legend, the now verdant Vijayawada was once a rocky region strewn with hills that obstructed the flow of River Krishna. The land was thus rendered unfit for habitation or cultivation. Invocation to Lord Shiva for His intervention directed the hills to make way for the river. And lo! the river started flowing unimpeded 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.[citation needed]
One of the many mythologies associated with this place is that Arjuna prayed to Lord Shiva on top of Indrakeela hill to win His blessings and the city derived its name "Vijayawada" after this victory. Another popular legend is about the triumph of goddess Kanakadurga over the demon King Mahishasura. 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 Her to reside on his head and keep vigil on the wicked demons. As per his wishes of killing the demons, Goddess Durga made Indrakila Her permanent abode. Later, She also slayed the demon king Mahishasura freeing the people of Vijayawada from evil.[citation needed]
At the Kanakadurga temple, the enchanting 4-foot-high (1.2 m) icon of the deity is bedecked in glittering ornaments and bright flowers. She is shown eight arms, each holding a powerful weapon, in a standing posture over the demon Mahishashura and piercing him with her trident. The goddess is the epitome of beauty.[citation needed]
Adjacent to the Kanakadurga temple is the shrine of Malleswara Swamy on the Indrakiladri. By ascending the steps on the hill, one comes across little images of different deities, prominent among them are Kali, Shiva, and Krishna.

Transport
Located in the heart of Vijayawada city, the temple is just a 10 minutes drive from the railway station and Bus stand and about 20 km from airport. Vijayawada is located 275 kilometers from Hyderabad. It is well connected by road, rail and air from all parts of the country.


Dasara festivities of Devasthanam

Sri Kanaka Durga Devi, the chief deity of the temple is portrayed as blessing the visiting devotees in various forms (avatars) during the ten day festival. A symbolic representation of the 10 forms of triumph of good over evil, this form (known as 'Alankaram') of the day is chosen as per the astrological star of each day, in accordance with the lunar calendar. This year, the devotees are being blessed according to the following schedule of Alankarams:
Day 1 -SRI SWARNA KAVACHALAKRUTA DURGA DEVI
Day 2 - SRI BALA TRIPURA SUNDARI DEVI
Day 3 - SRI ANNAPURNA DEVI
Day 4 - SRI GAYATRI DEVI
Day 5- SRI LALITHA TRIPURA SUNDARI DEVI
Day 6 - SRI SARASWATI DEVI
Day 7 - SRI MAHA LAKSHMI DEVI
Day 8 - SRI DURGA DEVI
Day 9 - SRI MAHISHASURA MARDHINI DEVI
Day 10 - SRI RAJA RAJESWARI DEVI
Note: Alankarams may change according to Thidis and nakshatrams every year.

Sevas:  Poojas/Kalyanams/Utsavams/Daily Sevas/Weekly Sevas/Periodical Sevas 

Temple	Seva	Timing	Cost	Number of pilgrims allowed	Remarks
Sri Chakranavavarnarchana	Nitya Seva	8:30AM to 12:30 PM	Rs. 516/-	Five Members
Lakshakumkumarchana	Nitya Seva	8:30AM to 12:30 PM	Rs. 1000/-	Five Members
Astotharanamarchana	Nitya Seva	5:00AM to 9:00 PM	Rs. 25/-	Three persons
Sahasranamarchana	Nitya Seva	5:00AM to 9:00 PM	Rs. 50/-	Three persons

 Vow Fulfilment:  E.g.:  Angapradarshnam/Keshadanam etc., 

Name of Seva	Location	Cost	timing	No. of persons allowed
Darbar Seva	Inside of Temple	Free	Friday 7:00 Pm to 8:30PM

12(d)  Donation Schemes:  Some of the temples provides facilities for life payments such as performing pujas, Sevs, Annadanams, Vastradanam on a specific day in a year, at cost, the Details will be listed under this:

Amount	Name of Scheme	Description
1116-00	Annadanam	Meals will be providede for 6 to 8 persons every year
50000-00	Annadanam	Daily one person
100000-00	Annadanam	Daily Two person

12(e) Other functions: Which can be performed within the temple premises or other temples within the sanctum such as Upanayanam, Annaprasana, Naming Ceremony, Marriage etc.,

Temple/ Sub- Temple	Function	Remarks
Upanayams, Annaprasana, Naming Ceremony, Marriages will be performed for pilgrims by receiving nominal amount

12 (f)  Annual Events:  All events, which are special and considered to be major events for the temple that are performed either annually or periodically to be mentioned here:

Name of Event	Time of Event	Remarks
Navaratrulu	September to October
Sivarathri Kalyanam	February to March
Bhavani Deeksha	November to December

 13. Other Events:  All events, which are special and considered to be major events for the temple that are perfor4med either annually or periodically to be mentioned here.

Name of other diety/Details	Location	Significance	Remarks
Sri. Malleswara Swamy Temple	Sri. Malleswara Swamy Temple complex
Sri Nataraja Swamy Temple	Sri Nataraja Swamy Temple complex
Sri. Anjaneya Swamy Temple	Ghat Road Entrance

 14:  Temple Facilities:  List of Prasadam Counter, Luggage counter, Free meals service 

Facilities	Location	Time	Remarks
Prasadams	Type	6to12   5 to 18
Prasada Centers	1)Beside New Annadanam Complex 2)Sivalayam 3) Railway Station
Luggage Centre	1)Ghat Road 2)Bathing Ghat	5:00AM to 9:00 PM
Annadanam Daily 600 Pilgrims Friday, Sunday 1000 Pilgrims	Near Sivalayam	11:00AM to 2:00 PM

 15.  Accommodation:

15 (a)  Dormitories: 

Name	Location	Phone	No. of Beds	Free Range
	Under Process

 15(b):  Rooms and Cottages:

Government /Department owned:

Name	Location	Phone	Number fo Rooms	A.C & Non A.C	Price Rage
Officers Rest House	Ghat Road	2423600	2	2	Officers on duty only

 Choultries/Devasthanam owned:

Name	Location	Phone	Number fo Rooms	A.C & Non A.C	Price Rage
Arundal Choultry	Opp. Bathing Gaht	2423600	28		Rs. 50/- to 150/- only
Madapati Choultry	Opp. Rajakumar Talkies		27		Rs. 100/- to 200/-