Why Is She Called Kanaka Durga?

Sharannavaratri celebrations are being observed with devotion across the country, with the Sri Kanaka Durga Temple on Indrakeeladri Hill in Vijayawada drawing special attention. Situated on the banks of the Krishna River, the temple is one of Andhra Pradesh's prominent spiritual destinations. According to the temple's traditional legend, a Yaksha named Keeludu performed intense penance to please Goddess Durga and requested her to reside in his heart. The goddess blessed him by asking him to take the form of a hill, promising to reside there after defeating the demons. As the legend goes, Goddess Durga later appeared on the hill in her Mahishasuramardini form after defeating Mahishasura. The hill came to be known as Indrakeeladri because Indra and other celestial beings visited the goddess to seek her blessings, according to the sthala puranam, or temple legend. Other traditional accounts also associate the region with Arjuna, one of the Pandavas, who is believed to have performed penance here and received the Pashupatastra from Lord Shiva.

Another popular legend associated with Kanaka Durga Temple concerns Madhava Varma, the ruler of Vijayavatika. According to the story, when a young boy died after being accidentally run over by the chariot of the king's son, Madhava Varma ordered his own son to be punished to uphold justice. Impressed by the king's commitment to righteousness, the goddess is believed to have brought the boy back to life and showered the city with gold. This legend is traditionally associated with the name Kanaka Durga, with kanaka meaning gold. The goddess is worshipped in her eight-armed Mahishasuramardini form at the temple. During Sharannavaratri, she appears in different ceremonial adornments each day. The Saraswati Devi alankaram on Moola Nakshatram is especially significant, attracting students and devotees for prayers and mass Aksharabhyasam ceremonies. Durga Ashtami, Mahanavami and Vijayadashami are marked by special rituals, while the Krishna River Teppotsavam is another major attraction. Devotees observing Bhavani Deeksha also visit the temple to complete their spiritual vows. Traditional accounts further associate Adi Shankaracharya with the installation of the Sri Chakra at the shrine.