Durga Devi appears as Sri Lalitha Tripura Sundari

Vijayawada: Sri Kanaka Durga Devi, the presiding deity of Indrakeeladri, appeared before devotees in the divine form of Sri Lalitha Tripura Sundari Devi on Thursday, the fifth day of the ongoing Dasara Sarannavaratri celebrations. The Goddess was adorned in a golden-hued saree, symbolising beauty, compassion, power and wisdom.

The special Alankaram attracted a large number of devotees to the hill shrine, with all queue lines filling up as the rush continued throughout the day. The Goddess, worshipped as the embodiment of Parashakti and the presiding deity of the Sri Chakra, was depicted holding a sugarcane bow, flower arrows, a noose and a goad.

Pulihora and Pesaraburelu were offered as Naivedyam to the Goddess. Special spiritual rituals, including Kumkumarchana, Sri Chakra Navavarana Archana and Devi Khadgamala Archana, were performed at the puja mandapam. Chandi Homam was also conducted at the Yagashala amid Vedic chants.

Endowments Commissioner K Ramachandra Mohan personally monitored the situation at the main temple as the influx of devotees continued. NTR district collector Dr G Lakshmisha, temple Executive Officer VK Seena Naik and chairman Borra Radhakrishna (Gandhi) were overseeing darshan arrangements and facilities for pilgrims, with priority given to ordinary devotees.

The police strengthened security under the supervision of NTR District Police Commissioner SV Rajasekhar Babu. Artificial intelligence-based crowd analysis, CCTV cameras, drones and the command-and-control system were being used to monitor pilgrim movement, identify congestion and facilitate a swift response to emergencies.

Union Minister of State for Heavy Industries and Steel Bhupathiraju Srinivasa Varma visited the hill shrine and offered prayers to the Goddess. Temple officials welcomed him, while priests performed special rituals and presented him with prasadam after Vedic blessings.

A delegation from Srisailam temple, led by Chairman Ramesh Naidu and Executive Officer Srinivasa Rao, also visited Indrakeeladri and presented silk garments to Sri Kanaka Durga Devi as part of the Dasara celebrations.

Vijayawada temple chairman Borra Radhakrishna and Executive Officer VK Seena Naik welcomed the delegation and arranged darshan and Vedic blessings. The visiting team was presented with prasadam and a portrait of the Goddess.

In a special offering during the festivities, K Durga Srinivas, son of Kurmi Naidu and Padmavathamma of Srikakulam town, donated a gold crown weighing 494 grams and valued at approximately Rs 75 lakh to Sri Kanaka Durga Devi on Thursday morning. The crown, studded with red, blue, white and green stones, was handed over to temple authorities. Executive Officer VK Seena Naik and Dasara Chief Festival Officer V Trinath Rao jointly received the offering.

The donor’s family was provided special darshan of the Goddess in the sanctum area. Vedic scholars offered blessings, while temple officials presented them with the Goddess’s sacred garments and prasadam. Durga Srinivas said the offering was made possible by the grace of Kanaka Durga Devi. He expressed gratitude to the temple authorities for providing the opportunity to present the golden crown during the auspicious Dasara celebrations.

On the auspicious occasion of Ashwayuja Suddha Shashti on Friday, Goddess Kanaka Durga will appear as Sri Saraswati Devi at the Indrakeeladri temple in Vijayawada. The sixth day of the Dasara Sarannavaratri celebrations coincides with Moola Nakshatram, the birth star of the Goddess. Adorned as the Goddess of wisdom, knowledge and learning, Sri Kanaka Durga Devi blesses devotees with divine grace.

Moola Nakshatram holds special spiritual significance, and devotees consider it an auspicious occasion to worship the Goddess. Students and seekers of knowledge offer prayers to Sri Saraswati Devi, seeking academic success, wisdom and enlightenment. Special pujas and rituals will be performed at the temple as part of the Dasara celebrations.

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The Hans India