Pada Gaya
(IPLTOURS)
We are narrating the story behind back to the self manifest of Kukkuteswara Swamy along with his consort Puruhoothika,10th among the Astadasa Sakthi Peeth in Pithapuram of East Godavari District in Andhra Pradesh.
The left hand of Sati said to be fallen in the holy place of Pithapuram in East Godavari District and it became famous and the 10th Sakthi Peet as Puruhuthika. Sage Vyasa narrated about the holy place in the 3rd Khanda of Skanda Purana, one among the Eighteen Puranas. The famous poet Srinadha in Bheemeswara Purana third chapter stated that Varanasi (Banaras), Kedaram (Kedarnath), Kumbhakonam and Kukkuteswara Kshetram (Pithapuram) are the four holy places give Solvation to the souls. The holy place, one among the three Gaya Kshetrams, in which the body parts of Sati, fell famous as Pada Gaya Kshetram. This is one among the ancient holy Shiva Kehteram. Shiva envisage here in the form of Kukkuteswara on the request of a demon Gayasura. Pilgrims will be getting free from all their sins and worries, gives salvation to the souls of their ancestors and fulfill all their desires with darshan of this holy place.
Gayasura, a good demon by nature made severe yoga and Vishnu appeared before him. Gayasura asked boon to consider his body as most cleansed than the rivers and obtained the boon. The human beings and other creatures used to release from their sins with the air spread and from the darshan of Gayasura. Gayasura performed Asvamedha and so may Yagnas. He has conducted hundred Yagnas and entitled to be king of Swarga. Gayasura occupies the throne of Indra and throw away Indra from his throne. Indra made severe yoga about Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva and prayed for boon to kill Gayasura, stating that people facing difficulties from his followers due to which they could not perform Yagas. The Gods could not get the offerings and becoming weak.
Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva decide to kill Gayasura in any manner and came to Gayasura in the form of Brahmins. They informed to Gayasura that they are performing Yaga for seven days, they require site to perform the Yaga, and the earth could not bear the Yaga and requested the body of Gayasura as platform for their Yaga, as his body blessed to be the most powerful on earth as blessed by Lord Vishnu. They requested the body of Gayasura for seven days with a condition that he could not move his body till completion of the Yaga failing which they kill him. Gayasura agreed to the condition. He has prayed to start their Yaga and expand his body putting his head in Gaya of Bihar State, Naval in Jajpur of Orissa State and Feet in Pithapuram of Andhra Pradesh. Lord Vishnu at Head, Brahma at Naval and Shiva at Feet started the Yaga. Gayasura has not moved his body with his Yoga and calculated the number of days with exclamation of fowl. After completion of 6 days, Indra again prayed Brahma, Vishnu and Siva.
On the seventh day, in the midnight, Shiva made noise of exclamation of fowl. Gayasura felt the period was completed and moved his body. Brahma, Vishnu and Sivaa informed that he has moved without completion of their Yaga and they will kill him. Gayasura with his divine vision found everything happened and requested to kill him. Trimurthi asked his last wish to fulfil as boon. Gayasura prayed that the three parts of his body in Gaya, Jajpur and Pithapuram have to become famous as Three Gaya Kshetrams after his death, that Brahma Vishnu and Siva should live in the three Kshetras, that the three and Kshetrams have to be identified as Sakthi Peets, Funeral function and Pitrukarma performed in these Kshetrams gives the soul Solvation to the souls. Mangala Gowri Sakthi Peeth and Vishnu Padams in Shiro Gaya of Bihar State, Girija Devi Sakthi Peeth and Brahma in Nabhi Gaya in Jajpur of Orissa State and Puruhoothika Sakthi Peeth with Kukkuteswara Swamy in Pada Gayya of Pithpuram in East Godavari District are famous as Three Gaya (Thrigaya) Kshetrams. The five namely Siro Gaya (Bihar), Nabhi Gaya (Orissa), Pada Gaya (Andhra Pradesh), Mathru Gaya (Siddhapur, Gujarat) and Brahmakapal (Badarinath, Uttarakhand) are the five Mukthi Kshetrams to our ancestors.
There is Pond at the entrance of the Temple premises. Pilgrims take bath in the Pond and enter into the Temple. There is Kukkuteswara Swamy Temple on the right side of the Pond. Puruhuthika Sakthi Peet is on the North East corner to Kukkuteswara Swamy Temple and facing Southern side. Though the temple of Puruhutika Devi is small and there are idols of Ashtadasa Sakthi Peets crafted on the walls of the temple. The original idol was buried and the present temple constructed.
The temple kept open from 5-30AM to 9-00PM in all days. Pilgrims may travel to Pithapuram directly in some express trains and may drop at Samlkota and travel by road to reach the temple. Rajamahendravaram is the nearest Air Port and may reach to this temple by road from Rajamahendravaram. There are Medium Hotels for meals and accommodation. Priests are available at the temple to perform Pinda Pradhan to the ancestors of the pilgrims in Pada Gaya.
Pinda pradhan ancestor souls Nirvan
