Puruhutika Devi Temple

Puruhutika devi was worshiped by Lord Indra. Once Indra has cheated Ahalya (wife of Gautama maharshi) in the form of Gautama and was cursed by the Maharshi. Indra lost his testes 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 there after. 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 testes. 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. Pithapuram is also known as Dakshina Kasi.
Pithapuram is formerly called as Pithikapuram / Pushkara kshetram in Puranas and Tantras.
Pithapuram is home to a dynasty. The Pithapuram Kings ruled the area for long. They 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.

Idol of Puruhutika devi
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. Previously there were two sects of Upasakas in Pithapuram worshiping Puruhootika devi. The first one calling her as Puruhootha Lakshmi (Meditating on Kamala and Madhu patra) and worshiping in Samayachara and the second one calling her Puruhoothamba (Meditating on Parashu and Beeja) and worshiping in Vamachara. There is also a tale that the original statue of Puruhutika devi was buried under the temple which was worshiped by them.

The entrance of this temple is in the north. As one enters this temple, one can see a huge gopuram which has been beautifully sculpted and which oversees a pond- Pada Gaya Sarovar (a sacred pond). Pilgrims first sprinkle the holy water from this pond as it relieves oneself from all their sins. After entering the temple one can see the big sized Pada Mudrikas(imprints) of Gaya Asura beside the Dhwaja Sthambha. In the north side of the temple, there is a shrine of Sri Chandeeshwara Swamy. In the north-east corner, there is a shrine of Kala Bhairava, who is the Kshetra Palaka (protector). An ancient temple of Lord Subrahmanyam is present in the north-west which relieves pilgrims of their Kuja Dosha.

In the south is Sri Siddi Ganapathi temple. In the south-east is the temple of Gaya Pada Vishnu Pada. In the south-west is the temple of Sri Guru Dattatreya. This is the only shrine with the idol of Sri Guru Dattatreya. There ia Audambara Vriksha (Banyan Tree) beside the shrine. It is also said that those who see, touch, do pradakshina or meditate near the Audumbara Vriksha will be the most fortunate of all. The Padukas (foot imprints) which are present beside the shrine is believed to be the real Padukas of Sri Sripada Vallabha Swamy.
The main temple is in the middle of the premises. There is a huge but beautiful idol of Nandi (bull) made from a single stone in front of the temple. The Shiva Linga which is in the form of a cock’s head is known as Sri Kukkuteshwara Swamy. The shrine of Sri Rajarajeswari, consort of Sri Kukkuteshwara Swamy, is present beside the Shiva temple.

There are other shrines of various gods like Sri Rama, Ayyappa, Sri Vishveshwara and Sri Annapurna Devi, Sri Durga Devi. It is beside Sri Durga shrine, is the shrine of Sri Puruhootika Devi.

There is also a temple named Kunthi Madhava temple in the town of Pithapuram. This temple is one of the Pancha (five) Madhava temples which Lord Indra created to get rid of the sin of killing Vriddhasura.