About Kukkuteswara Swamy Temple
Kukkuteswara Swamy Temple Pithapuram in Andhrapradesh become famous as Padagaya. The primal deity of this is Lord Shiva in the form of Cock. This Shakti Peetham is famous for the name Puruhutika.
Padagaya Kshetram Tenth Shakti Peeta in Astadasa Shakti Peethas., situated at Pithapuram, from the third chapter of Bheema Khanda and of Skanda Purana and As the seat place(Peetha) of Satidevi has fallen on this, so it is called Pithapuram.
The great poet, Srinadha wrote in the third chapter of Bheemeswara Purana in the following ways. The four places that give salvation or Moksha are Varanasi (Banaras), Kedaram, Kumbhakonam, and Pithapuram which is known as Padagaya Kshetram.
Sri Puruhutika Ammavaru/Amman: Once Daksha Prajapati belonged to the moon dynasty made Lord Shiva his son-in-law by offering his eldest daughter Satidevi and there was a dispute between Lord Shiva and Dakshaprajapati. So, wanted to perform a Yaga without Lord Shiva in Kukkuteswara Swamy Temple.
He invited Yaksha, Garuda, Gandharva, Kinnera, Kimpurusha, Maharshi’s, and devas except for Lord Shiva. On hearing this Satidevi felt sad and wanted to know the cause for it. She loved her parents. Sridevi went to Yaaga uninvited and was disgraced and left her life near Yaga. After the destruction of Daksha Yaga, Lord Siva took the dead body of Sridevi on his shoulders and was wandering in the world. For the of the universe, Vishnu divided the body of Sridevi into 18 pieces with his Sudarshana Chakram.
One-piece fell into Lanka(Ceylon) and the remaining 17 pieces fell in India and the 18 parts are treated as 18 Shakti Peethas.
Sri Raja Rajeswari Devi: There is a mesmerizing Creaper in the Kukkuteswara Swamy Temple. This creeper doesn’t have any leaves, but if performed poojas to this Creaper, it is believed that it fulfills all our desires. She is also called Kumara Gananadhamba as she sits in between her two sons Kumara Swamy on one side and Lord Ganesha on the other side.
This holy place was visited by Lord Vishnu and Lord Brahma in Kruthayuga and lord Rama in Tretayuga and Dwaparayuga Kunthi Devi along with her sons Pandavas and Vyasa Maharishi visited this place.
Sri Kukkuteshwara Swamy: On the request of Lord Vishnu and Lord Brahma, Lord Shiva has taken the form of a cock to kill the demon Gayasura. According to the boon given to Gayasura by Trimurthys lord Shiva has transformed into Shiva linga from the Cock after Gayasura`s death. He is being worshipped as Kukkuteswara Swamy Temple in Pitapuram.
Sri Dattatreya Swami: The son of the sage Atri and the holy lady Anasuya was Dattatreya, having three forms of the lord`s Brahma, Vishnu, and Maheswara. He was born in Paadagaya Kshetra, as mentioned in the fifth chapter of Gurucharita written by Sree Vasudevada Saraswati.
In the delta plain of the Eela river, in Pithapuram Kshetram there lived Sumati and Appalaraju sarma Shrotriya Brahmin couple. They practiced Vedic karmas with holiness. Sri Raja Simha Sharma made sacrifices to satisfy devas, forefather sages, and Brahmins. Sumathi also followed her husband in all aspects, doing the service of her husband as a truly devoted wife by Purvajanmakarma, they had no children. The two sons born karma to them were blind, deaf, and dumb. So, they were feeling sad. They always worshipped Dattadevi in Padagaya Kshetram with utter devotion. One day, the annual ceremony of his father came. Sumathi was preparing everything for that ceremony.
To test them Dattatreya came in the guise of a sage for Bhiksha. At that time, Raja Simha Sharma was not in the house, Sumathi gave bhiksha to the sage without thinking break of the ceremony. Dattatreya was pleased very for that and asked Sumathi to ask for any boon. Then Sumathi requested him to be born as their son. He granted that boon as they were his true devotees. Afterward, Raja Simha Sharma came and knew this news and felt glad. He thought that it was not an error to give bhiksha and it would satisfy his forefathers. Then they finished the ceremony.
Hence, Dattatreya was born as their son Sri Paada Srivallabha to Sumathi and Raja Simha Sharma couple. He took sannyasa in boyhood, he removed the physically handicapped nature of his brothers at his mothers’ request. He showed Jnanayoga to the devotees and fulfilled their desires. By his powers, he made foolish people into wise men, the poor into the rich, blessed the couples without children, karma and gave them children, ordinary people into lords. Sripada Sri Vallabha was born in Paadagaya Kshetram.
Timings to visit Kukkuteswara Swamy Temple
07:30 AM – 12:30 PM | 04:30 PM – 08:30 PM
Puja’s/Seva’s
| S.No | Pooja/Sevas | Cost |
| 1 | Antaralaya Darshnam (Ordinary Days) | Rs 20/- |
| 2 | Mahanyasa Poorvakabhishekam | Rs 50/- |
| 3 | Sahasra Namarchana | Rs 30/- |
| 4 | Ekadasa Rudrabhishekam | Rs 150/- |
| 5 | Tailabhishekam | Rs 50/- |
| 6 | Pinda Pradanam | Rs 75/- |
| 7 | Laksha Bilvarchana | Rs 250/- |
| 8 | Laksha Kumkumarchana | Rs 250/- |
| 9 | Homam | Rs 150/- |
| 10 | Parayanam/ Japam | Rs 60/- |
| 11 | Kesakandana | Rs 10/- |
| 12 | Namakaranam | Rs 20/- |
| 13 | Maladharana/ Irumudi | Rs 20/- |
| 14 | Navagraha Shanti | Rs 20/- |
| 15 | Musivayanam | Rs 20/- |
| 16 | Pratyeka Darshanam (Ordinary Days) | Rs 20/- |
| 17 | Visista Darshnam (Special Days) | Rs 40/ |
Sri Kukkuteswara Swamy Nitya Puja’s/Seva’s
| Timings | Pooja/Sevas |
| 12.30 PM | Maha Niveedhanam |
| 4.30 PM | Dharshanam |
| 6.00 PM | Dhoophaseva |
| 7.30 PM | Nivedhanam, Neerajanam, Mantra pushpam, Darbaruseva, Pavalimpu seva. |
Sri Rajarajeswari Ammavari Nitya Pooja/Sevas
| Timings | Pooja/Sevas |
| 6.00 PM | Sahasra Kumkumarchana |
| 12.30 PM | Maha Nivedhana |
Sri Puruhuthikammavari Nitya Pooja/Sevas
| Timings | Pooja/Sevas |
| 6.30 am | Sahasra Kumkumarchana |
| 12.30 pm | Maha Nivedhana |
How to reach Kukkuteswara Swamy Temple
By Air: Vijayawada – 142 km, Rajahmundry – 56 km
By Train: Pithapuram Railway Station – 1.7 km
By Road: Pithapuram Bus station – 1 km.
Temple Contact Number : 08869 – 251445
Address
Kukkuteswara Swamy Temple Devasthanam, Padagaya Kshetram, Pithapuram, 533450, East Godavari, Andhra Pradesh, India.
Official Website Of Kukkuteswara Swamy Temple
Also Read Place To Visit In And Around East Godavari
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