Sri Kanaka Durga : The Universal Mother Sri Durga Malleswara Swamy Varla Devasthanam

The hill-top shrine of Sri Kana ka Durga and Sri Malleswara Swamy, one of the most popular temples in the two Telugu speaking States, is also one of the prominent Sakthi kshetras in the country.

The antiquity of Mount In drakeeladri, the abode of the Divine Couple, is steeped in mythology, legends and history. Sri Kanaka Durga chose to make the Indrakeeladri Her home to fulfil a boon She granted to keela, a yaksha-turned-hill, to dwell in his heart forever. The hill, overlooking the bustling city of Vijay awada today, was also blessed by the deep penance of Arjuna to seek the 'Pasupathastra' from Lord Siva. Keeratharjuneeyam is the story of that epic, bitter fight between Arjuna and Lord Siva, who appears disguised as a hunter, to test his bhaktha.

Another legend speaks of how Arjuna shot an arrow creating an opening (bejjam in Telugu) in the hills to allow the Krishna river to flow on. That's how the place came to be known as Bezawada, which metamorphosed to Vijay awada. In the people's hearts, the Sri Durga temple, Bezawada and the Krishna are all one. Perhaps in the coming years it will be a quadrant, seen with Andhra Pradesh's new capital Amravati gradually rising from the villages nearby.

Built in Dravidian-style architecture complying with Smartha Agama, it is perhaps the only temple where Sri Durga is placed on the right side of Sri Malleswara Swamy, reflecting the supremacy of the Sakthi theme.

Lakhs of people throng the Indrakeeladri during the Dasara festival, Mahasivarathri and the month of Karthika to worship Sri Kanaka Durga as Ammalaganna yamma, mugurammala mool aputamma (Mother of mothers, origin of Sri Lakshmi, Sri Saraswathi and Sri Parvathi). The Benevolent Mother appears in resplendent alankarams during the 10-day Dasara festival. The Sakambari alankaram (when the shrine is decorated with vegetables and fruits), the Gajula alankaram (when myriad bangles adorn the temple). Theppothsavam (float festival), Theerthapu binde (the sacred brass vessel) and daily harathi to the Krishna are some of the interesting traditions of the temple. Vijayawada is virtually painted red when devotees on a rigorous 41-day. Bhavani Deeksha, donning crimson red outfits, throng the temple in November-December.

Apart from having many other shrines, Krishna district boasts of its close association with vag geyakaras Sri Narayana Theertha Yathi and Movva Kshetrayya and Siddhendra Yogi, the founder of the modern form of Kuchipudi. The popular temple is now un dergoing a makeover.

The Hindu has pleasure in bringing to readers these fascinating aspects in this special volume.

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