2nd Durga temple a big draw

Vijayawada: There are two temples for Goddess Durga on two separate hills at Vijayawada. The Kanakadurga temple atop Indrakeeladri is famous in Vijayawada.

Here devotees in large numbers worship the Goddess. Similarly, Goddess Durga is worshipped in a cave on the Dhanakonda hilltop at Moghalrajpuram.

Dasara Navaratri is also celebrated in this temple which is situated at a distance of 5 km from the Kanakadurga temple. Devotees believe that Dhanakonda Durga fulfils all wishes and blesses with prosperity.

According to epics, Durga is Swayambhu and takes rest in Dhana Konda in a small, baby avatar.

People in large numbers have constructed houses on Dhanakonda and are living on the hill, turning it into a devotional and residential prime hill of the city.

Priest G. Venkateswara Sastry said that according to epics, decades ago Dhanakonda hill was full of trees and grass and shepherds used to graze their animals.

One day a shepherd went to the small cave on the hill and and found a baby there. He believed her to be a Goddess, and prayed to her.

The baby showed her original form of Goddess Durga and asked the shepherd his wishes. The shepherd, who was beset with financial difficulties sought an end to his troubles.

Goddess Durga gave a lot of wealth to the shepherd and told him to go to home without turning back. When he heard some sounds, he turned back with curiosity.

The shepherd turned into stone. On coming to know about the incident, the public came to Dhanakonda and found the Goddess in the cave in the form of Srichakra peetham and Padams (legs) and further, Sivalingam.