Kukkuteswara Temple

Kukkuteswara Temple
శ్రీ కుక్కుటేశ్వర దేవాలయం
Religion
Affiliation	Hinduism
District	Kakinada district
Deity	Kukkuteswara (Shiva) Rajarajeswari Devi Puruhutika Devi
Festivals	Maha Shivaratri, Navaratri
Location
Location	Pithapuram
State	Andhra Pradesh
Country	India
Location in Andhra Pradesh
Geographic coordinates	17°06′24.46″N82°14′36″E / 17.1067944°N 82.24333°E / 17.1067944; 82.24333

Kukkuteswara Temple is a Hindu temple in Pitapuram town of Kakinada district, Andhra Pradesh, India. The temple is prominent in both Saivite and Shakta Hindu traditions. It is one of the eighteen Maha Shakta pithas considered the most significant pilgrimage destinations in Shaktism. ^[1] The presiding deity of the temple is Lord Kukkuteswara, a form of Lord Siva as a rooster and his consort Rajarajeswari Devi. ^[2]

The temple of Puruhutika Devi, one of the Maha Shakta pithas is on the premises of Kukkuteswara Temple. Pithapuram is referred to in the Skanda Purana and in Srinatha's Bheemeswara Puranamu (c. 15th century) and also in Samudragupta's Prayaga stone pillar inscription (c. 350 CE). ^[3]

Location

It is located at a distance of 16 km (9.9 mi) from Kakinada, 45 km (28 mi) from Tuni, 65 km (40 mi) from Rajahmundry and 138 km (86 mi) from Visakhapatnam.

Temple

Kukuteswara Swamy is a Swayambhu with Spatika Lingam. The temple is also famous for its single-stone Nandi (Eka Sila Nandi in Telugu).

Festivals

Maha Sivaratri, Navaratri, and Karthika Masam are the main festivals celebrated at the temple. An annual festival is celebrated at the temple for Kukkuteswara called Maghabahula Ekadasi.

References

1. Moorthy, K. K. (1997). Sarvam Sakti Mayam: A Mini Compendium of 300 Sakti Temples. Message Publications. p. 40.
2. General, India Office of the Registrar (1962). Census of India, 1961: Andhra Pradesh. Manager of Publications.
3. Rao, P. R. Ramachandra (2005). The Splendour of Andhra Art. Akshara. p. 82.