VIJAYAWADA: The ‘Rajagopuram’ and ‘Mallikarjuna Maha Mandapam’ of Goddess Kanaka Durga Temple atop the Indrakiladri hills, constructed at a cost of Rs 50 cr, were inaugurated by Endowments Minister P Manikyala Rao and Irrigation Minister Devineni Umamaheswara Rao respectively here on Friday.
Though Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu was supposed to inaugurate the massive structures of the famous temple, he could not make it to the programme due to some personal reasons.
Disciple of Sringeri Pontiff Bharathi Theertha Swamy and head of Sivaganga Sarada Peetam Purushottama Bharati Mahaswamy performed the ‘Suvarna Nava Kalasa Yantra Prathishta’ for the ‘Rajagopuram’. The nine-storeyed structure is 82.6 feet tall and cost Rs 22.5 cr. The massive ‘Mallikarjuna Maha Mandapam’ houses queue lines and Kalyana Mandapams and has been designed to effectively manage the increasing number of devotees year after year. The devotee rush is at its peak during the Dasara Navarathri and Bhavani Deeksha Viramana. A mineral water plant constructed at a cost of Rs 2 lakh was also inaugurated on the occasion.
Speaking on the occasion, Manikyala Rao said he had prayed to the Goddess for the early and successful completion of the new capital of the state, coming up at Her feet.
He directed the temple staff to discharge their duties in such a way so as not to inconveniene the visiting devotees in any way. He asked the temple management to provide seating facility for the devotees standing in the queue lines in the newly-constructed ‘Maha Mandapam’.
The minister wanted the officials to ensure easy and quick ‘darshan’ for the devotees, who were expected to turn up in large numbers during the forthcoming Godavari Pushkarams in July. He said that that nine golden ‘Kalasams’ that were installed atop the ‘Raja Gopuram’ were donated by the devotees.
Irrigation minister Devineni Umamaheswar Rao said the ‘Maha Mandapam’ had been so constructed as to cater to the needs of a large number of devotees. “The works pertaining to the twin ramps of the seven-storeyed ‘Maha Mandapam’ will commence shortly and the officials have been asked to send detailed reports regarding the progress of the works every four days,” he said and added that works would be completed in 4 months time.
Temple Executive Officer Ch Narasinga Rao, District in-charge Collector Gandam Chandrudu, Principal Secretary (Endowments-Revenue) JSV Prasad, Endowment Commissioner YV Anuradha and Mayor K Sridhar were present on the occasion.