Sri Durga Malleswara Swamy Temple is an ancient and historically important temple. It is located in Vijayawada district of Andhra Pradesh, on the Indrakeeladri Hill, beside the Krishna River.The main deity of this temple is Goddess Kanaka Durga. Long ago, when demons (asuras) were troubling people, Sage Indrakeela did deep penance to protect the land and its people. Pleased with his devotion, the Goddess appeared before him. The sage requested the Goddess to stay on his head (hill) and destroy the demons.
It is believed that the Goddess accepted his wish and destroyed the demons from Indrakeela Hill. Even today, people pray to the Goddess to protect them from evil. The idol of the Goddess here is about four feet tall, full of divine power and energy. The idol shows the Goddess in the form of Mahishasura Mardini, the one who killed the demon Mahishasura, with eight arms holding weapons.
She is worshipped in the form of Kali and is mentioned in many ancient stories. In some new stories, she is even described as self-manifested (Swayambhu). The natural surroundings of the temple add to its beauty and peacefulness.Since Goddess Kanaka Durga is seen here as Mahalakshmi, all the rituals and pujas done for Lakshmi Devi are performed here too. During the Shravan month, special pujas like Varalakshmi Vratam are performed with great devotion, especially on Fridays. Many devotees visit the temple regularly.
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An Overview of the temple Malleswara Swamy Temple
For the convenience of devotees, buses run from Durga Ghat to the Indrakeeladri temple. The Navaratri festival is celebrated here grandly. One special festival celebrated for three days is the Shakambari Festival, during which the Goddess is decorated as Vanashankari Devi, a form of Shakti.
During this festival, different types of crops and grains are offered to the Goddess. In this form, she appears as both a powerful warrior and a kind mother, showering blessings on her devotees.
Seeing the Goddess here awakens a deep feeling of divine energy within us. Acts like annadanam (offering free food) are regularly done in this temple, which increases the purity and greatness of this sacred place day by day.
overview table of the Sri Durga Malleswara Swamy Temple (Kanaka Durga Temple, Vijayawada):
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Temple Name | Sri Durga Malleswara Swamy Varla Devasthanam |
| Main Deity | Goddess Kanaka Durga (Form of Goddess Parvati / Mahalakshmi) |
| Location | Indrakeeladri Hill, Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh |
| River Nearby | Krishna River |
| Temple Timings | 4:00 AM to 9:00 PM (Closed from 12:00 PM to 3:00 PM) |
| Famous Festivals | Navaratri, Shakambari Utsavam, Varalakshmi Vratam |
| Darshan Types | General Darshan, Special Darshan, Sevas |
| Special Features | Self-manifested idol, Eight-armed Durga, Historic and spiritual importance |
| Transport Facility | Buses available from Durga Ghat to temple top |
| Nearby City | Vijayawada |
Sri Durga Malleswara Swamy Temple (Vijayawada) Darshan Timings:
| Session | Timings | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Temple Opening Time | 4:00 AM | Suprabhata Seva & General Opening |
| Morning Darshan | 4:30 AM to 12:00 PM | General & Special Darshan Available |
| Temple Break Time | 12:00 PM to 3:00 PM | Temple remains closed for a break |
| Evening Darshan | 3:00 PM to 9:00 PM | General & Special Darshan Resumes |
| Temple Closing Time | 9:00 PM | Temple Closes After Night Harath |
What are the sevas and darshans are available in the Malleswara Swamy Temple
Available Darshans:
| Type of Darshan | Details |
|---|---|
| General Darshan | Free darshan for all devotees; waiting time depends on crowd. |
| Special Darshan | Paid darshan with shorter queues; usually costs ₹100 or ₹300. |
| VIP Darshan | Quick access with very minimal waiting; ticket cost may vary (₹500 or more). |
Important Sevas (Pujas & Offerings):
| Seva Name | Description |
|---|---|
| Suprabhata Seva | Early morning prayer to wake up the Goddess (around 4:00 AM). |
| Archana / Sahasranama Archana | Devotees’ names are chanted during puja with 1008 names of the Goddess. |
| Kumkumarchana | Special puja with kumkum (vermilion); done mostly by women for blessings. |
| Laksha Kumkumarchana | Grand puja with 1 lakh times kumkum offering; performed during special days. |
| Chandi Homam | Powerful fire ritual to remove negativity and bring protection. |
| Durga Homam | Special homam to please Goddess Durga and receive blessings. |
| Annadanam Seva | Donation for free food distribution to devotees. |
| Nitya Annadanam | Daily food donation seva; donors get prasadam and blessings. |
Festival Time Special Sevas:
| Festival Seva | Details |
|---|---|
| Navaratri Sevas | Nine-day grand pujas with different alankarams (decorations) each day. |
| Shakambari Utsavam | Goddess is decorated with vegetables and grains; special poojas offered. |
| Varalakshmi Vratam | Celebrated in Shravan month; special vratam for married women. |