Surajkund Mela, Haryana, India. A group of women dress colorfully for an Indian festival. As a result of a calendar reform in 1957 C.E., the National. Vikram Samvat 2076 – Chaitra Shukla Paksha Panchami Tithi or the fifth day during the waxing or light phase of moon in Chaitra month in North India - Delhi, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Chhattisgarh, Orissa and Jammu and Kashmir.
Kanaka Durga Temple also called as Sri Durga Malleswara Swami Temple is located in Vijayawada in Andhra Pradesh. It is and 2nd largest temple in Andhra Pradesh.One of the most popular temples in and around Vijayawada, it is located on a hill overlooking the city as well as the River Krishna. Mother Kanakadurgeswari is considered as the supreme Goddess of Andhra Pradesh, seated atop the Indrakilaparvatha at Vijayawada.There is a ghat road which was laid in 1969, most of the pilgrims prefer to climb the steps leading to the temple an arduous task for women and children. Some devotees climb the hill, decorating the steps with turmeric powder and vermilion. There are inscriptions of different dynasties found in the temple.Hiuen Tsang, the Chinese traveler visited this temple. It is mentioned in the Vedas that, the deity in the Kanaka durga temple is regarded as ‘Swayambhu’ or self-manifested, hence considered very powerful. It is also believed that Adi Sankara visited this temple and installed the Sri Chakra here.
Page Contents.Kanaka Durga Temple HistoryIn good olden days a Yaksha named ‘Keela’ had been performing awful penance about holiest goddess Durga. Goddess Durga was pleased with his penance and appeared to him. She asked him to beg a boon. Keela was so happy by the words of goddess Durga and begged her to be in his heart always.Goddess Durga gave the boon, by showering the lunar lights of smile and said “My Son!
You remain here at the holiest planes of river Krishna in the form of a mountain. In Krithayuga, after the assassination of demons, I will remain in your heart”. As per the orders of the Goddess Durga, Keela was waiting for the Goddess in the form of a mountain.Thus, Keeladri became the abode of Durga. She took the form of Mahisasura Mardini with eight arms holding different weapons, riding on a lion and trampling Mahishasura on the hill of Indrakeeladri.
Her consort Shiva took his place on an adjacent hillrock as Jyothirlinga.He was worshipped by Lord Brahma with jasmines (Mallelu) whereby he got the name of Malleswara Swamy. As celestial beings like Indra visited the place, the hill came to be called Indrakeeladri.According to another mythology 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. Since goddess Durga shined on this mountain with golden colour glowing, the name ‘Kanakachala’ also attained by this mountain.Vijayawada is surrounded by many hillocks and the most important of them is Seethanagaram while the less important is called the Kanakadurga or Kanaka konda.
On the southern side of the Kanakadurga temple, is a hillock with sculptures bearing inscriptions, indicating the names of Gods and Goddesses.It is believed that the great saint Sri Sri Sankara Bhagavatpadulu visited this temple in the 8 th century and installed “Sri Chakra” at the feet of the goddess. The temple was constructed during the rule of Moghal rulers where the Moghal Emperor Thanisha, with the assistance of his Ministers Akkanna and Madanna, managed the temple.The nose-ring of Goddess Durga is never removed in this temple. As per the legends, Goddess Durga once borrowed the nose-ring of Krishna and did not return it. Krishna took a vow that by the end of Kaliyuga it would take back the nose-ring by raising its level to the hill top. Significance of Kanaka Durga TempleGoddess Kanaka Durga, the epitome of beauty, is the main deity of Kanaka Durga Temple and the Sanctum is covered with gold.