Story of Kanaka Durga

 

 

Ammala ganna yamma Mugurammala Moolaputamma
Chaala Peddamma Suraarulamma kadupaaradi buchchinayamma
Thannu lo nammina Veluputammala Manambula nundedi yamma
Durga Maayamma Krupaabdhi nichuta Mahatwa Kavitwa Patutwa Sampadal !!
--- Maha Kavi Pothana, Andhra Bhagavatham.

 

The Mother Shakti who is the mother of all the mothers (all goddesses we call as mothers), who is the origin of the three shaktis (maha lakshmi, maha kali, maha saraswati), who is omnipotent and omnipresent, who made the mother of raakshasas cry in vein, who is always praised by goddesses (sapta matri) and lives in their hearts is the one My Mother none other than Devi Durga who is ocean of mercy. May she kindly showers potential, knowledge, strength and prosperity on me.

 

Sri Durga Malleswara swamy vaarla Devastanam in Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh holds a great history. Vijayawada is the name derived from Vijaya Vaatika - The place of Victory. Indrakeeladri, Kanakachala are the other names stated in Brahmanda purana for this glorious place. It was the place where Sri Durga killed the demon Durgamasura and It was the same place where Arjuna did his penance to please Lord Shiva for Paashupatastra.

 

Durga's Visit to Keeladri

 

In Kritayuga, there was a devotee of Aadi Shakti named Keela - A gandharva, who did a great penance for Aadi Shakti. When Goddess was pleased and offered him a boon for which He asked her to stay in his heart forever. Aadi shakti told him to become a Mountain on the banks of holy River Krishnaveni and wait for her arrival. So he become a mountain named Keeladri and waiting for Mother's arrival.

 

Later Aadishakti killed Mahishasura on Chamundi hills of Mysure (Its actually Mahishapur) then another Demon named Durgamasura started troubling all the worlds, he got the Vedas from Brahma as a boon for his tapasya. Which resulted all the gods and divine beings weak as they lost the Manthra Shakti. All the gods headed by Brahma and Vishnu approached Shiva for help. Altogether prayed for Aadi Shakti who emerged as Eight armed goddess on lion with glorious face of thousand suns. First she took the Sathakshi (Hundred Eyed) form and showered waters from her eyes which made the earth greenish watery from drought situation. Then she took Shaakambari (Bearer of Veggies) form and blessed all the living beings with food.

 

 

Durgamasura came to know the news that the world was in prosperity. He started taking up revenge from Gods. Devi Shakti fought against him and eventually killed him on Keeladri. Since she killed Durgamasura, She has been praised as DURGA (The Invincible One). As promised to Keela, She made her stay on Keeladri at Hridaya sthana (heart part). Hence The temple is not on mountain cliff whereas middle of the mountain. From that day all divine beings celebrated her Victory and started visiting this place regularly. Since all gods such as Indra, Varuna and Brahma so on..are making their visits, this place was called as Indrakeelaadri.

 

Brahma felt worried as Shakti was staying alone without Shiva on Indrakeeladri. So he did Shataswamedha Yaaga on Indrakeeladri to please Lord Shiva by Installing a Linga. Lord Shiva then emerged from that linga to bless Brahma for the successful completion of Yagna. Brahma asked him to stay with Shakti on Keeladri for which Shiva agreed. Lord Brahma offered his prayers to him with Mallika flowers, which named Lord Shiva as Malleswara. Then Lord Shiva married Goddess Durga at this place and started showering their blessings.

 

Kiraatha Arjuneeyam

 

 

In Dwapara yuga, Lord Krishna told Arjuna to visit Indrakeela mountain and do penance to get Paashupata asthra from Lord Shiva. Arjuna started his penance at foot of the hill by installing a Linga. Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati wanted to test his Bhakti so they made an illusion of Wild boar which started disturbing Arjuna's penance. Irritated Arjuna shoots an arrow to kill boar. When he approaches it, there were two arrows shot, at the same time Lord Shiva and Parvati approaches him like a Hunter and Huntress. Both Lord Shiva as Hunter and Arjuna fights for boar stating it was killed by their own arrow. When Lord Shiva about to win over, Arjuna hits Shiva's head with his Bow Gaandeeva and also he foughts like a hero. Shocked Parvati in Huntress form shows her original form to rescue Shiva. By seeing all this, Arjuna pleads both Shiva and Parvati for his ignorance. Lord Shiva blesses him with Paashupataastra and Goddess Parvati calls him "Vijaya" because he won over Lord Shiva in fight. From that day, this place is being called as Vijaya Vaatika which ultimately turned as Vijayawada.

We can visit Goddess Durga Temple followed by Lord Malleswara on middle of the mountain and the Lord Vijayeswaralaya (Linga Installed by Arjuna who become Vijaya) at foot of the mountain. Sad part is, The Pasupateswaralaya on hill top was ruined and there is no root to reach towards the remaining's.

 

Durga becomes KANAKA Durga

 

 

Time has moved on then in Kaliyuga, Raja Madhava Varma of Venkatapati raja lineage was ruling Costal Andhra by making Vijaya vaatika as capital and Goddess Durga as their patron deity. One day his own son was travelling by his chariot in a terrible speed, which resulted into the death of a small boy who is having only his grand mother to take care. Old lady rushes to Raja in vein with the body of her grand child and asks for Justice. With no moment Raja orders death penalty for the crime done by his own son. By seeing his Justice and the way he rules his place with Dharma, Goddess Durga showered rain of gold coins and given life to both the child and Raja's son. From then She is being called as Goddess Kanaka Durga which means Golden Durga who showers mercy of gold on her devotees.

 

Visit of Aadi Shankara

 

Years rolled by, Taantrik pujas were offered to Goddess which made her into furious Kali. Due to this, Lord Shiva installed by Brahma was moved out. When Jagatguru Aadi Shankara was moving towards Kashi, visited this place and came to know all the happenings. First he stopped all Tantric pujas and Installed Sri Chakra at the feet of Goddess which made her into pleasant form. Also he made a rule to worship her only with Lalita Sahasra Naama. Then he reinstalled Lord Malleswara Lingam. He composed "Sri Mahishasura Mardhini Stotra" at this place to praise the Goddess. Kanakachala is specified in one of the stanzas of this powerful stotra as "Nija Kanakachala mouli payogata nirjara kunjara bheeru ruche" (meaning: Goddess has settled on Kanakachala along with her husband Ganga dhara Shiva to bless all the living beings with utmost grace). From that day Goddess Kanaka durga and Lord Malleswara together blessing all the people who makes their visit to this place with peace and prosperity.

 

 

Other names - Bejawada/Bejjamwada

 

When River Krishnaveni reached this place to move forward and to get drained into Sea. The Indrakeela mountain was like a barricade so she requested Goddess of the Mountain, Durga devi for a passage. Durga devi took the wrath of River Krishnaveni as Nose stud and provided a passage of a small hole length, which is being called as Bejjam in Telugu. Through that hole, river flowed towards  sea with great speed which ultimately broke the mountain into two parts namely SeetaNagaram hill on the other side and Indrakeeladri this side. It is believed that River Krishnaveni always tries to take her nose stud back but was not possible as she is flowing at foot of the mountain and Goddess is on top. People believes that when River Krishnaveni rises up to touch and take her nose ring wore by Goddess Durga on top of the hill results into the great pralaya. That is the reason, at night times every day, nose ring is being taken away from Goddess's nose and kept at her feet. Hope she take cares her beloved city from wrath of the river :)

 

Navaratri Mahotsava

 

Being the second largest temple in Andhra (First is Tirupati Balaji), Dushera/Navaratri is celebrated every year in the month of Aashwayuja (Aswin : Falls in Sep - Oct) with great pomp. Vijayawada is the only Shakti kshetra where Shakti is primary than Shiva and Where Durga is in peaceful Sarva Mangala Gowri form. Her face is always covered with Turmeric which glows like a morning sun and she wears both surya and chandra on her mukut. She is eight armed holding trishul, sankha, chakra, khadga, khetaka, Dhaurbaana and she is shown as slaying the demon Durgamasura and is riding a lion. She always being decorated with larger garlands, glooming jewelry. So we won't be able to see her Nija Rupa. Starting from  first day of Navratri to Vijaya dasami, Goddess is being decorated into different alankaaraas.
First day - Padyami : Sri Swarna Kavacha Kanaka Durga Devi - On this day we can see her nija rupa as she is being decorated only with golden armor.
Second day - Vidiya : Sri Bala Tripura Sundari Devi
Third Day - Tadiya : Sri Gayathri Devi
Fourth Day - Chavithi : Sri Annapoorna Devi
Fifth Day - Panchami : Sri Lalitha Maha Tripura Sundari Devi
Sixth Day - Shashti : Sri Maha Lakshmi Devi
Seventh Day - Sapthami : Sri Maha Saraswathi Devi ( On this day, birth star of Aadi Shakti "Moola" falls in Panchang)
Eighth Day - Durgashtami : Sri Maha Durga Devi
Nineth Day - Maharnavami : Sri Mahishasura Mardhini Devi
Tenth Day - Vijaya Dasami (Dushera) : Sri Raja Rajeswari Devi

On tenth day, Aparajita puja, Samee puja and Teppotsavam (Goddess with Lord Shiva are being taken into a ride on River Krishna waters in a Swan shaped boat) will be conducted in a grand manner. Every year Rathotsavam will be conducted on Maha Shivaratri - the day Lord Shiva and Parvathi were married.

 

 

In the month of Ashada (June-July), Goddess and the temple premises will be decorated with all vegetables available to celebrate SHAAKAAMBARI UTHSAVA for proper rain fall in coming months of august (monsoon season). And in the month of Chaitra (March - April), starting from Ugadi (Telugu New Year - Chaitra Suddha Padyami) to Sri Rama Navami, VASANTHA NAVARATRI will be celebrated in which Laksha Pushpaarchana and Kumkumarchana are performed daily with different flowers to deity.

 

The grace of Goddess Kanaka durga we cannot express in words, that has to experienced in person.  Brahmaadi devatas in Krita yuga, Lord Seetha Rama in Tretha yuga, Arjuna in Dwapara yuga and Adi shankara in Kali yuga are blessed by this deity. Do visit this holy place at least once in your life time as this was Adhishtana Kshetra for all Sakthi Kshetras as Devi is Swayambhu (Self manifested) and was being worshipped at this place from Krita yuga.

May the Mother Goddess bless you all like the way she blesses her own son Ganesha!!
 

Om Sri Kanaka Durgayai Namaha!!