For famous Playback singer see Pithapuram Nageswara Rao

పిఠాపురం Pithapuram
—  town  —
పిఠాపురం Pithapuram Location of పిఠాపురం Pithapuram in Andhra Pradesh and India
Coordinates	17°07′00″N 82°16′00″E / 17.1167°N 82.2667°E / 17.1167; 82.2667Coordinates: 17°07′00″N 82°16′00″E / 17.1167°N 82.2667°E / 17.1167; 82.2667
Country	India
State	Andhra Pradesh
District(s)	East Godavari
Population	55,340 (2009[update])
Time zone	IST (UTC+05:30)
Area • Elevation	• 10 metres (33 ft)

Pithapuram (Telugu: పిఠాపురం) 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 (పురుహూతికా పురం) and later known as Pithikapuram (పీఠికా పురం). Pithapuram is also known as Dakshina Kasi.

Geography[link]

Pithapuram is located at 17°07′00″N 82°16′00″E / 17.1167°N 82.2667°E / 17.1167; 82.2667.^[1] It has an average elevataion of 10 meters (36 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.

Demographics[link]

As of the 2001^[update] India census,^[2] Pitapuram had a population of 50,103 Males constitute 49% of the population and females 51%. Pitapuram has an average literacy rate of 61%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 66%, and female literacy is 57%. In Pitapuram, 11% of the population is under 6 years of age.

History[link]

The earlist name of Pithapuram was Peetikapuram.The Area passed into the hands of the Vishnukundina during the rule of Vikramendravarma I. They ruled for over two centuries from the first quarter of the 5th Century A.D. The records discovered indicate that their dominion extended over Vishakhapatnam, West Godavari, Krishna and Guntur besides the present East Godavari district. Ranadurjaya, a member of the Durjaya family, ruled pistapuram or Pithapuram as a Vassal of Vikramendravarma in recognition of his services to the State. Another Vishnukundina ruler Indrabhattaraka, defeated the rulers of Vasishta Gotrikas and re-established his authority over this region. His success was, however, short-lived. The early Gangas of Kalinga with the support of some petty rulers, completely routed Indrabhattaraka's army. This resulted in Vishnukundin's power suffering a severe set-back. Indrabhattaraka was followed on the throne by a few others belonging to the same family. madhavavarma III was the last important ruler of this family. Madhavavarma III was, however, killed in a battle. He was succeeded by his son, Manchannabhattaraka who strove hard to maintain his hold over the ancestral dominion without much success.

Later, the western Chalukya ruler of Badami, Pulakesin II, with the help of his brother Kubjavishnu, attacked Pistapura and emerged victorious. Kubjavishnu was given the newly acquired territories in the east, in token of appreciation of the services rendered by him.

The rulers of Eastern Chalukya dynasty founded by Kubjavishnu, ruled first from Pistapura, next from Vengi and then from Rajamahendri (Rajahmundry). Chalukya Bhima I, who ruled furing A.D.892-921, built a temple in honour of Siva at Draksharama. In the subsequent period which marked a civil war for power, Amma I, son of Vijayaditya IV, came out victorious and ruled the kingdom for seven years. He was succeeded by his son Vijayaditya V, who was ousted from power within a fortnight of his accession. He was compelled to take refuge in the fort of Pithapuram, where he founded a dynasty.

After this Koppula Prolaya Nayaka of the Kapu Caste ruled Pistapuram under the Kakateeya rulers and when the Kakateeyas were defeated. He was part of the Confederation of Nayaks who revolted against the Sultans and drove them out of Warangal. His descendants are still in various villages in East Godavari District. He became independent rulers one the Musunuri Nayaks were eastablished on the throne of Warangal.

Pithapuram was also ruled by Velogoti family of the Velama Caste and was a samasthanam during the British rules they were closely linked to the Venakatagiri Velama Families..

Pithapuram Raja(King) is a Freedom fighter

Background[link]

The Pithapuram Zamindar established the Pithapuram Raja Government Degree College in Kakinada. These Kings also gave lands to the missionaries for the establishment of a century old humanitarian hospital (Christian Medical Centre).

Missionaries of the Canadian Baptist Mission established their medical enterprise here in the form of the famed hospital Christian Medical Centre. CMC, Pithapuram was known for its quick and healing touch since the eighteenth century.

Pitapuram is also famous in Andhra Pradesh for the Sri Surya Ayurvedic Nilayam.Manufacturing Authentic Sastric and proprietary Ayurvedic Medicines since 1926,SAN has branches throughout Andhra Pradesh and agencies in Karnataka,Kerala,Gujarat and Rajasthan.This is the second company to get GMP license in AndhraPradesh. The Palanki Family owns the Sri Surya Ayurvedic Nilayam. The headquarters of the company is in Pitapuram.

Writers, Poets, and Famous People from Pithapuram[link]

• Mokkapati Narasimha Sastry
• Adipudi Somanatha Rao
• Devulapalli Krishna Sastry

The Palanki Family[link]

The Palanki Family owns the Sri Surya Ayurvedic Nilayam (est. 1926). It is one of the largest Ayurvedic companies in South India. The Sri Surya Ayurvedic Nilayam has traditional Ayurvedic remedies passed down by the Palanki Family. The Sri Surya Ayurvedic Nilayam is currently owned by Sitharamiah Palanki. The Palanki Family is a Brahmin family and has descended from a large town (or small kingdom) called Palanki. Sri Cherukupalli Venkateswarlu: Prominent Vedapandit. Sri Cherukupalli Venkateswarlu was a famous vedapandit and honoured as Yaatra Kesari. He was a popural purohit around the AP and other states.

Temples[link]

• 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.SRI VASAVI KANYAKAPARAMESWARI TEMPLE (KOTAGUMMAM)

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, Biraja Temple Jajpur in Orissa and the Legs (Padas) have fallen here hence called Pada Gaya.

Swayambhu Sri Dattatreya Swamy is also in the Temple Complex. Sripada Srivallbha Swamy's idol is worshipped separately in the same complex. It is the only place where an idol of Sri Datta incarnation is worshipped. Rest of the two places Kurugadda and Ganaga puram Swamy's padukas are being worshipped.

Recently in April 2008, another temple Akhanda Datta Brundavan has been constructed as Saibaba is the main Idol with his earlier incarnations namely Sri Pada Srivallbha Swamy(Pithapuram), Sri Nrusimha Saraswathi swamy(Ganagapur in Karnataka (Near Gulbarga,) Shri Swami Samarth (Akkalkot Maharaj)in Maharashtra, Sri Manik Prabhu (Humanabad,Bidar in Karnataka) (near to Hyderabad). This temple was inaugurated with the pious hands of Guruji Chandra Bhanu Satpathy Ji of Chatrapur, New Delhi near to famous Qutub Minar.

• Sripada Sri Vallabha Samsthanam (dated around 14th century). It is the birth place of Sripada Sri Vallabha, the first incarnation of Dattaatreya swamy, the divine Guru. It is believed that even today he seeks bhiksha in various forms during the noon time at Pithapuram.
• Venu Gopala Swamy 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 From then on this Madhava Kshetra is known as Kunthi Madhava Kshetra. Maharshi Vedavyasa visited this temple.

• Sripada Vallabha Anagha Datta Kshethram (Constructed by Sri Ganapathi Sachidananda Ashram)
• Nukalamma Temple (Grama Devatha)
• Kukka Pamu Gudi ( Seethayyagari thota)
• Ramakovela (Mangayamma Rao Peta)
• Venkateswaraswami Temple (near Kukkuteshwara Swamy temple)
• Kothi Gudi (near market)
• Sanyasiralla Gudi (near market)
• Vinayakudi Gudi (near Kota gummam)
• Sai baba Gudi (near Chinna Post Office)
• Gali gangalamma temple (near old bus stand)
• Puruhutika ammavaru (near old bus stand )
• Kota Sattemma Talli Gudi (Seethayyagari thota)
• Sri Kodanda Ramalayam (Pakshula Marri Street)
• Sri Viswa Viznana Vidya Adhyatmika Peetham, Near Old Bus Stand - Established in 1472 AD in India,working for National Integration and Communal Harmony.

Organizations[link]

Center For Anarchist Studies (C.A.S) PRAJA (people's revolutionary anarchist judicial association) Sahrudaya Mitra Mandali, an welfare organization Jana Vigyana Vedika, an organization working for scientific temper A to Z voluntary blood donate organization Spandinche Hrudayam , welfare organization Sree Pada Karunalayam, real place for real humanity Umar Alisha Rural Development Trust is a Voluntary organization working for the overall development of the rural areas.

Cricket grounds[link]

• Rajivi Gandhi school ground
• RRBHR Cricket Ground
• Rajugari Kota
• Dulla Santa
• bindhumadhava stadiums

See also[link]

• Kakinada

References[link]

• Main reference: Shreeram Balijepalli's researched articles in Dattatreyam Yahoo Group.

External links[link]

• Pithapuram map at Wikimapia.
• Temples in Pithapuram

v t e Hindu holy cities India Char Dham Badrinath (Badrinath Temple) Dwarka (Dwarakadheesh Temple) Puri (Jagannath Temple) Rameswaram (Ramanathaswamy Temple) Ashtavinayaka Morgaon (Moreshwar) Lenyadri (Girijatmaj) Pali (Ballaleshwar) Mahad (Varadvinayak) Ranjangaon (Mahaganapati) Siddhatek (Siddhivinayak) Ozar (Vighneswar) Theur (Chintamani) Jyotirlinga Prabhas Patan (Somnath) Srisailam (Mallikājuna) Ujjain (Mahakaleshwar) Omkareshwar (Omkareshwar) Deogarh District (Vaidyanath) Bhorgiri (Bhimashankar) Rameswaram(Ramanathaswamy) Parali-Vaijanath(Nageshvara) Varanasi (Kashi Vishvanath) Trimbakeshwar (Trimbakeshwar) Kedarnath (Kedarnath) Daulatabad (near Grishneshwar) Others Allahabad Ambaji Arunachala Ayodhya Bhadrachalam Chidambaram Chitrakuta Dakor Deoghar Dharmasthala Gangotri Gaya Gokul Guruvayur Haridwar Jageshwar Kalahasti Kalighat Kanchipuram Kollur Madurai Mathura Nashik Nathdwara Pushkar Rishikesh Sabarimala Somnath Sringeri Srirangam Tirupati Tripunithura Udupi Vrindavan Yamunotri Nepal Kathmandu Janakpurdham Sri Lanka Kataragama