Vijayawada Kanakadurga Temple, Vijayawada

Vijayawada Kanakadurga Temple

The Sri Kanaka Durga Temple, located on the Indrakeeladri Hill overlooking the Krishna River in Vijayawada (Andhra Pradesh), is one of the most famous Shakti Peethas in South India.

॥ ॐ ऐं ह्रीं क्लीं चामुण्डायै विच्चे ॥
॥ या देवी सर्वभूतेषु शक्तिरूपेण संस्थिता ।
नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नमः ॥

― Vijayawada Kanakadurga Temple

The presiding deity is Goddess Kanaka Durga, an incarnation of Goddess Parvati, worshipped here in her fierce yet benevolent form.

Mythological Significance & History

The temple has references in the Durga Saptashati and various Puranas, indicating its antiquity.
According to legend, Sage Indrakila performed severe penance to Goddess Durga, who appeared and promised to reside on the hill to protect devotees — hence the name Indrakeeladri.
It is believed that Goddess Durga appeared here to kill the demon Mahishasura, symbolizing the victory of good over evil.
The temple was patronized by several dynasties, including the Vijayanagara rulers.

Significance of the Temple

The temple is considered one of the Shaktipeethas and is highly revered by devotees seeking strength, prosperity, and protection.
The highlight is the Dasara (Navratri) festival, celebrated with grandeur, attracting lakhs of pilgrims.
Each day of Navratri, the Goddess is adorned in different Alankarams (forms) such as Bala Tripura Sundari, Mahalakshmi, Saraswati, Annapurna, and Rajarajeshwari.
It is also associated with the Kanaka Durga Malleswara Swamy Devasthanam, where Lord Shiva is worshipped alongside the Goddess.