Pithapuram

Pithapuram is a town in the East Godavari District of Andhra Pradesh. Pithapuram is known to be one of the oldest and sacred place in India. It has historical and religious importance. The history of the region dates back to 5th century when it was ruled by the Vishnukundina dynasty. It was later ruled by the Chalukyas.

Pithapuram is an important religious and spiritual town. It is where one of the Ashtadasha Shakti Peeta, one of the Trigaya and one of the Pancha Madhava temples are located. It also has the Sripada Sri Vallabha temple who is believed to have been the incarnation of Lord Dattatreya.

Pithapuram is the Shakti Peeta where Sati devi’s seat fell. Here she is worshipped as Puruhutika Devi. This is one of the Ashtadasha (18 major) Shakti Peetas of Sati Devi.

Construction in the Pushkarini depicting Gayasura with Vishnu at his head, Brahma at his navel and Shiva at his feet.

Pithapuram is also known as Paadagaya. Here Lord Shiva is worshipped as Kukkuteshwara Swamy.  The Purana of Paadagaya is as follows.

Gayasura was the son of Tripurasura who was a great devotee of Lord Vishnu. Gayasura worshipped Vishnu and was granted a boon by Lord Vishnu that he would die only by the Trimurtis (Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva). Getting emboldened by the boon, Gayasura committed atrocities against all the Gods and humans. Finally the Trimurtis decide that Gayasura should be punished and so they come to him disguised as Brahmins. They tell him that they want to perform yagna on a pure body for seven days, to bring rains to the parched lands. They tell him that they want to do yagna on his body and that until the yagna is over he has to lie down and cannot get up. if he gets up before the seven days are over he will die. Gayasura agrees and increases his body and his head reached Gaya (in present day Bihar), his abdomen reached Jajpur (in present day Orissa) and his feet reach Pithapuram (Andhra Pradesh). The Yagna starts and after six days are over, before the seventh day Shiva crowed like a cock to trick Gayasura. Gayasura assuming that the seven days are over moves his body. The brahmins tell him that since he has moved before the seven days and yagna are over, he has to die. Gayasura realises that they are the Trimurtis and gladly gives up his life. Gaya, where his head was, is known as Sirogaya (head gaya) and a Vishnu temple was built. Jajpur is called Naabigaya (navel gaya) and a Brahma temple was built and Pithapuram was called Paadagaya (feet gaya) where the Shiva temple is built. Lord Shiva is known as Kukkuteshwara swamy here as he crowed like a cock.

Kunti Madhava Temple                              Image of Madhava Swamy.

Kunti Madhava Swamy temple is one of the Pancha Madhava temples. The other four Madhava temples being – Bindu Madhava of Varanasi, Venu Madhava of Prayaga, Sethu Madhava of Rameshwaram and Sundara Madhava of Tiruvananthapuram.