Sri Kanaka Maha Lakshmi is the presiding deity of Visakhapatnam locals. The temple is located in Burujupeta of Visakhapatnam city
Shrine’s History
The Legend of the Deity The legend goes that Jaya and Vijaya the gatekeepers of the celestial abode of Lord Vishnu were cursed to be born as demons by the Lord for the disrespect they showed to some visiting sages. They were born as Hiranayakasipu and Hiranyaksha to the sage Kasyapa and grew into mighty demon lord bent upon disturbing the peace of the world. The younger of the two, Hiranyakasha, seized the earth and carried it to another region. Lord Vishnu delivered the earth from the clutches of the demon by assuming the Boar incarnation Aggrieved by the death of his brother, Hiranyakasipu wanted to avenge his death. He added to his minght the power of penance and began to punish the gods and sages, the devotees of Lord Vishnu. Lord Vishnu was once again prevailed upon to rescue the world from the menace of this demon. Then the Lord made one of his servants, Sumukha, to be born as the son of Hiranyaksasipu. This son of Hiranayakasipu, named Prahlada, became a devotee of Vishnu right from his birth and thus brought upon himself the wrath of his father. Hiranyaksipu tried to mend the ways of his erring son, but when he found him to be adamant, made him undergo several hardship. He made the Elephants trample over him and set poisonous against him.
Prahalada was protencted by divine grace and he stood firm. Hiranyakasipu, as a last resort, asked him, servants, to throw his son into the sea and place a mountain over him. His servants chose to drop Prahalada into the sea near the mount Simhadri with a view to placing the mountain over him. But before they could complete their an In so far as Sthalapuranam of this Temple is concerned, there is no authentic information. It is learnt that Sri Kanaka Maha Lakshmi Ammavaru is the family deity of the then Rajas of Visakhapatnam?. The locality, where the idol was found, is called Burujupeta? since it was near <>Buruju? of the Fort? of the then Rajas. According to the local story, in the year 1912, the Idol of Goddess Sri Kanaka Maha Lakshmi Ammavaru was taken out from the well and it was installed at the center of the road i.e., amidst the Municipal lane.
The Municipal authorities, for the purpose of widening the road, have shifted the Idol from admidst the road to a corner of the road. During which period i.e., in the year 1917 the dangerous contagious disease `Plauge spread over the town and so many deaths occurred in Visakhapatnam village. The people of Visakhapatnam were afraid of the incident and thought the devastation was due to shifting of an idol of goddess `Sri Kanaka Maha Lakshmi and therefore, re-erected Ammavari Idol to its original place i.e., at the center of the road as it existed now. Owing to re-erection, the `Plague disease was cured and normalcy was restored. With this, the villagers have a staunch belief that it is all due to a miracle of Goddess. And thus from then onwards the Villagers used to worship the Goddess by performing sevas with much devotion. Further, the people of the vicinity have strong belief that `Sri Kanaka Maha Lakshmi Ammavaru is the `MOTHER OF TRUTH and will always bless her devotees by fulfilling their requirements. Lord Narayana rescued him by jumping over the hill and lifting up Prahalada from the sea. Simhadri is thus the place where the Lord rescued Prahlada. The form of Varaha Narasimha was assumed by him, at the prayer of his devotee Prahlada, who wanted to see both the aspects of the Lord.
The one by which he had already killed Hiranyaksha and the other by which he killed Hiranyakasipu. The Sthalapurana According to the Sthalapurana, Prahalada was the first person to construct the temple around the deity. He accomplished this after his father’s death at the hands of Lord Narasimha, but at the end of Krita-Yuga the temple was neglected and began to decay. Even the deity was not taken care of and crests of earth slowly gathered around the image. But, the Lord once again was discovered by Pururava of the Lunar Dynasty. Once when Pururava was riding on an aerial chariot over the hills of the South with his spouse Urvasi, they were pulled down to the Simhachala by a mysterious power. He discovered the Lord on hill lying imbedded in crests of earth. When he cleared the earth around the image of the Lord, he was addressed by Akasavani not to expose the image but cover it with sandal paste. It also added that the Lord should be worshipped in this form, and only once in a year, on the third day in the month of Vysakha, his true form can be revealed. Acting under the instructions of Akasavani the king applied over the image an amount of sandal wood paste which is equal to the earth he had removed. Then he worshiped the deity and built the temple once again around the image. The temple continued to flourish ever since. Thus Sri Varaha Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy Varu is the presiding Deity of Mount Kailas of Simhachalam.
The temple is located at a distance of about 16 Kilometres to the north of Visakhapatnam and 800 feet above the sea level. Pilgrims in large number are visiting this temple particularly on Saturdays and Sundays and from April to June and the Pilgrimage during other seasons is not less. The important festivals are the annual Kalyanam, which will be celebrated on Chaitra Suddha Ekadasi i.,in the month of April / May every year. In order to give credence to the traditions contained in the STHALAPURANA, CHANDANA YATRA festival is being performed on the 3rd day of the bright half in the month of Visakha even to this day. On this day, the sandle paste which covers the image is removed and the NIJASWARUPA is shown to the devotees. Thousands of Pilgrims gather at the temple, for darsan on this day, as it is believed that DARSAN of Nijarupa is sure to obtain for them, salvation or MOKSHA.
Shrine’s Map Location and How to Go There
By Road
APSRTC operates frequent buses from Dwaraka RTC complex in Visakhapatnam city.
By Rail
The nearest railway station is Visakhapatnam railway station.
By Air
The nearest airport is Visakhapatnam Airport
Shrine Timings
Temple Opened 24 Hours
Events Celebrated at This Shrine
Annual Festival Margasira Masa Sambaralu The Annual Festival in the Devasthanam is Margasiramasa Mahothsvam, which is the one-month festival. Devotees come and worship Goddess Sri Kanaka Maha Lakshmi Ammavaru in large number during the month of Margasira. The number of devotees that worship her during this month exceeds the number of devotees that worship Her in the remaining eleven months. There will be the huge congregation of devotees/pilgrims coming not only from different parts of the State and also from neighbouring states. A large number of devotees would visit the temple during Margasiramasa Mahothsvam for darshan, particularly on Thursdays. Thursday is stated to be very auspicious to the Goddess.