Goddess Puruhutika temple is dedicated to Goddess Sati, a form of Goddess Puruhutika and Lord Shiva a manifestation of Lord Kukkuteswara. Here Goddess Sati left hand had fallen in this temple. The Goddess Sati’s temple is situated within the temple complex of Lord Kukkuteswara Swamy. Goddess Puruhutika Devi is located in the village Pithapuram which is 12km from Samalkota and 20km from Kakinada.

Lord Kukkuteswara Swamy temple is the ancient temple and Goddess Puruhutika temple is situated on the north eastern corner of the main temple facing south. At the enterance of the temple there is a pond known as “Padogaya Sarovaram”.  This is a holy pond and many devotees take a dip in the pond. 

Padagaya refers to the place where a body part of the demon Gayasura fell. Lord Brahma, Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva) killed the demon Gayasura and his head, trunk and legs fell at three different places. Head also known as Siro Gaya fell in Bihar, Trunk or Nabhi Gaya in Orissa and legs or Pada in Pithapuram. His legs which fell at Pithapuram turned into a water tank. Thus, the place gets its name as “Padagaya Kshetram”. Shraddha karma of the ancestors or departed souls is performed at this place.

How An Ancestors Perform Pujas To Goddess Puruhutika Devi

Goddess Puruhutika Devi is in a standing position. The idol of Goddess Puruhutika  is made of granite and is adorned with jewels, a Kirit and robed in silks. The deity has four hands and Starting from the lower right to the lower left, Goddess Devi’s lower right hand has a bag full of seeds, axe (Parashu), lotus and Madhu Patra. There are two sects of worshippers of Devi. The first worshipped the Devi as Puruhootha Lakshmi. She is meditating with a lotus and Madhu Patra in her hands. This sect followed the Samayachar form of worship. The second sect worshipped the Devi as Puruhoothamba. She is meditating with an axe (Parashu) and bag of seeds in her hands. This sect followed the Vamachara form of worship and the original deity was buried under the temple.

Lord 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 Lord 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.

Significance

In this temple devotees are offering prayers to Lord Kukkuteswara swamy and Goddess Puruhutika and performing daily rituals include, Snan, Abhisheka, Pushpa Alankar, Doop, Deep and Maha Naivedya to Kukkuteswara Swamy. In the evening, the rituals start with Dhoop Seva, Nivedhanam, Neeranjana, Mantra Pushpam, Darbar Seva and Pavalimpu Seva. Shani Trayodashi Puja is also offered to Lord Shiva. The main festival of Lord Shiva Maha Shivratri is celebrating in a great manner.

Benefits

• Triumph over foes.
• Bless disease free life
• Bless Material riches.
• Removes Negativities and spread positive energy
• Remove barriers in life.
• Bless for early marriage