Puruhutika Devi

Puruhutika Devi is one of the the Ashtadasa Shaktipeethas. It is believed that the Seat of Sati devi has fallen here when Lord Vishnu has cut her corpse with Sudarshana Chakra. Devi Sati is worshipped as Puruhutika and Lord Shiva as Kukkuteswara Swamy. The temple of Puruhutika devi is located within the temple campus of Kukkuteswara swamy. It is located in Pithapuram of Andhra Pradesh.

                Kukkuteswara swamy temple is present in the outskirts of the Pithapuram village towards Kakinada. It is a big temple. Just entering in to the temple we'll see a pond which is called as Padagaya sarovaram (Pada Gaya Sarovar). Pilgrims will take holy bath in this pond. Main temple of Kukkuteswara swamy is present towards the right side of the pond. Puruhutika devi temple is present in the North-East corner of the Kukkuteswara swamy temple. It is constructed facing south. Puruhutha temple is small but looks very nice with the carvings of Ashtadasa Shakti peethas on its walls. It is believed that the original statue of devi is buried under the temple in the same place.

Puruhutika Devi is in a standing position. The idol is made of granite and is adorned with jewels, a Kirit and robed in silks. The idol of Puruhuthika devi has four hands. They contain bag of seeds (Beeja), axe (Parashu), lotus (Kamala) and a dish (Madhu patra) from lower-right to lower-left in order.

Puruhuti Sati mata pithikapurasamsthita |

Putravatpalita devi bhaktanugrahadayini ||

                Kukkuteswara Swamy is a Swayambu (self-manifested) Spatika Linga in the sanctum Sanctorum. The Lord is in a cock form at the temple. There is wing like structure besides the idol of Kukkuteswara Swamy. There is also a huge Eka Shila Nandi in front of the idol of Lord Shiva. The Nandi is the second biggest after Lepakshi Basaveshwara. This complex has a Sarovar after taking bath people offer prayers to their ancestors, as this temple complex is called Pada Gaya. It has Gayasura's Padas (Feet) and Vishnu Padas (Feet). Gayasura's body was cut in three portions and out of that Head has fallen at Siro Gaya (Called Gaya in Bihar) Below chest (Nabhi) portion has fallen in Nabhi Gaya (Jajpur in Orissa)and the Legs (Padas) have fallen here hence called Pada Gaya. Pithapuram has three famous temples: Kunthi Madhavaswami temple, Kukkuteswara Swami Temple and the Puruhutika Sakthi Peetam.

History:-

Once Indra has cheated Ahalya (wife of Gautama maharshi) in the form of Gautama and was cursed by the Maharshi. Indra lost his testis and got the symbols of Yoni all over his body. He felt very sad and prąyed Gautama a lot. Finally the Rishi accepted and told that the Yoni symbols will look like eyes, so that Indra will be called as Sahasraksha thereafter. But Indra lost his testes. He wanted to regain them. He left his kingdome, came to Piithika puri and did Tapasya for Jaganmata. After a long time Jaganmata appeared before him and blessed him with wealth and testis. Indra was very happy and prąyed her as Puruhutika devi (One who was worshiped by Indra).

                After a very long time Jagadguru Sripada vallabha took birth in Pithapuram. He too worshiped Puruhutika devi and realized his self. He is an incarnation of Dattatreya.