Kukkuteswara Swamy Temple, Padagaya Kshetram, Pithapuram is in East Godavari
district. It is 214kms from vijayawada, 28kms from
ANNAVARAM, 21kms from Kakinada,
14kms from Samarlakota, 50kms from Draksharamam(two temple among pancharamas). Pithapuram
is 10
th Shakthi Peetam among 18 important Shakthi Peetams.
Vyasa Maharshi also visited
this temple. Vyasa Maharshi while going through theertha yathra explained the
glory of those temples he visited in 53 Kandas in Skanda
Purana(Kasi Kandam, Kedarakandam, Gouri Kandam, Reeva Kandam,etc) .BHEEMA KANDA is one among them. It describes about the Kshetras in AndhraPradesh
from Arasavalli to Amaravathi. Vyasa Maharshi told about Pithapuram in 36 Slokas in the third chapter of this
BHIMA KANDAM. Pithapuram is equally holy and sacred place with “KEDARAM” in north and “ KUMBAKONAM”
in south .
In Krutha Yugam Lord Vishnu, Brahma and Indra
came to this temple. Lord Sri Rama visited this temple in Tretayuga, Vyasa, Kunthi
and Pandavas came here in Dwapara Yuga.
PURIHUTHIKA DEVI.
It is believed that PEETA BAGA
of SatiDevi has fallen in this place. Goddess here is called as PURUHUTHIKA. This temple is also called as PADA GAYA.
IT is one among the 18 Shakthi Peetas. A rishi named Yela did severe penance
and brought one stream of River Ganga from Lord Siva’s Jatajutam. It is called
as River Yela. Pithapuram is on the bank of River Yela. LORD Indra(Purihuthudu)
did Srividhyopasana here so she got the
name Purihuthika.
KUKKUTESWARA SWAMY TEMPLE
PITHAPURAM IS ONE OF THE OLDEST TEMPLE DEDICATED TO LORD SIVA . It is known
as PADA GAYA. Devotees come here to do Pindapradana for their Ancestors.
PURANIC HISTORY
In Krutayuga, there lived a rakshasa named GAYASURA. He is a
great devotee of Lord Vishnu. He did severe Penance for Lord Vishnu, pleased by
his prayers Lord Vishnu appeared before him. Gayasura asked lord Vishnu to give
him a boon so that his body will be more sacred place than any other theerthas on
earth. By getting this boon from Lord Vishnu his body became very sacred and by
seeing him and breathing the air coming from over his body demons got rid of Panchamahapathakas.
Gayasura did many ASWAMEDHA YAGAS and became
king of heaven. Lord Indra, who lost his power came to Bholokha and did severe
penance for 10,000 years regarding Lord Vishnu, Lord Siva and Lord Brahma. Lord
Indra told them though Gayasura is a good person his followers are creating
problems to the sages, So Yagas are not conducted as a result there are no
rains and crops. Lord Indra asked Lord to kill Gayasura and give him his Powers back.
GAYA to PITHAPURAM. He asked them to start
the Yaaga. Yaaga was intended to finish in seven days. Gayasura counted the
days according to the cock’s crowing
time. Six days were completed. Only one day was remaining to complete the Yaaga,
so all devatas prayed Lord Siva to do something so that Yaaga will not be
completed so that they can kill Gayasura. Lord took the form of a cock and sounded”kukkuroko”
at Lingodhbhavakala(i.e at midnight). Gayasura thought the Yaaga was over and
moved his body. According to their condition they were ready to kill Gayasura.
Gayasura accepted this. Pleased by the words of Gayasura, they asked him to
request a boon. Gayasura told he had no personal desires but for the benefit of
the world, he requested Lord Vishnu to stay at his head part, Lord Brahma at
his naval cavity and Lord Siva at the feet permanently. These three places
should be treated as the holy places and if any body performing Sraddhakarma in
these places, their forefathers would reach salvation with out rebirth.
Lord Vishnu, Lord Brahma and Lord Siva went to Gayasura in
the disguise of Brahmins. They told Gayasura, they want to do a Yagnam to
remove the drought. Gayasura promised them he would do what ever help they want
from him and asked them to start Yaga immediately. They asked him to give his
body to do the Yagna, as there is no other place sacred than his body on earth.
Gayasura agreed for that .Brahmins kept a condition that he should not move
until the Yaga is completed, if you move we will kill you. Gayasura agreed for
that and extended his body from
SHIRO GAYA:
It is in Bihar. It is known as “Gaya”. Here lord Vishnu is
worshipped in the form of Gadadhara even today. This is one of the 18 Shakthi
peetas (MANGALYA GOURI)
NABI GAYA: This is in Orissa, near Bijapur
railway station. It is known as NABHI GAYA KSHETRA. Lord Brahma is worshipped
here. It is also one of the 18 Shakthi Peetams ( GIRIJADEVI)
PADA GAYA: It is in Pithapuram,
East Godavari district. Lord Siva is
worshipped here and Shakthi peetam is Purihuthika Devi.
It is famous for Pinda Pradanam to ancestors. Vishnu Pada, Gaya Pada shrines are also present here.
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.
Pithapura 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.
HISTORY OF KUNTHI MADHAVA SWAMY
In olden days Lord Indra killed a demon named
VRUTHASURA.
THRUSNA
PRJAPATHI performed Yagna to have a son
who can kill Lord Indra.Vruthasura originated from the Yagna Gundam. Lord Indra
Killed Vruthasura by using Vajrayuda (a wepone made by Visvakarma from the
spinalcord of Dadichi Maharshi). By killing a Brahmin Lord Indra got Brahmahatyapatakam.
To get rid of it he installed 5 Vishnu idols they are
1. VARANASI-BINDU MADHAVA
2. PRAYAGA-VEENI MADHAVA
3. PITHAPURAM-KUNTHI MADAVA
4. RAMESWARAM-SETHU MADHAVA
5. ANANTHA PADMANABA SWAMY-SUNDARA
MADHAV.
KUNTHI MADHAVA SWAMY was installed by Lord Indra in KRUTHA
YUGA and Lord SriRama came here in TRETA YUGA, KUNTHI IN DWAPARA YUGA, AND now
lot of devootees come here to worship Kunthi Madava Swamy and are being blessed
good health and wealth.
POOJAS
SNO
|
POOJAS
|
PRICE
|
1
|
MAHANYASA POORVAKA RUDRABHISHEKAM
|
Rs30
|
2
|
SAHASRA NAMA ARCHANA
|
Rs20
|
3
|
THAILABISHEKAM(abishekam with
oil)
|
Rs30
|
4
|
EKADASA RUDRABISHEKAM
|
Rs116
|
5
|
JAPA OR PARAYANA
|
Rs 58
|
6
|
HOMAM
|
Rs 116
|
7
|
NAVAGRAHA SHANTHI
|
Rs10
|
8
|
ANTHRALAYA DARSHAN
|
Rs10
|
9
|
PINDA PRADANAM
|
Rs 50
|
10
|
YEARLY ONE DAY ABISHEKAM (Lord
Siva & Dathatreeya Swamy)
|
Rs 500
|
11
|
YEARLY ONE DAY KUMKUK POOJA
(Rajarajeswari Devi & Purihuthika Devi)
|
Rs 500
|
12
|
KESAKANDANA
|
Rs 5
|
13
|
PURNIMA/MASA SIVARATRI KALYANAM
|
Rs 550
|
14
|
MAHA SIVARATRI DARSHANAM
|
Rs 10
|
15
|
VISISTA DARSHANAM
|
Rs 25
|
16
|
CHAKRA VAHANAM POOJA
|
Rs 5
|
17
|
LAKHSHA BILVARCHANA
|
Rs250
|
18
|
MOOSI VAYANAM
|
Rs 20
|
19
|
MOOSI VAYANAM SAMAGRI
|
Rs 50
|
FESTIVALS
1. On Ugadi Kalasasthapana, Panchanga sravanam and Chandi Yaga
Sahitha Vasantha Navaratri Utavasas are done for 10 days.
2. On Vishaka Suddha Panchami on the occasion of Shankara Jayanthi
abishekam is done to Sankaracharya, evening Veda Parayana, Vasantha pooja are
done.
3. On Vaishaka Suddha Ekadasi Kalyanm of Kasi Visveswara Swamy and Annapurana Devi is
done for 5 days.
4. On Vaishaka Purnima evening the Postavam is done.
5. On Ashada Suddha Ekadasi morning abishekam is done to Nandeeswara
and are tied to the neck of Nandi. Nandi Utsavam
is performed in evening. No where else you can see such a procession done to Nandeeswara
Swamy.
6. In Sravana Masam (Purnima, Fridays, Varalakshmi Vratam) devotees
come here to do Kumkumarchana.
7. Seven days from Bhadrapada Suddha Chathurdi Sri Pada Sri Vallabha
Jayanthi Utsavas are done. Ganapathi Navaratri Utasvas are also done with great
pomp and show.
8. From Bhadrapada Bhahula Padyami to Badrapada Bhahula Amavasya
on the occasion of Mahalayapaksha many devotees come here to do Pinda Pradana
to their ancestors.
9. From Aswiyuja Suddha Padyami Sarannavaratri Utasvas will
start.
10. On Aswiyuja Bahula Panchami many people come here to
take Siva Mandala Deeksha.
11. IN KARTHIKA MASAM Abishekam,Ekadas Rudrabhishekam, Laksha
Bilvarchana, Rudhrayagam are done in Kukuteeswara swamy temple.
12. On Karthika Purnima Jwalathoranam is done
13. From Karthika Suddha Vidhiya many devotees come to take
data Deeksha Maladharana.
14. On Margasira Suddha Padyami many people come to have
holy bath and Siva Deeksha Viramana is done. Rudra Yagam is done in Kukuteeswara
Swamy temple.
15. On Margasira Shasti Abishekam to Lord Subrahmanya are
done.
16. Seven days from Margasira Navami Data Jayanthi Sapthaha Mahostavam
is done.
17. On Dhanur Masa Purnima special poojas are done to Rajarajeswari
Devi and Kukuteeswara Swamy and Uttara Dwara Darsam is arranged.
18. During Pongal special poojas are done for three days.
19. In Maghamasa (Sat,Sundays,Ekadasi,Radhasapthami) many people come here to have holy bath.
20. Six days from Magha Bhahula Ekadasi Kalyanam is done to Kukuteswara
Swamy. Vahana seva is also done during this time.
21. On Sivarathri many people come to take holy bath and on Amavasya
Radhostavam is done with great pomp and show.
22. On Phalguna Masa Suddha Padyami Puspothavam is done.
23. On Phalguna Masa Suddha Purnima Vasanthostavam, and Kalyanam
are done for 16 days.
ACCOMIDATION
ROOMS ARE AVAILABLE FOR DEVOTEES A/C=500Rs, NON A/C-250Rs.
Call before you go
ADDRESS
KUKKUTESWARA SWAMY DEVASTHANAM
PadagayaKshetram, Pithapuram.
Phone number:08869-252477,251445
