It is the brief history of padagaya Kshetram which is one of the important Astadasa peetha`s , situated at Pithapuram in East Godavari Dist in Andhra Pradesh. It is described in the third chapter of Bheema Khanda and of Skandapurana.

It is the brief history of padagaya Kshetram which is one of the important Astadasa peetha`s , situated at Pithapuram in East Godavari Dist in Andhra Pradesh. It is described in the third chapter of Bheema Khanda and of Skandapurana.

The great poet, Srinadha wrote in the third chapter of Bheemeswara Purana in the following ways. The four places that give salvation or Moksha are Varanasi (banaras), Kedaram, Kumbhakonam and Pithapuram which is known as Padagaya keshetram

The pithapuram Piligramage is tenth shakti peeta in Astadasa shakti peethas. As the seat place(Peetha) of Satidevi has fallen on this , it is called Pithapuram.

In olden days, Daksha Prajapati belonged to moon dynasty made Lord Shiva as his son-in-law by offering his eldest daughter Satidevi. In course of time, there was a dispute between Lord Shiva and Dakshaprajapati. So, wanted to perform a Yaaga without Lord Shiva. He invited Yaksha, Garuda, Gandharva, Kinnera, Kimpurusha, Maharshis and devas except Lord Shiva. On hearing this satidevi felt sad and wanted to know cause for it. She loved her parents. Satidevi went to Yaaga uninvited.

There satidevi was disgraced and left her life near Yaaga. After destricution of Daksha Yaaga Lord Siva took the deadbody of Satidevi on his shoulders and was wandering in the world. For the of the universe Vishnu divided the body of Satidevi into 18 pieces with his Sudarshana Chakram. One piece fell into Lanka(ceylon) and the remaining 17 pieces fell in India and the 18 parts are treated as 18 Shahti peethas, they are:

Sri Raja Rajeswari Devi is a powerful Goddess being worshipped in Pithapuram. It is believed that this Goddess fulfill all our desires.There is a mesmarising Creaper in the temple. This creaper doesnt have any leaves,but if performed poojas to this Creaper,it is believed that it fulfills all our desires.This is written by sastry garu who's one among the Devulapalli brothers. She is also called Kumara Gananadhamba as she sits in between her two sons Kumara Swamy on one side and lord Ganesha on the other side.

This holy place was visited by lord Vishnu and lord Brahma in Kruthayuga and lord Ramu in Tretayuga and in Dwaparayuga Kunthi Devi along with her sons Pandavas and Vyasa Maharushi visited this place.

For the wellbeing of the deities and on the request of lord Vishnu and lord Brahma , lord Shiva has taken the forn of a cock to kill demon Gayasura. According to the boon given to Gayasura by Trimurthys lord Shiva has transformed into Shiva linga from the cockafter Gayasura`s death. He is being worshipped as Sri Kukkuta Lingeswara Swamy in this holy place Pitapuram

The son of the sage Atri and the holy lady Anasuya was Dattathreya, having three forms of the lord`s Brahma, Vishnu and Maheswara. He was born in Paadagaya Kshetram at Pithapuram. This is written in fifth chapter of Gurucharita written by Sree Vasudevada Saraswati Swamy in the following way.

In the delta plain of the Eela river, in pithapuram Kshetram there lived Sumati and Appalaraju sarma shrotriya Brahmin couple. They practiced vedickaramas with holiness. Sri Raja Simha sharma made sacrifices to satisfy devas, forefather sages and Brahmins. Sumathi also followed her husband in all aspects, doing the service of her husband as a true devoted wife by Purvajanmakarma, they had no children. The two sons borm to them were blind, deaf and dumb. So, they were feeling sad . They always worshipped Dattadevi in padagaya kshetram with utter devotion. Oneday, the annual ceremony of his father came. Sumathi was preparing everything for that ceremony. To test them Dattatreya came in the guise of a sage for Bhiksha. At that time Raja Simha Sharma was not in the housem Sumathi gave biksha to the sage without thinking break of ceremony. Dattatheya was pleased very much for that and asked Sumathi to ask for any boon . Then Sumathi requested him to be born as their son. He granted that boon as they were his true devotees. Afterwards Raja Simha Sharma came and knew this news and felt glad. He thought that it was not an error to give bhiksha and it would satisfy his forefathers. Then they finished ceremony. Dattatreya was born as their son Sri Paada Srivallabha to Sumathi and Raja Simha Sarma couple. Swamy showed many leelas even in childhood. He took sanyasam in boyhood, he removed physically handicapped nature of his brothers on his mothers request. He showed Jnanayoga to the devotees and fulfilled their desires. By his powers, he made foolish people into wise men, the poor into the rich, blessed the couples without children and gave them children, ordinary people into lords. Sripada Sri Vallabha was born in Paadagaya Kshetram. The old temple here is a divine place.