Kukkuteswara Swamy Temple, Padagaya Kshetram, Pithapuram

                                                      

  

     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