Thread by @rasu667

Kunti madhava temple - Pithapuram

#WalkToTemple

Kunti Madhava Swamy temple is one of the Pancha Madhava temples.
The other 4 Madhava temples being - Bindu Madhava of Varanasi, Venu Madhava of Prayaga, Sethu Madhava of Rameshwaram & Sundara Madhava of Tiruvananthapuram.

The Pancha Madhava temples were consecrated by Indra to rid himself of the Sin of Brahmahatya.

Acc to the purana, Prajapati Twasta had a devout and pious son named Vishwarupa. He had immense spiritual power. The king of Devas, Indra became insecure and killed Vishwarupa.

An enraged Twasta creates another son Vritasura, born of the yagna fire to take revenge on Indra. Vritasura first performs penances by which he is granted boons that make him very strong. He attacks Indra, defeats him & takes Indralok.
Indra meanwhile takes the help of Trimurtis

Bcs of Vritasura superior strength, Indra befriended him and with the help of Yogamaya kills him by stealth when Vritasura is sleeping.

But Indra knowing that he has committed the sin of Brahmahatya, in order to wash away his sins, sets up the Pancha Madhava temples.

Kunti Madhava Swamy is an ancient Vaishnava aalayam believed to have been worshipped by SitaRama in Tretayuga & Kunti Devi in Dwaparayuga.

In 12th century, King Prudveeswara's mother Joyambica constructed a prakara wall for this temple. Many rulers, followed by Pithapuram +

Zamindars, gave lands to the temple.
Inscriptions give the history of various rulers who patronized the temple

It is a small but peaceful temple having a Prakara Mandapam.
Photography is prohibited & v went just before closing time.
Hence was not able 2 c the Prakara properly

Picture of the murtis inside.
Apart from Kunti Madhava Swamy, Sri Rajalakshmi Devi, Sri Goda Devi & Ramanuja murtis are there along with Jaya & Vijaya.

Pithapuram is not only a Pancha Madhava kshetra but also an Ashtadasa Shakti Peeta. Here Amma is Puruhutika Devi.

Puruhutika Devi gudi.
Shakti Peeta where Sati Devi's Back fell.
It was a treat having Amma's darshan without interruption.

Lord Shiva is known as Kukkuteshwara Swamy over here. This kshetra is known as Padagaya , one of the Trigayas.
The Trimurtis killed Gayasura.

Gayasuras head reached Bihar, it is called Sirogaya & Vishnu temple is built. His waist part reached Jajhipur in Orissa & is called Naabhigaya with Brahma temple. Pithapuram is where feet reached & is called Padagaya where Shiva temple is built.

Statue of Gayasura in Pushkarini

Hence a visit to Pithapuram is so auspicious. We can have a darshan of Amma in a Shakti Peeta, Mahadev in a Trigaya & Madhava Swamy in one of the Pancha Madhava temples.

Pithapuram is in East Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh. Anyone going to that area should not miss it. 🙏