Durga cult traced to Satavahana times in Andhradesa

Vijayawada: Durga cult was as early as the Satavahana times in ‘Andhradesa’, said Dr K Ramakrishna, a spiritual master.  

He inaugurated a debate on ‘Durga Cult in Andhradesa’, organised jointly by the Cultural Centre Of Vijayawada and Amaravati and the Andhra Arts Academy on the occasion of Dasara Navaratri on the CCVA premises here on Tuesday.

Dr E Sivanagi Reddy, Archaeologist and CEO, CCVA, made a power point presentation on the origin and development of Durga worship in Andhradesa, citing examples of Durga sculptures found at various Archaeological sites namely Veerapuram in Kurnool district, Pedavegi in West Godavari district, Madugula and Durgi in Guntur district, Tripurantakam in Prakasam district and Vijayawada in Krishna district covering a wide time period of 2,000 years supplemented by epigraphical evidences.

Golla Narayanarao, secretary, Andhra Arts Academy spoke on how Dasara festival was connected with Durga Puja in its full fervour.

Dr Gumma Sambasiva Rao, famous literati briefed on the literary descriptions of Goddess Durga with special reference to Kanaka Durga Temple, Vijayawada.

Subhakar Medasani, Secretary, Amaravati Buddha Vihara, Chimpiraiah of Malaxmi group and students from Andhra Loyola College and PB Siddhartha College participated in the programme, said Sivanagi Reddy.