Devotees Throng Kankadurga Temple
Sunday being a holiday, the temple authorities had made elaborate preparations for a large turnout of devotees.
Hyderabad | 10th October 2010
Devotees of Goddess Kanaka Durga, on Sunday, were allowed to have a darshan of Goddess Durga in her avatar of Gayatri Devi, from 3am on the third day of the Ashwayuja Thadiya, at the famous hill shrine temple of Kanaka Durga in Vijayawada.
The special early morning rituals began before the darshan was allowed.
Sunday being a holiday, the temple authorities had made elaborate preparations for a large turnout of devotees from various corners of the State.
According to Hindu beliefs, Goddess Gayatri is one of the manifestations of Goddess Saraswati Devi, consort of Lord Brahma. She represents energy, wisdom and virtue. Saraswati Devi is the Supreme Goddess of learning and knowledge.
Goddess Gayathri Devi appeared as Panchamukhi (with five faces) seated on a lotus. These 5 faces of the Goddess symbolize Pancha pranas (five lives) - like prana, apana, vyana, udana and samana. They also symbolize the five principal elements (Panchabhootas) of the universe – earth, water, air, fire and sky.
Gayatri Mata has 10 hands, and hence is also called Dashabhuji. She carries a shankh (conch), chakra (discus), a kamalam (lotus), a goad, a noose and a rudrakshmala. The other 2 hands of the Goddess are depicted in the abhaya and varada mudras.
Courtesy: INN
filed in: Festivals, Temples, Dasara