Kuchipudi dancers with Talikota Hari Krishna before the temple gopuram at the Shravana Maasa Nrityotsavam

Trust Board Member · Sri Kanaka Durga Devasthanam

Sri Durga Malleswara Swamy Varla Devasthanam

Talikota Hari Krishna serves on the trust board of the Sri Kanaka Durga Temple at Indrakeeladri, Vijayawada — governance, devotee facilities and the continuity of tradition.

Indrakeeladri, Vijayawada

Sri Kanaka Durga Temple

Talikota Hari Krishna serves on the trust board of the Sri Durga Malleswara Swamy Varla Devasthanam — the Sri Kanaka Durga Temple on Indrakeeladri hill, Vijayawada, one of the most visited Devi temples in South India. He is one of several board members, not the chairman. The role covers temple administration, financial oversight, devotee services and the upkeep of tradition.

Located on the Indrakeeladri Hill on the banks of the Krishna River in Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh, the Kanaka Durga Temple is dedicated to Goddess Kanaka Durga. The temple attracts millions of devotees annually and is best known for its Dasara Navaratri festival.

The temple has a history spanning centuries and is widely revered as a Shakti Peetha. It plays a central role in the spiritual and cultural life of the Telugu people.

శ్రీ దుర్గా మల్లేశ్వర స్వామి వార్ల దేవస్థానం · శ్రీ కనకదుర్గ ఆలయం · కనకదుర్గమ్మ గుడి · దుర్గ గుడి · ఇంద్రకీలాద్రి, విజయవాడ

Official name
Sri Durga Malleswara Swamy Varla Devasthanam
Also known as
Sri Kanaka Durga Temple · Kanakadurgamma Temple · Durga Gudi · Indrakeeladri Temple · Vijayawada Durga Temple · Bezawada Kanaka Durgamma
Deity
Goddess Kanaka Durga
Location
Indrakeeladri Hill, Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh
River
Krishna River
Significance
Widely revered as a Shakti Peetha
Governing body
Trust board, under the A.P. Endowments Department
His role
Trust Board Member — one of several members, not the chairman

How the Devasthanam is run

Trust board governance

The Devasthanam is administered by a trust board under the oversight of the Andhra Pradesh Endowments Department, with professional management handling day-to-day operations. Board members carry responsibility for administration, transparent use of temple funds, the quality of devotee services, and the continuity of ritual tradition. Talikota Hari Krishna sits on this board as one of its members — not as its chairman, and not as an executive officer of the temple.

The Appointment

The seat, and the record

Sworn in on 11 October 2025 before the Rajagopuram on Indrakeeladri, as one of the 16 members the Andhra Pradesh government appointed to the trust board under its chairman.

119.34 lakh devotees in 2025-26, up from 93.40 lakh in 2023-24. Figures given by the Andhra Pradesh Endowments Minister.

Institution
Sri Durga Malleswara Swamy Varla Devasthanam
Temple
Sri Kanaka Durga Temple, Indrakeeladri hill, Vijayawada
Governing body
Non-hereditary trust board, Andhra Pradesh Endowments Department
Board chairman
Borra Radhakrishna (Gandhi) — not Talikota Hari Krishna
His seat
Trust board member, one of 16 appointed by the Andhra Pradesh government
Sworn in
11 October 2025, before the Rajagopuram on Indrakeeladri

Reported by

The Role

What board service covers

  • Temple Administration

    • Overseeing day-to-day temple operations
    • Ensuring quality of devotee services
    • Managing temple staff and resources
    • Maintaining temple facilities and infrastructure

  • Financial Stewardship

    • Transparent management of temple funds
    • Proper utilisation of donations
    • Financial planning and budgeting
    • Audit and accountability

  • Devotee Services

    • Improving darshan facilities
    • Accommodation for pilgrims
    • Food services (Annadanam)
    • Special services for elderly and differently-abled devotees

  • Cultural Preservation

    • Maintaining traditional rituals and ceremonies
    • Supporting temple festivals and celebrations
    • Preserving temple heritage and architecture
    • Promoting religious education

For Devotees

Services the board oversees

The Devasthanam receives millions of devotees a year, and the practical experience of those visits — the queue, the meal, the bed for the night — is what board oversight ultimately answers for.

Darshan
Daily darshan for general and sponsored queues, including arrangements at peak festival times.
Annadanam
Free meals served to devotees — among the most visible of the temple’s charitable functions.
Accommodation
Lodging for pilgrims travelling from across the Telugu states and beyond.
Online booking
Digital booking for darshan, sevas and accommodation.
Assisted access
Provision for elderly and differently-abled devotees.

Temple Calendar

Major observances

Sharad Navaratri

The temple’s largest observance — nine nights of the goddess in the autumn, drawing the year’s heaviest footfall.

Vasantha Navaratri

The spring Navaratri, observed with a full cycle of alankarams and special poojas.

Ugadi

The Telugu New Year, marked at the temple with panchanga sravanam and festival darshan.

Daily rituals & special poojas

The regular ritual calendar that runs through the year, alongside sponsored sevas.

Frequently Asked

About the temple board

Straight answers about the trust board and his seat on it.

Who is on the Kanaka Durga temple trust board in Vijayawada?
The Andhra Pradesh government constituted the trust board of the Sri Durga Malleswara Swamy Varla Devasthanam in September 2025: chairman Borra Radhakrishna (Gandhi) and 16 appointed members, sworn in on 11 October 2025 before the Rajagopuram on Indrakeeladri. Talikota Hari Krishna of Hyderabad is one of the 16 members.
Is Talikota Hari Krishna the chairman of the Kanaka Durga temple board?
No. He is a member of the trust board. The chairman is Borra Radhakrishna (Gandhi).
What is the official name of the Kanaka Durga temple in Vijayawada?
Sri Durga Malleswara Swamy Varla Devasthanam. It is popularly called the Sri Kanaka Durga Temple, Kanakadurgamma temple or Durga Gudi, and stands on Indrakeeladri hill on the banks of the Krishna River in Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh.
Who runs the Kanaka Durga temple at Indrakeeladri?
A non-hereditary trust board under the Andhra Pradesh Endowments Department. The board’s work covers temple administration, financial oversight and devotee services such as darshan, Annadanam and accommodation for pilgrims.
Where can the trust board members be checked?
The Devasthanam’s official website, kanakadurgamma.org, lists the trust board, including Talikota Hari Krishna. The appointments were reported by NTV Telugu and Disha Daily on 26 September 2025, and the swearing-in by Deccan Chronicle on 11 October 2025; the links are on this page.

In Pictures

Temple & tradition

Full gallery