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Its
rich past is studded with fantastic episodes and fascinating
occurrences that fill the souls with devotion and minds with divine
knowledge of exciting type. The very name of Vijayawada along with
its derivation is quite awe-inspiring and wrings veneration, on
account of heavenly connections it enjoyed in the beginning itself.
According
to legends, this entire region was nothing but hard and rocky -
hillocks strewn across irregularly, and obstructing the perennial
flow of river Krishna. As the hills, blocked the free flow, the area
used to be inundated very often-becoming unfit for habitation or
cultivation. Nor did the river reach the sea-its destination. Then
the affected-commoners and Sages prayed to Lord Siva for a free
passage of water by making tunnels in the hills. Finding the plea
reasonable he granted. And forthwith the Lord bade the hills to give
way to the waters to flow smoothly. At once the divine direction was
implemented-the river started flowing, unimpeded with uproarious
sounds. Hence prevailed the all round prosperity bumper crops,
followed by over-packed safes. Happy living started manifesting in
song and dance everywhere in the region. 'Bejjam' is the Telugu word
for tunnel or hole. As the tunnels are made in the hills around at
the bidding of Lord, this area was called then Bejjawada or Bezawada,
for short. It went by the name of Bijapuri for another reason - the
river used to carry many bijas - seeds grown abundantly in its
course and was depositing herbs and shurbs at the hills here, and it
was called Bijapuri-Medicinal plants grew in abundance. Yet there
are few more names, like Phal una Kshetra due to Arjuna's Victory
over Lord here on the hills,and Kanakapura, on account of gold
rained by Durga after killing Mahishasura. According one version
Lord Maheswar's compassionate. action of showering gold pieces
during king adhavarma's reign,, it was called Kanakapura. Jayapuri
for scoring Victory over the wicked demons; Rajendra cholanagar
due to the fact that it was ruled by a long succession of imperial
chalukyas etc. These august names were given to it at different
times by different people for different reasons.
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