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Pithapuram (also spelled as Pitapuram) is a Town and
municipality A municipality is usually a single administrative division having municipal corporation, corporate status and powers of self-government or jurisdiction as granted by national and regional laws to which it is subordinate. The term ''municipality' ...
in the
Kakinada district Kakinada district is a district in the Coastal Andhra Region in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. With Kakinada as its administrative headquarters, it was proposed on 26 January 2022 to become one of the resultant twenty six districts in the ...
of
Andhra Pradesh Andhra Pradesh (ISO 15919, ISO: , , AP) is a States and union territories of India, state on the East Coast of India, east coast of southern India. It is the List of states and union territories of India by area, seventh-largest state and th ...
, India. With a history spanning over 1,500 years, it is one of the oldest towns in the state. Pitapuram served as the capital for various kingdoms of Andhra, dating back to the 4th century CE, and continues to be an important pilgrimage destination. The town is renowned for the Kukkuteswara Temple complex, which also houses the Puruhutika Devi Temple, one of the eighteen Maha Shakti Pithas, considered among the most significant pilgrimage destinations in
Shaktism Shaktism () is a major Hindu denomination in which the God in Hinduism, deity or metaphysics, metaphysical reality is considered metaphorically to be a woman. Shaktism involves a galaxy of goddesses, all regarded as different aspects, mani ...
. Pitapuram is also the birthplace of
Sripada Sri Vallabha Sripada Sri Vallabha () is an Indian guru who is an incarnation of Dattatreya. He is considered as one of the first complete avatars (incarnations) of the deity Dattatreya in Kali Yuga. Narasimha Saraswati, Manik Prabhu, and Swami Samarth believ ...
, a prominent 14th-century
Hindu Hindus (; ; also known as Sanātanīs) are people who religiously adhere to Hinduism, also known by its endonym Sanātana Dharma. Jeffery D. Long (2007), A Vision for Hinduism, IB Tauris, , pp. 35–37 Historically, the term has also be ...
saint. The town holds significant historical and religious significance, being mentioned in ancient texts such as the ''
Skanda Purana The ''Skanda Purana'' ( IAST: Skanda Purāṇa) is the largest '' Mukhyapurāṇa'', a genre of eighteen Hindu religious texts. The text contains over 81,000 verses, and is of Shaivite literature, titled after Skanda, a son of Shiva and Parv ...
'' and Srinatha's ''Bheemeswara Puranam'' (). Historically, Pitapuram has roots dating back to ancient times as a sovereign Town . It is referenced in
Samudragupta Samudragupta (Gupta script: ''Sa-mu-dra-gu-pta'', ( 335–375 CE) was the second emperor of the Gupta Empire of ancient India. A military genius and a patron of arts, he is regarded among the greatest rulers in Indian history. As a son of th ...
's Prayaga inscription () Full inscription, under the name Pishtapura, during the reign of King Mahendra. In the 7th century CE, it served as the initial capital of the
Eastern Chalukyas Eastern Chalukyas, also known as the Chalukyas of Vengi, were a dynasty that ruled parts of South India between the 7th and 12th centuries. They started out as governors of the Chalukyas of Badami in the Deccan region. Subsequently, they bec ...
before they moved their capital to Vengi. Over time, Pitapuram later became one of the administrative divisions, or Rāṣṭras, of the Eastern Chalukyas. During the late 12th century, Pruthviswara () of the
Velanati Chodas The Velanati Chodas, also known as the Velanati Durjayas and Velanadu chiefs, were a Telugu dynasty that ruled parts of Andhra Pradesh during the 12th century. They served as tributaries to the Later Cholas and the Western Chalukyas, govern ...
ruled from Pitapuram. In the 12th and 13th centuries, the Pitapuram Chalukyas, a collateral branch of the Chalukyas, controlled the surrounding region, including
Rajamahendravaram Rajahmundry ( ), officially Rajamahendravaram, is a city in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh and district headquarters of East Godavari district. It is the fifth most populated city in the state. During British rule, the district of Rajahmu ...
, Pitapuram, and
Draksharamam Draksharamam is a village in Konaseema district of the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. The Bhimeswara Swamy Temple in this town is one of the five temples of Shiva known as Pancharama Kshetras. Ashta Someswaras Eight lingas are consecrated i ...
. By the 18th century, Pitapuram became the centre of the Pitapuram Estate, which covered an area of by 1903.


History

Pitapuram, originally known as Pishtapura, is first mentioned around 350 CE in the Prayaga Pillar inscription of the
Gupta Gupta () is a common surname of Indian origin, meaning "guardian" or "protector". Origins and distribution The name is based on the Sanskrit word गोप्तृ ''goptṛ'', which means "guardian" or "protector". According to historian ...
emperor
Samudragupta Samudragupta (Gupta script: ''Sa-mu-dra-gu-pta'', ( 335–375 CE) was the second emperor of the Gupta Empire of ancient India. A military genius and a patron of arts, he is regarded among the greatest rulers in Indian history. As a son of th ...
, which records his victory over King Mahendra of Pishtapura. Inscriptions from the 4th and 5th centuries by the
Vasishtha Vasishtha (, ) is one of the oldest and revered Vedic rishis or sages, and one of the Saptarishis (seven great Rishis). Vasishtha is credited as the chief author of Mandala 7 of the ''Rigveda''. Vasishtha and his family are mentioned in Rigve ...
and Mathara dynasties refer to Pishtapura as part of the Kalinga region. In the 7th century,
Chalukya The Chalukya dynasty () was a Classical Indian dynasty that ruled large parts of southern and central India between the 6th and the 12th centuries. During this period, they ruled as three related yet individual dynasties. The earliest dynas ...
king
Pulakeshin II Pulakeshin II (IAST: Pulakeśin r. –642 CE) popularly known as Immaḍi Pulakeśi, was the greatest Chalukyan Emperor who reigned from Vatapi (present-day Badami in Karnataka, India). During his reign, the Chalukya empire expanded to cover ...
annexed Pishtapura into his kingdom. The Town initially served as the capital of the
Eastern Chalukyas Eastern Chalukyas, also known as the Chalukyas of Vengi, were a dynasty that ruled parts of South India between the 7th and 12th centuries. They started out as governors of the Chalukyas of Badami in the Deccan region. Subsequently, they bec ...
before they shifted their capital to Vengi. Subsequently, Pitapuram became one of the administrative divisions, or Rastras, under the Chalukyas. During the late 12th century, Pruthviswara (), of the
Velanati Chodas The Velanati Chodas, also known as the Velanati Durjayas and Velanadu chiefs, were a Telugu dynasty that ruled parts of Andhra Pradesh during the 12th century. They served as tributaries to the Later Cholas and the Western Chalukyas, govern ...
ruled from Pitapuram. The Town was later governed by the Pitapuram Chalukyas, a
cadet branch A cadet branch consists of the male-line descendants of a monarch's or patriarch's younger sons ( cadets). In the ruling dynasties and noble families of much of Europe and Asia, the family's major assets (realm, titles, fiefs, property and incom ...
of the Chalukyas, who controlled the area around
Rajamahendravaram Rajahmundry ( ), officially Rajamahendravaram, is a city in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh and district headquarters of East Godavari district. It is the fifth most populated city in the state. During British rule, the district of Rajahmu ...
, Pitapuram, and
Draksharamam Draksharamam is a village in Konaseema district of the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. The Bhimeswara Swamy Temple in this town is one of the five temples of Shiva known as Pancharama Kshetras. Ashta Someswaras Eight lingas are consecrated i ...
during the 12th and 13th centuries. Inscriptions from 1186 to 1391 CE also highlight its significance under the rule of the Konas and the
Reddi Reddy (also transliterated as Reddi or Raddi; also known as Reddiar or Reddappa) is a Telugu Hindu caste predominantly found in the states of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana in South India. They are classified as a forward caste. The origin o ...
kings. The Pitapuram Zamindar family arrived in the Godavari District in 1571 and was granted the
jagir A jagir (), ( Hindustani: जागीर/جاگیر, ''Jāgīr''), ( Marathi: जहागीर, ''Jahāgīrá'') also spelled as jageer, was a type of feudal land grant in the Indian subcontinent at the foundation of its Jagirdar ( Zamindar ...
of
Anaparthi Anaparthi (formerly Anapothavaram) is a Town located in Anaparthy mandal, in East Godavari district of the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. The town was named after Anapotha Reddy(1353 AD–1364 AD). Almost all the residents of this Town are Red ...
. They served as
Sardars Sardar, also spelled as Sardaar (, , 'commander', literally 'headmaster'), is a title of royalty and nobility that was originally used to denote princes, noblemen, chiefs, kings and other aristocrats. It has also been used to denote a chief ...
of
Rajamahendravaram Rajahmundry ( ), officially Rajamahendravaram, is a city in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh and district headquarters of East Godavari district. It is the fifth most populated city in the state. During British rule, the district of Rajahmu ...
, commanding 4,000 troops, and received the Zamindari sanad in 1749 from Rustum Khan, a general of the
Nizam of Hyderabad Nizam of Hyderabad was the title of the ruler of Hyderabad State ( part of the Indian state of Telangana, and the Kalyana-Karnataka region of Karnataka). ''Nizam'' is a shortened form of (; ), and was the title bestowed upon Asaf Jah I wh ...
. In 1802, they established a permanent settlement with the British. By 1903, their estate covered and generated a revenue of ₹9,14,000, with a peskash of ₹2,44,000. The Pitapuram Rajas were notable patrons of education and healthcare. They sponsored the classical
Telugu Telugu may refer to: * Telugu language, a major Dravidian language of South India ** Telugu literature, is the body of works written in the Telugu language. * Telugu people, an ethno-linguistic group of India * Telugu script, used to write the Tel ...
dictionary ''Sri Suryarayandhra Nighantuvu'' and commissioned the first Telugu typewriter. They founded the Pithapur Raja's Government College (PR Government College) in Kakinada and supported the establishment of the Christian Medical Centre (CMC) by the
Canadian Baptist Mission The Canadian Baptist Mission (CBM) is an international Baptist Christian missionary society. It is a constituent board affiliated with the Canadian Baptist Ministries. History It was established in 1850 by the Canadian Baptist Ministries. The CB ...
, which has been renowned for its medical services since the eighteenth century.


Geography

Pitapuram is located at . It has an average elevation of . The town is approximately 20 kilometres from the district headquarters,
Kakinada Kakinada (; formerly known as Cocanada) is a Port, port city and municipal corporation in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. Situated along the Bay of Bengal, it serves as the headquarters of Kakinada district and is a prominent economic and c ...
, and 75 kilometres from
Rajahmundry Rajahmundry ( ), officially Rajamahendravaram, is a city in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh and district headquarters of East Godavari district. It is the fifth most populated city in the state. During British rule, the district of Rajahmu ...
. In 1957, Pitapuram was designated as a 2nd grade
Municipality A municipality is usually a single administrative division having municipal corporation, corporate status and powers of self-government or jurisdiction as granted by national and regional laws to which it is subordinate. The term ''municipality' ...
and an urban local body (ULB). It is spread over an area of 19.57 square kilometres. Pitapuram is landlocked but is located near several beaches, although none are within the town itself. Most of its economic activity is centered in Kakinada. Notable neighborhoods in Pitapuram include C.B.M. Christian Medical Centre, Jaggayya Cheruvu, Drivers Colony, Pada Gaya Junction, Agraharam, and Satellite Town.


Climate

Pitapuram experiences a tropical climate, with winters extending from November to February and summers from March to June. The town receives an annual rainfall of 178 mm, predominantly during the monsoon season from July to September.


Religious sites

Pitapuram, an important pilgrimage destination, is renowned for its religious significance and historical temples. The town hosts the Kukkuteswara Temple complex, which houses several significant shrines, including the Puruhutika Devi Temple—one of the eighteen Maha Shakti Peethas. This temple is venerated in
Shaktism Shaktism () is a major Hindu denomination in which the God in Hinduism, deity or metaphysics, metaphysical reality is considered metaphorically to be a woman. Shaktism involves a galaxy of goddesses, all regarded as different aspects, mani ...
as a major pilgrimage site, marking it as the 10th Shakti Peetha. The Kukkuteswara Temple, dedicated to
Lord Siva Shiva (; , ), also known as Mahadeva (; , , ɐɦaːd̪eːʋɐh and Hara, is one of the principal deities of Hinduism. He is the Supreme Being in Shaivism, one of the major traditions within Hinduism. Shiva is known as ''The Destroyer' ...
in the form of a self-originating (
Swayambhu Svayambhu () is a Sanskrit word that means "self-born", "self-manifested", "self-existing", or "that that is created by its own accord". Various deities and entities featured in Hindu literature and tradition are regarded to be svayambhu, such as ...
)
Lingam A lingam ( , lit. "sign, symbol or mark"), sometimes referred to as linga or Shiva linga, is an abstract or Aniconism, aniconic representation of the Hinduism, Hindu Hindu deities, god Shiva in Shaivism. The word ''lingam'' is found in the Up ...
, and the Puruhutika Devi Temple are central to the town's religious landscape. Additionally, Pitapuram is known for its other notable temples, such as the Kunthimadhava Swamy Temple and the Sri Pada Vallabha Anagha Datha Kshethram. The town is also famous for the Pada Gaya Sarovar, a sacred pond believed to grant salvation to those who bathe in it, and for performing "Pinda Pradanam" (last rites), which is considered as auspicious as performing them in
Varanasi Varanasi (, also Benares, Banaras ) or Kashi, is a city on the Ganges river in northern India that has a central place in the traditions of pilgrimage, death, and mourning in the Hindu world.* * * * The city has a syncretic tradition of I ...
. The town is closely associated with
Sripada Sri Vallabha Sripada Sri Vallabha () is an Indian guru who is an incarnation of Dattatreya. He is considered as one of the first complete avatars (incarnations) of the deity Dattatreya in Kali Yuga. Narasimha Saraswati, Manik Prabhu, and Swami Samarth believ ...
, an important 14th-century
Hindu Hindus (; ; also known as Sanātanīs) are people who religiously adhere to Hinduism, also known by its endonym Sanātana Dharma. Jeffery D. Long (2007), A Vision for Hinduism, IB Tauris, , pp. 35–37 Historically, the term has also be ...
saint, believed by his followers to be an incarnation of
Dattatreya Dattatreya (, ), Dattā or Dattaguru, is a paradigmatic Sannyasi (monk) and one of the lords of yoga, venerated as an avatar of Lord Vishnu. Three Hindu gods Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva, who are also collectively known as the Trimurti, incarna ...
, further adding to its religious prominence.


Demographics

As per the 2011 Indian Census, the Town had a population of 54,859. The average literacy rate stands at 75.00% with literates, higher than the national average of 73.00%.


Transport

Pithapuram Town is situated on
NH 216 National Highway 153 (NH 153), formerly NH-216, is a national highway in India. It is a spur road of National Highway 53. NH-153 traverses the state of Chhattisgarh Chhattisgarh (; ) is a landlocked States and union territories of Indi ...
. Pithapuram railway station is located on Duvvada-Vijayawada section of Howrah-Chennai main line.
Rajahmundry Airport Rajahmundry Airport is a domestic airport serving the city of Rajamahendravaram, Andhra Pradesh, India. It is located at Madhurapudi, north from the city centre, on National Highway 516E (NH-516E). Before modernisation, it was used by Va ...
is located from Pithapuram.


Members of Legislative Assembly


Notable residents

* Devulapalli Krishnasastry (1897–1980),
Telugu Telugu may refer to: * Telugu language, a major Dravidian language of South India ** Telugu literature, is the body of works written in the Telugu language. * Telugu people, an ethno-linguistic group of India * Telugu script, used to write the Tel ...
poet and playwright, brought up in Pitapuram *
Dronamraju Krishna Rao Dronamraju Krishna Rao (14 January 1937 – 3 December 2020) was an Indian-born geneticist and president of the Foundation for Genetic Research in Houston, Texas. He was born in Pithapuram, in the state of Andhra Pradesh, India. One focus of h ...
(1937–2020), geneticist, born in Pitapuram


References

{{Authority control * Cities and towns in Kakinada district Ancient Indian cities Buddhist pilgrimage sites in India Archaeological sites in Andhra Pradesh Hindu holy cities Former capital cities in India