Pithapuram

Pithapuram or Pitapuram is a city and a municipality in the Kakinada district of Andhra Pradesh, India. It is a part of Kakinada Urban Development Authority. It is an ancient town and a pilgrimage centre with a history dating back over 1500 years. Pitapuram is home to the temple of Puruhutika Devi, one of the eighteen Maha Shakta pithas in Shaktism. It is located on the premises of Kukkuteswara Temple. Sripada Sri Vallabha, a prominent Hindu saint of 14th century, was born and lived in Pitapuram. The town was also mentioned in Skanda Purana and in Srinatha's Bheemeswara Puranam (c. 15th century). Pitapuram as a sovereign city has history dating back to ancient times. It was mentioned in Samudragupta's Prayaga inscription (c. 350 CE) by the name Pishtapura and was then ruled by the king Mahendra. Pitapuram also served as the initial capital of Eastern Chalukyas in 7th century CE before they moved their capital to Vengi. Later, Pithapuram was one of the Rastras, an administrative division, of the Eastern Chalukyas. One of the collateral branches of Chalukyas called Pitapuram Chalukyas, ruled the area around Rajamahendravaram, Pitapuram and Draksharama in the 12th and 13th centuries. From the 18th century, Pitapuram was the centre of Pitapuram Estate. The total area of the estate in 1903 was 393 square miles (1,020 km2).