About Puruhutika Devi Temple, Pithapuram
The tenth peetha of the Ashtadasha — Sati's left hand fell here — at Pithapuram in East Godavari district. The shrine adjoins the Kukkuteswara Swamy Shiva temple and shares its sacred tank, the Pada Gaya Sarovar, where pinda offerings are made for ancestors.
History
Pithapuram (ancient Pithikapuram) is one of the three Pada Gaya kshetras — the others being Gaya itself in Bihar and Pishachamochan in Varanasi — where ancestral pinda offerings are considered to grant moksha to forefathers. The local mythology says Indra (the king of the gods, called 'Puruhuta' or 'much-invoked') performed penance here after being cursed; Sati's left hand fell at the same spot, fusing the Devi shrine with the ancestral kshetra. The Puruhutika Devi shrine is therefore visited primarily by pilgrims performing pitru-paksha rites in the adjoining Pada Gaya Sarovar — the Devi is invoked first, then the pinda offering is made at the tank, then darshan is taken at the Kukkuteswara Swamy Shiva temple. The 9th-century Eastern Chalukyan temple was extensively rebuilt by the Vijayanagara empire in the 15th century. The 10th peetha in the stotram, 'Pithikayam Puruhutika'.
Best Time to Visit
November to February
Entry fees in your currency
- Standard pinda-daan rite₹1,500–₹3,000$…
- Tila Tarpana₹500$…
- Sankalpa Puja at Devi shrine₹250$…
Live INR rates, refreshed hourly. Confirm at the gate counter — entry fees may have changed since this page was updated.
Entry Fee · Tickets
How much does it cost to visit Puruhutika Devi Temple, Pithapuram?
Free temple entry. Pitru-paksha rituals charged by priest fees.
- Standard pinda-daan rite3-hour rite by registered priest at Pada Gaya Sarovar₹1,500–₹3,000
- Tila TarpanaAncestral water offering₹500
- Sankalpa Puja at Devi shrine₹250
- Open 6 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 4 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
- Monday and Friday are the goddess's days at the Devi shrine
- Pitru-paksha (mid-September to mid-October) sees the heaviest crowds
- Modest dress; men typically perform pinda-daan in dhoti
Plan your visit
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Travel Tips
- Pithapuram is 80 km from Visakhapatnam — 2-hour drive on NH-16; closest railhead is Pithapuram Road on the Howrah-Chennai main line
- The full pitru-paksha rite at Pada Gaya Sarovar takes 3–4 hours and requires a registered priest — book at the temple office on arrival
- Combine with Annavaram (50 km, Sri Veera Venkata Satyanarayana Swamy temple) and Draksharamam (70 km, the Manikyamba peetha + Bhimeswara temple)
- Avoid the Dakshinayana and Pitru Paksha (mid-September to mid-October) windows unless you specifically intend to perform shraddha — crowds are heavy
- Modest local hotels in Pithapuram; better stays in Kakinada (20 km) or Rajahmundry (60 km)
Temples & Heritage Sites
- Kukkuteswara Swamy Temple — adjoining Shiva shrine, sharing the tank
- Pada Gaya Sarovar — the ancestral-rite tank
- Annavaram Sri Veera Venkata Satyanarayana Swamy — 50 km
- Draksharamam Bhimeswara + Manikyamba — partner peetha, 70 km
How to Reach Puruhutika Devi Temple, Pithapuram
Puruhutika Devi Temple, Pithapuram is located in Andhra Pradesh, India at coordinates 17.115°N, 82.255°E. You can reach Puruhutika Devi Temple, Pithapuram by air (nearest airport in Andhra Pradesh), train, or road. Use YatraJunction's free fare calculator to compare live train, bus and flight prices, and to build an AI-powered itinerary tailored to your budget and travel dates.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the best time to visit Puruhutika Devi Temple, Pithapuram?
- The best time to visit Puruhutika Devi Temple, Pithapuram is November to February.
- What are the top travel tips for Puruhutika Devi Temple, Pithapuram?
- Pithapuram is 80 km from Visakhapatnam — 2-hour drive on NH-16; closest railhead is Pithapuram Road on the Howrah-Chennai main line. The full pitru-paksha rite at Pada Gaya Sarovar takes 3–4 hours and requires a registered priest — book at the temple office on arrival. Combine with Annavaram (50 km, Sri Veera Venkata Satyanarayana Swamy temple) and Draksharamam (70 km, the Manikyamba peetha + Bhimeswara temple). Avoid the Dakshinayana and Pitru Paksha (mid-September to mid-October) windows unless you specifically intend to perform shraddha — crowds are heavy. Modest local hotels in Pithapuram; better stays in Kakinada (20 km) or Rajahmundry (60 km).
