Kukkuteswara Swamy Temple, Pithapuram, Andhra Pradesh
Kukkuteswara Swamy Temple is a Hindu Temple dedicated to Lord Shiva located in Pithapuram Town in East Godavari District in Andhra Pradesh, India. Presiding Deity is called as Kukkuteswara Swamy and Mother is called as Rajarajeswari / Kumara Gananadhamba. There is the temple of Puruhutika Devi inside the premises of Kukkuteswara Swamy Temple. It is one of the Ashta Dasha Shakti Peethas. Pithapuram was earlier known as Pithikapuram. The Temple is also the third one of Tri Gaya Kshetrams of India and one among the Dwadasa Punya Kshetrams. The Temple is considered as Thevara Vaippu Sthalam as Devara hymns had a mention about this Temple.
Legends
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History
Pithapuram was originally called Pishtapura. The earliest extant inscription to mention the city is the 4th century king Samudragupta's Allahabad Pillar inscription, which states that he defeated the king Mahendra of Pishtapura. The inscriptions of the 4th and 5th Century Vasishtha and Mathara dynasties also mention Pishtapura, describing it as a part of Kalinga. In the 7th Century, the Chalukya king Pulakeshin II annexed Pishtapura to his kingdom.
Shripada Shri Vallabha, believed to be an incarnation of Lord Dattatreya by his devotees, lived in Pithapuram. He is considered one of the first complete avatars (incarnations) of the deity Dattatreya in Kali Yuga. Sripada Sri Vallaba was born as Dattatreya Swamy in this place. So, It has become the main Avatara Kshetram of Dattatreya.
The great poet, Srinatha wrote in the third chapter of Bheemeshwara Purana about Mukthi Sthalams. The four places that give salvation or Moksha are Varanasi (Banaras), Kedaram, Kumbakonam and Pithapuram which is known as Padagaya kshetram It is described in the third chapter of Bheema Khanda and of Skanda Purana.
The Temple
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Temple Opening Time
The Temple remains open from 07:30am to 12:30pm and 04:30pm to 08:30pm.
Festivals
Maha Shivaratri, Sarannavarathri and Kartika Masam are the main festivals celebrated at this temple. The temple celebrates Devi Navaratri’s in Dussehra season. Annual festivals celebrated here are different for different deities like Maghabahula Ekadasi for Kukkuteswara, Suddha Ekadasi for Kunti Madhava, Phalguna for Kumaraswamy and Karthik Masa for Venugopalaswamy.
Literary
Mention
The Temple is considered as
Thevara Vaippu Sthalam as Devaram hymns sung by Appar had a mention about this
Temple. The Temple is mentioned in 6th Thirumurai in 71st
Patikam in 8th Song.
நாடகம் ஆடிடம் நந்திகேச்சுரம் மா காளேச்
சுரம் நாகேச்சுரம் நாகளேச்சுரம் நன்கு ஆன
கோடீச்சுரம் கொண்டீச்சுரம் திண்டீச்சுரம்
குக்குடேச்சுரம் அக்கீச்சுரம் கூறுங்கால்
ஆடகேச்சுரம் அகத்தீச்சுரம் அயனீச்சுரம்
அத்தீச்சுரம் சித்தீச்சுரம் அம் தண் கானல்
ஈடு திரை இராமேச்சுரம் என்று என்று ஏத்தி
இறைவன் உறை சுரம் பலவும் இயம்புவோமே.
Religious Significance
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Contact
Kukkuteswara Swamy Temple,
Pithapuram, East Godavari District,
Andhra Pradesh – 533 450
Phone: +91 8869 252 477 / 251 445
Email: eopadagaya@gmail.com / eopadagaya@yahoo.in
Connectivity
The Temple is located at about 1.5 Kms from Pithapuram Old Bus Stand, 2 Kms from Pithapuram Railway Station, 2.5 Kms from Pithapuram Bus Stand, 13 Kms from Samarlakota, 13 Kms from Samalkot Railway Junction, 16 Kms from Kakinada, 29 Kms from Annavaram, 58 Kms from Rajahmundry, 138 Kms from Visakhapatnam, 144 Kms from Visakhapatnam Airport, 214 Kms from Vijayawada and 254 Kms from Amaravathi.
Pithapuram is situated in South Central Railway Zone, between Vijayawada and Visakhapatnam at a distance of 13 Kms from Samarlakota Junction. There are lot of Buses available between Samarlakota and Pithapuram. Nearest Airport is located at Visakhapatnam. One can reach Pithapuram from Visakhapatnam by all means of transport facilities like Train, Bus, and Private Taxis.
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