PITAPURAM

PITAPURAM KUKKUTESWARA SWAMY TEMPLE

PAADAGAYA

The brief history of Paadagaya   Kshetra which is one of the important Astadasa Pieta’s situated at Pithapuram in East Godavari District in Andhra Pradesh. It is described in the third chapter of Bheema Khanda and of Shandapurana.

 Pithapuram has become famous as a sacred and holy pilgrimage, in this land. Pithapuram is equally holy and sacred place with 'Kedaram' in North-India and 'Kumbhakonam' in South-India. This place was visited by the Sage Vyasa with his disciples and it was written in Bhimakhanda of Skandapurana, one of the eighteen epics.


In olden days, KRUTAYUGA there was a demon king, Gayasura, By his austere penance and sacrifice he got kingship on heaven and ruled the three lokas (Swarga, Marthya, Patalam). He was ruling three lokas by the result of sacrifices made by sages. Defeated by Gayasura Lord Indra and others deities approached Trimurthies (Brahma, Vishnu and Maheswara) for Restoration of their position. Trimuthies in the guise of Brahmins visited Gayasura.

Gayasura used to fulfill the desires of the people who asked him by virtue of his kind and charitable qualities. By his mere visit, even sinners used to get rid of their sins and reached heaven. Gayasura received them warmly and worshipped with utter respect, (Arghya and Padya) and received their blessing. He asked them to tell the cause of their arrival. Then they told to offer a sacred place to perform the sacrifice. He promised to provide the place. They asked to give his body as it was a holy place to perform the sacrifice. He agreed for it.

They gathered material, sages and deities and requested Gayasura to commence yaaga (Sacrifice). The Gayasura extended his body from Gaya in Bihar State to Pithapuram in Andhra State and asked them to start sacrifice (yaaga) They started yaaga on his chest. Yaaga was intended to finish in seven days, counting every day, from early in the morning (i.e. cock crowing time). After six days, the deities prayed to Lord Eswara to spoil the Yaaga. Then lord Eswara in the Form of a Cock at midnight (lingodhbhava kala), (Before early in the morning) sounded "Kokkuroko," Gayasura thought that the Yaaga was over and moved his body. Then they were ready to kill Gayasura as he spoiled their sacrifice. Gayasura accepted for this. By pleasing with the words of Gayasura, they asked him to request them a boon. Then Gayasura told them that he had no personal desires. But for the benefit of the world, he requested Vishnu to be at his head, at naval cavity Brahma, and at feet Eswara in the form of Cock, permanently. These three places should be treated as holy places and of anybody performed shraddha karmas in these   places, their Fore Fathers would reach salvations without rebirth.

With that reason lord Vishnu is being   worshipped in the form of Gadadhara in 'Gaya' in Bihar even today. Brahma who's in the form of Girijadevi is receiving prayers by devotees in Nabhigaya which is in Pithapuram in Andhrapradesh become famous as padagaya. The primal deity of this is lord Shiva in the form of Cock. This Shakti Peetham is famous with the name of Puruhutika

About Puruhutika Devi:-
Shiva carrying the corpse of Sati Devi  The Puruhutika Devi Temple (Puruhutika Peetham) inside the Kukkudeshwara Temple is a Shakti Peetham where Sati (goddess)'s Left hand fell. The etymology of the location (Peetham Puram or Pithapuram) comes associated with the presence of this Shakti Peetham in the area. Daksha Yaaga the mythology depicted in puranas is considered as the main theme in the origin of the idea of Shakti Peetham.

Puruhutika  Peetham is a powerful Peetham among ashtadasapeetham from Pithikapuram,in olden days this place is known as puruhuthikapuram,then came to pithapuram ,pitikapuram and now calling as pithapuram,a  well-known Hindu’s Shiva temple kukkutalingam is here in this temple,gayasura gave his chest for yaaga, and Shiva given moksha to Gayasura and then Gaya’s foots were kept here and from then this raver is known as Padagaya a wonderful devotional place and VYASA BHAGAVAN,SANKARACHARYA visited this place as per historical stories

RAJARAJESWARI DEVI TEMPLE 

 Rajarajeswari Devi is installed by Adi Sankaracharya. Rajarajeswari Devi here fulfills our desires.

DATTATREYA SWAMY

 Dattatreya Swamy temple is also present in the same temple compound.

KUNTHI MADHAVA SWAMY 

 Kunthi MadavaSwamy is the Kshetra Palaka of this Pada Gaya. Pithapuram darsan fulfills only when you visit this temple. It is one of the oldest temples dedicated to Lord Vishnu.

Here Lord Vishnu was worshipped by KUNTHI DEVI so he got the name Kunti Madava Swamy.

TIMINGS:

5.30am to 12.30am

4.30pm to 7.30pm

SEVAS:

5.30am to 11.00am – Aabhishakam

12.30pm – Maha Nivedana

4.30pm – Darshanam

6.00pm - Dhoophaseva

7.30pm – Nivedana, Pavalimpuseva

TRANSPORT:

By Air: Nearest airport Rajahmundry.

By Train: From Samalkot railway station it is 14 kms

By Road: This city can be easily reached from its nearby towns like Kakinada and Rajahmundry.

There are regular government-run buses available which takes you to the temple. From Kakinada, it takes nearly half-an-hour to reach and from Rajahmundry, it takes two hour to reach Pithapuram.

Best option is to hire car or taxi and drive your way to Pithapuram

ACCOMBINATION: Devastanam cottages available

Temple Authorities:
Executive Officer,
Sri Kukkudeshwara Swami Temple,
Padagaya Kshetra,
Pithapuram,
East Godavari District.
PIN 533 450.
Phone   No : 08869 - 252477

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