Pithapuram, the Dakshin Kasi in East Godavari district, Andhra Pradesh

A must visit place by one n all in a life time. Had visited all the major temples.

PITHAPURAM was earlier known as PEETHIKAPURAM which means the place bearing
the peetha (seat) sthan. According to Indian
Puranas it is said that after Daksha Yagna Sati
Devi’s Organ (LOWER BACK/SEAT PORTION) HAS FALLEN IN THIS PLACE WHILE HER BODY WAS CARRIED BY LORD SHIVA. So it is called as PURUHOOTIKA PURAM later changed to PEETHIKAPURAM and finally PITHAPURAM.

Pithapuram is also known as Dakshina Kasi (or THE KASI OF THE SOUTH).
Pithapuram is widely known as a pilgrim centre and a temple of great importance as it has many shrines of important Deities i.e. Sri Puruhootika Devi (10th shakti peetham of ashtadasa (8) shakti peethams), Sri Kukkuteshwara Swamy, Sri Dattatreya Swamy, and Pada Gaya.
Pada Gaya is one of three places where pinda pradhanam is performed to ancestors for salvation.
Shiro Gaya : known as Gaya is in Bihar. Here lord Vishnu is worshipped.
Nabi Gaya: is in Bijapur in Orissa. Lord Brahma is worshipped here.
Pada Gaya: is in Pithapuram in Andhra Pradesh. Lord Shiva is worshipped here.

SRIPADA SRIVALLABHA MAHA SAMSTHANAM:
Sripada was born in 1326 A.D in pithapuram on the day of Ganesh chathurdhi. His birth star is Chitra an simha lagnam and Thula rasi (libra). His parents are Sumathi Maha Rani (Daughter of Bapanarya) and Ghandkota Appala Raja Sharma
Pithapuram is blessed by the existence of Sripada for 30 years and later Sri pada took Sanyasa Ashram and left for Kuruvapur. Pithapur is the Karma bhoomi and Kuruvapur is the Moksha bhoomi of Sripada.
The tenure of Sripada Srivallabha is very small. But its prominence cannot be explained even by celestials and seven sages. He is support to all visible and invisible forces just like Datta Guru. Sripada Srivallabha ′s Incarnation Came to Dispel the Darkness of Ignorance. It Arrived to remove the limping progress of people in Physical and Spiritual Matters
Sripada’s Grand father’s House is converted into Sripada Maha Samsthanam
Kunthi Madhava Swamy Temple Pithapuram is dedicated to Lord Vishnu. It is one of the five temples which were established by the Indra, God of Heaven.
Chitraketu is cursed by Parvati due to his misbehavior and takes birth as demon Vritrasura. Indra kills him to stop his atrocities.
To get rid of Sin of Killing a Brahmin, he had installed five Vishnu Idols by the name ‘Pancha Madhava’ at 5 different places which are Kasi, Prayag, Padmanabha, Pithapuram and Rameswaram.
Later, during Dwaparayuga, When Pandavas were exiled from the kingdom, Kunti, mother of Pandavas prayed here for the Lord Vishnu and Lord appeared her and blessed Kunti. Hence, the shrine popular by Kunti Madhava Swamy Temple.