Sri Kukkuteswara Swamy Temple — Attraction in Andhra Pradesh

Kukkuteshwara Swamy temple – The most famous temple at Pithapuram is that of Lord Shiva. Lord Shiva is known as Kukkuteshwara Swamy here. The consort of Kukkuteshwara Swamy is known as Raja Rajeswari. There is the temple of Puruhutika Devi inside the campus of this temple. It is one of the Asta Dasa Shakti Pithas. Maha Shivaratri, Sarannavarathri and Kaartika Masam are the main festivals celebrated at this temple.

It is the brief history of Paadagaya Kshetram which is one of the important Astadasa Peetha's, situated at Pithapuram in East Godavari District in andhra Pradesh. It is described in the third chapter of Bheema Khanda and of Shandapurana.

Bhima Mandalam consists of Andhra, Orissa border at the foot of the Vindhya Mountains. It is the best piece of land out of nine divisions of land with all kinds of crops and gardens. Pithapuram has become famous as a sacred and holy piligrimage, 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.

The great poet, 'Srinadha' wrote in the third chapter of 'Bheemeswara purana' inthe following way. "The following four places give salvation or 'Moksha, they are(banaras), Varanasi, Kedaram, Kumbhakonam and Pithapuram(kukkuteswara stanamu) Pithapuram has become Paadagaya Keshetram. 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 everyday, 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 Orissa State near Jajipur railway station. 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...

#4 of 8 Places to Visit in Kakinada

Distance (From Kakinada): 16 Kms

Trip Duration (Including Travel): 2 Hours

Transportation Options: Bus / Cab

At a distance of 2.5 km from Pithapuram Railway Station, 12 km from Samarlakota, 16 km from Kakinada, 61 km from Rajahmundry, 31 km from Annavaram, 208 km from Vijayawada and 152 km from Vizag, Sri Kukkuteswara Swamy temple is an ancient Siva temple in East Godavari District of Andhra Pradesh. Pithapuram which was earlier known as Pithikapuram is one of the Ashta Dasha (Eighteen) Shakthi Peethas.

Kukkuteswara Swamy temple is the most famous temple of Lord Shiva at Pithapuram. The presiding Deity is Lord Shiva, who reveals himself in the form of a Spatika Linga. This is a Swayambhu Linga of white marble and is about two feet in height. The Linga resembles that of a cock; hence Lord Shiva is called Sri Kukkuteswara Swamy. There is a huge beautiful idol of Nandi (bull) made from a single stone in front of the temple. The shrine of Sri Rajarajeswari, consort of Sri Kukkuteswara Swamy, is present beside the Shiva temple.

There is the temple of Puruhutika Devi inside the campus of Sri Kukkuteswara Swamy Temple. It is one of the Asta Dasha Shakti Peethas. After Daksha Yagna, Goddess Sati Devi's body part (back part) has fell down in this area, because of this place earlier people has called as Puruhoothika puram later it has changed as Peetika Puram. Finally it has changed Pithapuram. This temple is considered as the 10th Sakthi Peetham of the 18 Shakti Peethas.

This place is one among the Trigaya Kshetrams and has become famous as Pada Gaya Kshetram. Gaya Asura, a powerful demon who laid his body at the behest of Brahma for doing a great yagna for the betterment of people. He was so huge that his head rested in Bihar and his legs reached Pithapuram. The place where his legs rested was a pond where after this pond came to be known as Pada Gaya Sarovar. It is believed that whoever bathes in this sacred pond will be relieved of their sins.

The Kunti Madhavaswamy temple adjacent to Kukkuteswara temple is another major temple in the town. Kunti is said to have installed the image in this place, and so is called Kunti Madhavaswamy. This deity is said to have been worshipped by Vyasa, Valmiki and Agastya in the past. Swayambhu Sri Dattatreya Swamy is also in the Temple Complex. Sripada Srivallabha Swamy's idol is worshipped separately in the same complex. It is the only place where an idol of Sri Datta incarnation is worshipped. There are other shrines of various gods like Sri Rama, Ayyappa, Sri Vishveshwara and Sri Annapurna Devi, Sri Durga Devi.

Maha Shivaratri, Sarannavarathri and Kaartika Masam are the main festivals celebrated at this temple. The temple celebrates Devi Navarathri's in Dussehra season. Annual festivals celebrated here are different for different deities like Maghabahula Ekadasi for Kukkuteswara, Suddha Ekadasi for Kunti Madhava, Palguna for Kumaraswamy and Karthikamasa for Venugopalaswamy.

Timings: 5.30 AM - 12.30 PM & 4.30 PM - 7 PM :- chetan...

The historic Sri Kukkuteshwara Swamy Temple was situated in pitapuram ,Andhra Pradesh, 20 kilometers from Kakinada and 75 kilometers from Rajahmundry. This temple has great spiritual and historical value and is one of India's "18 Shakti Peethas." In order to receive blessings from Lord Siva in the form of Kukkuteshwara Swamy, people from all over the nation travel to this ancient, historic temple. We travelled from Annavaram to pitapuram and visited this temple. This temple complex is famous for its group of sacred temples. This place is one among the Trigaya Kshetrams and has become famous as Pada Gaya Kshetram. Gayasura's statue in the laying position is visible in the large pond at the rear of the temple. According to the legend, Gayasura's head fell at Gaya in Bihar after his body was divided into three pieces. The legs (Padas) have fallen here, hence the name Pada Gaya, while the Nabhi part (below the belly) has fallen in Nabhi Gaya, Biraja Temple Jajpur, Orissa. Here, ritual ceremonies are held for the deceased. The pond water are not well maintained but many people was taking dip in the water as it believes to relief from all the sins Here, Lord Shiva is known to as Kukkuteshwara Swamy. Raja Rajeswari is the name of Kukkuteshwara Swamy's consort. The temple's premises are kept up nicely. It's a really serene temple. It is said that "PINDA PRADANAM" Performed here acquires Salvation. The last rights performed here is equal to the rights performed at Kasi.

This temples complex is also have the 10th Sakthipeetham of the Ashtadasa or eighteen shaktipeethas. Paravati as Goddess Puruhutika. The hip part of sati had fallen here.Sri Puruhutika has golden bowl in her lower left hand, madhipala fruit in lower left right hand, drum in left handand metalrod in rightt hand. She is placed in the powerful Sri Chakra Peetham. Temple is very scared and well maintained.

The place is also the birth place of Sripada Srivallabha swamy,the first incarnation of Sri Dattatreya and temple is known as Sripada sri vallabha Anagha Datta kshetra.It is the only shrine wherein idol of Sri gurudattatreya is worshipped,elsewhere it is the padukas that are worshipped Rest of the two places Kurugadda and Ganaga puram Swamy's padukas are being worshipped. Overall, the temple complex maintenance is good . All the temples in the complex can be covered with in 30 min to one hour in normal days except in special days . Roadside parking available. Noticed many people leaving the chappal outside the temple.Noticed no eateries available near the temple premises. Washrooms are noticed outside the temple , better...