Mother Goddess Shakti is worshipped in the form of
Kanakadurga in the famous Kanaka Durga Temple
near Vijayawada
in Andhra Pradesh. The popular belief is that Goddess Kanakadurga grants the
wishes of her devotees immediately.
Legend has it that a Yaksha named Indrakeela worshipped
Goddess Shakti. His unwavering devotion got the blessing of Goddess. She
granted Indrakeela Her eternal presence to him. The Yaksha then assumed the
form of a hill and Goddess resided on the hill.
How Goddess got the name Kanakadurga?
Long ago King Madhava Varma ruled the present region of the
temple. Once the prince of the kingdom was convicted of killing infants. The king
ordered his son to be hanged till death. Pleased with his righteousness, Devi
showered gold and resurrected the dead infants. Thereafter, Vijayawada came to be known as Kanakapuri and
Amba as Kanakadurga.
Scholars explain that Goddess Kanakadurga represents the
combined form of nine navadurgas and nine baladurgas.
The goddess is closely associated with the Brahmacharini
form of Navadurga.
Some Puranas also suggest that Goddess Durga after
annihilating Demon Mahishasura started residing in the Indrakiladri Hill.
The murti of Kanakadurga has eight arms and is Swayambhu –
appeared on its own.