History of Indrakeeladri

Kanaka Durga Temple is dedicated to Maa Durga, located on Indrakeeladri hill, on the banks of Krishna River in Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh. Kanaka Durga Temple is most popular and visited sacred place of Vijaywada and ancient historical spot where millions of devotee and tourist reach around the year. This temple and surrounding area is mentioned over lot of spiritual scriptures like Kaalika puraana, Durgaa sapthashati as top sacred place. There are many stories related to this holy place of Goddess Durga, the temple and the hill. Some says that Vijayawada was once a rocky region and there was no place for the River Krishna. Invocation to Lord Shiva for his intervention directed the hills to way for the river. Some legends says that, the Arjuna prayed to Lord Shiva on the top of the hill to seek blessings and get the Pasupatashtra weapon. The other story says that when the Vijayawada was under the Demons, the Goddess Durga killed the Demon Mahishasura here and made her permanent abode on the top of the hill so temple was built here. Indradev and other deity praised and worship with chanting Kanak Durga, thus this place was famous as Kanak Durga Temple. Another important legend says that Yaksha named Keela did severe penance of Ma Durga and requested Ma to stay in his heart forever. Then Ma blessed with his penance and told that to stay at this holiest planes of river Krishna in the form of mountain. In Krithayuga, after the assassination of demons – Mahisasur, I will remain in your heart. Lord Siva named with Mallikesa after Lord Brahma Deva worshipped him with Jasmine flowers. Another legend related with Arjuna and Lord Shiva, when Arjuna did penance and also fight with Shiva who takes form of Hunter. Thus MALLIKESA had attained the name ‘MALLIKESWARA’. In 8th century Jagadguru Sri Adi Sankaracharya reinstalled Malleswara Swamy at the Northern Part to the temple of Goddess Durga. The temple complex is built in Dravidian style where the main shrine is located on the seventh floor of the temple. From the top of the Indrakeeladri hill, one can get panoramic view of Vijayawada and River Krishna. Millinons of devotee and tourist visit here during the Navratri festival and celebrate the Dussehra festival with great fervour and special prayer service. Indrakeeladri hill and temple is unique in various way, here Ma Durga is on the right side of Malleswara as against the tradition of Goddesses taking their position on the left of their consorts which shows the importance of Ma Devi Durga here on hill. Also this is the only temple of universe where Ma Devi Shakti is worshipped and decorated in forms of Sri Saraswati, Sri Maha Lakshmi, Sri Bala Tripura Sundari, Sri Rajarajeswari, Sri Mahishasura mardini, Sri Durga devi, Sri Annapurna devi, Sri Gayatri, Sri Lalitha Tripura Sundari. The Durga deity is decorated with the ornaments and the bright flowers. Her deity depicts her eight armed form, each holding a powerful weapon in the standing posture over the Demon Mahishasura and piercing him with her Trident. During the Navratri Festival, special Pooja’s are being held in the temple and thousands of devotees comes here to seek blessing from the Maa Durga. The Dasera is very well celebrated here.