Pithapuram

Pithapuram పిఠాపురం
Town
Clockwise from Top Left: Kukkuteswara and Padagaya Temple Complex, Pithapuram Railway Station, Ratnachal Express Speeding through Pithapuram Railway Station, Fields near Pithapuram, Landscape View at Pithapuram, Kunti Madhavaswamy Temple
Pithapuram Location in Andhra Pradesh, India
Coordinates: 17°07′00″N 82°16′00″E / 17.1167°N 82.2667°ECoordinates: 17°07′00″N 82°16′00″E / 17.1167°N 82.2667°E
Country	India
State	Andhra Pradesh
District	East Godavari
Area[1]
• Total	41.13 km^2 (15.88 sq mi)
Elevation	10 m (30 ft)
Population (2011)[2]
• Total	52,360
• Density	1,300/km^2 (3,300/sq mi)
Languages
• Official	Telugu
Time zone	IST (UTC+5:30)

Pithapuram or Peetha Puram is a town and a municipality in East Godavari district in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh.

Pithapuram railway station is on the Chennai–Howrah Railway line. Pithapuram is famous for its Ancient Hindu temples. Pithapuram was previously known as Puruhoothika puram and later known as Pithikapuram. Pithapuram is also known as Dakshina Kasi (or the Kasi of the south). During Satavahana era it was known as Pistapura.

Geography

Pithapuram is located at 17°07′00″N 82°16′00″E / 17.1167°N 82.2667°E.^[3] It has an average elevataion of 10 meters (33 feet). It is located near several beaches though not one in particular. It is in between 2 major cities; Kakinada and Rajahmundry. Pitapuram though is landlocked town and most of the economic activity takes place in Kakinada.14 km away from bay of Bengal.Pithapuram is also well known for the The CBM Christian Medical Centre which was started by Missionary Doctor Dr. E. Smith.

Demographics

As of 2011 Census of India, the town had a population of 52,360. The total population constitute, 25,891 males, 26,469 females and 5,116 children, in the age group of 0–6 years. The average literacy rate stands at 75.00% with 35,434 literates, higher than the national average of 73.00%.^[2][4]

Transport

Pithapuram railway station is classified as a D–category stations in the Vijayawada railway division of South Central Railway zone.^[5]

Temples

• Kukkuteshwara Swamy temple – The most famous temple at Pithapuram is that of Lord Shiva. Lord Shiva is known as Kukkuteshwara Swamy here. The consort of Kukkuteshwara Swamy is known as Raja Rajeswari. There is the temple of Puruhutika Devi inside the campus of this temple. It is one of the Asta Dasa Shakti Pithas. Maha Shivaratri, Sarannavarathri and Kaartika Masam are the main festivals celebrated at this temple.
• Kunthi Madhava Swami Temple – It is one of the pancha madava skathra (others being one at Prayaga (U.P), Sundara Padmanabha in Kerala, Sethu Madhava at Rameswaram in Tamil Nadu.) This temple was established by Lord Indra and was worshipped by Sri Rama in Treta Yuga and Kunthi and Pandavas in Dwapara Yuga.
• Sripada Srivallbha Mahasansthanam- Temple of ShriPaadha ShriVallabha,considered as one of the Avatars (incarnations) of the deity Shri Dattatreya in kaliyuga.
• Sri Viswa Viznana Vidya Adhyatmika Peetham, – Established in 1472 AD in India,working for National Integration and Communal Harmony.

Pithapuram Temple

It is a Hindu temple, devoted to Lord Kukkuteshwara Swamy

Shakti Peetham

The Puruhutika devi Temple (Puruhutika Peetham) inside the Kukkudeshwara Temple is a Shakti Peetha where Sati (goddess)'s Left hand fell. The etymology of the location (Peetha Puram or Pithapuram) comes associated with the presence of this Shakti Peetha in the area.^[6] Daksha Yaga the mythology depicted in puranas is considered as the main theme in the origin of the idea of Shakti Peethas.^[7][8][9]

• uppada center is the main center of pithapuram from where kakinada and uppada roads are connected.

References

1. "Municipalities, Municipal Corporations & UDAs" (PDF). Directorate of Town and Country Planning. Government of Andhra Pradesh. Archived from the original (PDF) on 28 January 2016. Retrieved 28 January 2016.
2. "Census 2011". The Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India. Retrieved 24 August 2014.
3. Falling Rain Genomics.Pithapuram
4. "Chapter–3 (Literates and Literacy rate)" (PDF). Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India. Retrieved 24 August 2014.
5. "Vijayawada Division - A Profile" (PDF). South Central Railway. Retrieved 19 January 2016.
6. Pithapuram Puruhutika, Rajahmundry tour : 18 Shakti peeth
7. (Translator), F. Max Muller (June 1, 2004). The Upanishads, Vol I. Kessinger Publishing, LLC. ISBN 1419186418.
8. (Translator), F. Max Muller (July 26, 2004). The Upanishads Part II: The Sacred Books of the East Part Fifteen. Kessinger Publishing, LLC. ISBN 1417930160.
9. "Kottiyoor Devaswam Temple Administration Portal". http://kottiyoordevaswom.com/. Kottiyoor Devaswam. Retrieved 20 July 2013. External link in |work= (help)

Temple