Sri Kukkuteswara Swamy Temple

Overview

The Sri Pithikapuram Devi Temple, in Pithapuram Village is dedicated to Goddess Shakthi. Puruhutika/Puruhuthika (Puruhuta/Puruhutamba) is one of the 18 Shakti peethas. The Peetha (Seat) of Devi fell here. She is the Shakti of Kukkuteswara swamy.

About the Temple

Kukkuteswara Swamy temple is an immense old temple. Puruhutika temple is arranged on the north eastern corner of the fundamental temple confronting south. Puruhutika temple is a little hallowed place with delightful carvings of goddess. There are different places of worship devoted to divine beings and goddesses, for example, Annapurneshwari, Ayappaswamy, Sri Rama and Sri Visveshwara. Pithapuram is considered as the Dwadasha Punya Kshetra (one of the twelve vital journey focuses.) Puruhutika Devi is in a standing position. Subsequent to entering the temple one can see the enormous measured Pada Mudrikas(imprints) of Gaya Asura close to the Dhwaja Sthambha. In the north side of the temple, there is a holy place of Sri Chandeeshwara Swamy. In the north-east corner, there is a hallowed place of Kala Bhairava, who is the Kshetra Palaka (defender). An antiquated temple of God Subrahmanyam is available in the north-west which mitigates explorers of their Kuja Dosha. In the south is Sri Siddi Ganapathi temple. In the south-east is the temple of Gaya Pada Vishnu Pada. In the south-west is the temple of Sri Guru Dattatreya. This is the main temple with the icon of Sri Guru Dattatreya. There is Audambara Vriksha (Banyan Tree) alongside the holy place. It is likewise said that the individuals who see, touch, do pradakshina or ponder close to the Audumbara Vriksha will be the most blessed of all. The Padukas (foot engraves) which are available adjacent to the temple is accepted to be the genuine Padukas of Sri Sripada Vallabha Swamy. The primary temple is amidst the premises. There is an enormous yet delightful symbol of Nandi (bull) produced using a solitary stone before the temple. The temple of Sri Rajarajeswari, consort of Sri Kukkuteshwara Swamy, is available next to the Shiva temple. There are different hallowed places of different divine beings like Sri Rama, Ayyappa, Sri Vishveshwara and Sri Annapurna Devi, Sri Durga Devi. It is alongside Sri Durga hallowed place, is the temple of Sri Puruhootika Devi.There is likewise a temple named Kunthi Madhava temple in the town of Pithapuram. This temple is one of the Pancha (five) Madhava sanctuaries which God Indra made to dispose of the transgression of executing Vriddhasura. Puruhutika Devi Temple is situated at Pithapuram in East Godavari, Andra Pradesh. This Temple is committed to Goddess Durga and is one among 51 Shakthi Peethas. This temple is additionally committed to 18 Maha Shakthi Peethas. The mythology says in regards to the falling of parts of the cadaver of Sati Devi, when God Shiva took it and meandered. There are 51 Shakti Peeth connecting to the 51 letters in order in Sanskrit. It is trusted the Sati's Left hand has fallen here.

The goddess is introduced in a different, free place of worship. The symbol confronting north is in the standing stance and made of rock stones, around four feet in stature. The divinity is decorated with sparkling gold gems and stirring silks. The Puruhutika devi Temple (Puruhutika Peetham) inside the Kukkudeshwara Temple is a Shakti Peetha where Sati (goddess') Left hand fell. The historical underpinnings of the area (Peetha Puram or Pithapuram) comes connected with the vicinity of this Shakti Peetha in the zone.

Daksha Yaga the mythology portrayed in puranas is considered as the primary subject in the thought's birthplace of Shakti Peethas.The icon of Puruhuthika devi has four hands. They contain sack of seeds (Beeja), hatchet (Parashu), lotus (Kamala) and a dish (Madhu patra) from lower-right to lower-left all together. Puruhutika Devi is in a standing position. The symbol is made of stone and is enhanced with gems, a Kirit and robed in silks.There are two factions of admirers of Devi. The primary organization revered the Devi as Puruhootha Lakshmi. She is contemplating with a lotus and Madhu Patra in her grasp. This organization took after the Samayachar type of devotion. The second group loved the Devi as Puruhoothamba. She is ruminating with a hatchet (Parashu) and pack of seeds in her grasp. This group took after the Vamachara type of love. The first divinity was covered under the temple.

Puruhutika Devi is one of the Ashtadasa Shaktipeethas. It is trusted that the Seat of Sati devi has fallen here when God Vishnu has cut her cadaver with Sudarshana Chakra. Devi Sati is revered as Puruhutika and God Shiva as Kukkuteswara Swamy. The temple of Puruhutika devi is situated inside of the temple grounds of Kukkuteswara swamy. It is situated in Pithapuram of Andhra Pradesh. Kukkuteswara swamy temple is available in the edges of the Pithapuram town towards Kakinada. It is a major temple. Simply entering into the temple we'll see a lake which is called as Padagaya sarovaram (Pada Gaya Sarovar). Explorers will wash up in this lake. Fundamental temple of Kukkuteswara swamy is available towards the right half of the lake. Puruhutika devi temple is available in the North-East corner of the Kukkuteswara swamy temple. It is developed confronting south. Puruhutha temple is little yet looks exceptionally decent with the carvings of Ashtadasa Shakti peethas on its dividers. It is trusted that the first statue of devi is covered under the temple in the same spot. Puruhutika Devi is in a standing position. The icon is made of rock and is embellished with gems, a Kirit and robed in silks. The icon of Puruhuthika devi has four hands. They contain pack of seeds (Beeja), hatchet (Parashu), lotus (Kamala) and a dish (Madhu patra) from lower-right to lower-left all together. Kukkuteswara Swamy is a Swayambu (self-showed) Spatika Linga in the sanctum Sanctorum. The God is in a chicken structure at the temple. There is wing like structure other than the symbol of Kukkuteswara Swamy. There is likewise an enormous Eka Shila Nandi before the icon of God Shiva. The Nandi is the second greatest after Lepakshi Basaveshwara. This complex has a Sarovar subsequent to washing up individuals offer petitions to God to their predecessors, as this temple complex is called Pada Gaya. It has Gayasura's Padas (Feet) and Vishnu Padas (Feet). Gayasura's body was cut in three bits and out of that Head has fallen at Siro Gaya (Called Gaya in Bihar) Below mid-section (Nabhi) segment has fallen in Nabhi Gaya (Jajpur in Orissa)and the Legs (Padas) have fallen here subsequently called Pada Gaya. Pithapuram has three renowned sanctuaries: Kunthi Madhavaswami temple, Kukkuteswara Swami Temple and the Puruhutika Sakthi Peetam.

About the deity

The icon of Puruhuthika devi is seen with four hands. The hands are having a dish known as Madhu patra, a lotus, a hatchet and a pack containing seeds. It is trusted that the first icon of this temple is covered under the ground. The Shiva Linga which is as a cockerel's head is known as Sri Kukkuteshwara Swamy.

Legend and Stories

As indicated by legend, Once Indra has conned Ahalya (wife of Gautama maharshi) as Gautama and was reviled by the Maharshi. Indra lost his testes and got the images of Yoni everywhere on his body. He felt extremely miserable and prayed Gautama a ton. At long last the Rishi acknowledged and told that the Yoni images will look like eyes, so that Indra will be called as Sahasraksha from that point. Be that as it may, Indra lost his testes. He needed to recapture them. He cleared out his kingdom, came to Piithika puri and did Tapasya for Jaganmata. After quite a while Jaganmata showed up before him and favored him with riches and testes. Indra was exceptionally cheerful and prayed her as Puruhutika devi (One who was worshiped by Indra).

Another story goes like this, An evil spirit named Gayasura, enthusiast of puruhutika devi once began to perform the rituals and such were the forces of his tapasya that the demigods started to endure. They went to Vishnu and requesting that he spare them. Vishnu concurred and showed up before Gayasura, requesting that he stop his exercises and acknowledge an aid. 'Gift me the help that I may turn into the most sacrosanct of all tirthas,' answered the daitya.

The help was conceded and Gayasura vanished. The demigods came back to svarga, however felt that the earth appeared to be left now that Gayasura had vanished. Vishnu then educated Brahma and alternate demigods to perform a penance. He additionally requesting that they go to Gayasura and request his body so that the penance may be performed on it. Gayasura promptly concurred, and when he concurred, his head tumbled off of his body. God Brahma then continued to perform the penance on Gayasura's headless body, however when the penance began, the body started to shake. This implied that the penance couldn't be appropriately performed and an answer must be found. The demigods all set a stone on Gayasura's body so that the body would not shake, and the penance could be performed. Vishnu himself additionally entered a stone. The penance yaga held for six days and six evenings. Prior to the most recent night, Shiva showed up in type of hen and make a sound like hen. Gayasura felt that the penance is over and he began to shake his body. The ceremonies halted and trimurthis showed up before him as three Bhramins and yelled at him that the yaga was ceased in light of this your activity. At that point Gayasur, the fair ruler, satisfied, asked and bowed to them. They go to the first frame and asked him an aid. Gayasur asked that individuals have group to Gaya to perform shraddha penances on his body to exculpate the wrongdoings of their progenitor and Gayasur kicked the bucket at that place.

Gaya was changed into the arrangement of rough slopes that make up the scene of the Gaya Kshetra. Numerous Demigods and goddesses had guaranteed to live on Gayasur's body after he kicked the bucket, thus the peak protruberances of Gaya are surmounted by different sanctuaries. Top of the body is gaya in Bihar, focal part is in Jaipur and Orissa and third one is feet that is patha gaya 'pithapuram'.

Rare Facts

The one of a kind component of this Kshetram is the existing together of Jyothirlingam and Mahasakthi in one Temple complex, which is the uncommon and just of its kind.

Importance

Salvation, Wealth, Relief from infections, Purchase of Vehicles.

Puja/Sevas

5.30 a.m - 11.a .m - Abhishekam
12.30 pm - Maha nivedana , This temple provides Nitya Annadanam on evey day , and the people believe that Lord Dattatreya visit the biksha in the afternoon.
4.00 pm - 8.00 pm - Dharshanam
6.00 pm - Ashtottram , pallaki seva
Yearly Abhishekam to Dattatreya also done on the name of devotee - Rs 500/-

Festivals

Special Poojas are performed on every Thursday.
Special Poojas to padukas and rajitha pallaki seva is performed on every Chitra Nakshatra day.
Gurupournami , Dattatreya Jayanthi , Sani Trayodasi Pradosha pooja are Major festivals celebrated here.
Seven day of sri pada sri vallabha Jayanthi Utsavam are done from Bhadrapada Suddha chathurti.

Accessibility

Pithapuram is 12 km from Samalkota and 20 km from Kakinada and 62 km from Rajahmundry.Regular buses available from kakinada , Rajamundry , Vishakapatnam and Vijayawada. Pithapuram , Samalkota and kakinada are nearest railway station most of the trains. Rajahmundry and Vishakapatnam have the nearest airports. Domestic flights are available from New Delhi , Mumbai and other major place to Vishakapatnam.