Temple Overview
Amoung the Trigaya temples, Sri Kukkuteshwara Swemy temple is known as the Pada Gaya Kshetram.
The temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva, located in Pithapuram of East Godavari District, Andhra Pradesh.
Nandi which is made of single stone and Swayanbu Shiva Lingam with white marble about two feet in height are the main attractions in the temple.
Pithapuram is a member of the Madava Keshatras, the Asta Dasa (Eighteen) Sakthi Petas, and the Twelve Pilgrims group.
One of the twelve holy pilgrimage places (punya kshetram), Pithapuram, is likened to Kasi and is referred to as Dakshina Kasi.
Temple Timings
| Days |
Timings |
| Monday to Sunday |
5 am to 12:30 pm & 4:30 pm to 8:30 pm |
Architecture
A native Andhra Bhrutya ruler is thought to have constructed the temple during the Shatvahana era.
The temple is very spacious built in Dravidian style goupram and the sculpture-adorned vimana above the sanctuary.
A large statue of Gyasura in the laying attitude with the Trimurthis that symbolises the temple’s myth is located next to the pond.
Legend
According to puranas, the demon named Gayasura did a penance for many years to get a boon from Lord Vishu for power of Indra.
Indra did a great penance to get a boon from trimurti to save the people from the demon.
Then the trimurti’s went to the demon in the form of Brahmins and asked for a place to perform Yagna.
Then the Gayasura asked them to perform Yagna on his body and the Brahmis said gayasura that they would kill him if he get up till the Yagna is completed.
Gayasura agreed and laid his body as a Yagna place.
Trimurti’s in the form of Bhramins performed the Yagna for six days.
On the seventh day Lord shiva in the form of cock made “Kokkurukoo” sound early in the morning and Gayasura got up thinking the Yagna is finished.
As soon as the demon got up, trimurti’s killed him, the demon was so huge, his legs fell in Pithapuram and his head fell in Bihar (Siro gaya) and waist at Jajpur, Odisha (Nabhi gaya).
The place where the demon legs fell is a pond so the pond is known as Pada Gaya. Hence, there is belief that whoever take bath in this pond gets relieved from all the sins.
The temple is also known as Sri kukkuteshwara as the Lord Shiva transformed himself here in the form on cock.
Puruhutika Devi Kshetram
Within the Sri Kukkuteswara Swamy Temple grounds lies the other main temple of Puruhutika Devi.
It is a Shakti Peetha of Asta Dasha, due to the fact that the rear portion of Goddess Sati Devi’s corpse landed here during the Daksha Yagna.
This location was once known as Puruhoothika Puram before being renamed Peetika Puram and finally changed to Pithapuram.
Out of the 18 Shakti Peethas, this temple is regarded as the tenth Sakthi Peetham.
On the walls of the Puruhutika Devi temple, there were sculptures of Ashtadesa Shaktipeeths. Devi’s idol has four hands.
As per the magha purana, Puruhuthudu (Indra) was the who first worshipped devi here, hence the Goddess got the name Puruhutika devi.
One can visit Kalabhairava after the goddess darshanam, who is a kshetra palaka of the Goddess.
Sri Pada Vallabha Swamy Kshetram
Another ancient temple in this Kukkuteshwara swamy temple premises is the Swayambhu Dattatreya Swamy temple.
As per the puranas, Sumati and Appaldas sharma who lived here daily worshipped Dattatreya Swamy to have a son.
Dattareya Swamy was impressed and was born to them as Sri Pada Vallabha Swamy under Audambara pruksham.
Other deities in the temple
Around the temple are shrines of Sri Rama along with Sita and Lakshman, Bharata Shatrugyna, Hanuman in Ramalayam, Datta Panchakam.
Hari Hara Suta Ayyappa swamy and Sri Raja Rajeshwari devi temple.
The footprints of Lord Vishnu can be seen in the temple.
As we enter into the temple, people take a holy dip in the pada gaya and visit Chintamani Ganapti who is among Ashta Ganpati’s. Near to this there is Ramalayam.
After that we can visit Jagad guru sri Aadi Shankara Charya and Sri Raja Rajeshwari temple which Shankara Charya Inaugrated.
Sahasra Kumkumarchana and Mahanivedani is done to Sri Raja Rajeshwari here.
Another significant temple in the community is Kunti Madhavaswamy Temple, which is close to Kukkuteswara Temple.
Since Kunti is credited with placing the image here, his name is Kunti Madhavaswamy. It is stated that in the past, Vyasa, Valmiki, and Agastya worshipped this divinity.
Daily Puja/ Seva’s of Kukkuteshwara Swamy
| Seva |
Timings |
| Maha Niveedanam |
12:30 pm |
| Dharshanam |
4:30 pm |
| Dhoopaseva |
6:00 pm |
| Nivedanam, Neerajanam, Mantra pushpam, Darbaruseva, Pavalimpu seva |
7:30 pm |
Daily Puja/seva’s of Puruhuthika devi
| Seva |
Timings |
| Sahasra Kumkumarchana |
6:30 am |
| Maha Nivedhana |
12:30 pm |
Daily puja/Seva’s of Rajarajeshwari Ammavaru
| Seva |
Timings |
| Sahasra Kumkumarchana |
6:00 pm |
| Maha Nivedhana |
12:30 pm |
Cost of Puja/Seva’s
| Seva |
Cost |
| Antaralaya Darshanam |
20/- |
| Mahanyasa Poorvakabhishekam |
50/- |
| Sahasra Namarchana |
30/- |
| Ekadasa Rudrabhishekam |
150/- |
| Tailabhishekam |
50/- |
| Pinda Pradanam |
75/- |
| Laksha Bilvarchana |
250/- |
| Laksha Kumkumarchana |
250/- |
| Homam |
150/- |
| Parayanam/Japam |
60/- |
| Kesakandana |
10/- |
| Namakarnam |
20/- |
| Maladharana/Irumudi |
20/- |
| Navagraha Shanti |
20/- |
| Musivayanam |
20/- |
| Special Darshanam (ordinary days) |
20/- |
| Special Darshanam (Special days) |
40/- |
Festivals
The important festivals observed at this temple are Kaartika Masam, Sarannavarathri, and Maha Shivaratri.
During the Dussehra season, the temple celebrates Devi Navarathri.
Here, many annual festivals are observed for various deities, including Palguna for Kumaraswamy, Suddha Ekadasi for Kunti Madhava, and Maghabahula Ekadasi for Kukkuteswara.
How to reach
To reach the temple, nearest railway station is Pithapuram railway station 1.7 kms.
By bus, the nearest bus station is Pithapuram 1km
By Air, the nearest airport is Vijayawada 142 km and Rajahmundry 56km.
