Pithapuram

Pitapuram
city
Pithapuram
Top: Pithapuram Railway Station
Bottom: Paddy fields near Pithapuram
Pitapuram is located in Andhra Pradesh
Pitapuram
Pitapuram
Location in Andhra Pradesh, India
Coordinates: 17°07′00″N 82°16′00″E / 17.1167°N 82.2667°E / 17.1167; 82.2667
CountryIndia
StateAndhra Pradesh
DistrictKakinada district
Government
 • TypeMunicipal
 • BodyMunicipality
Area
[1]
 • Total
112.6 km2 (43.5 sq mi)
 • Rank10
Elevation
10 m (30 ft)
Population
 (2011)[2]
 • Total
54,859
 • Rank10
 • Density490/km2 (1,300/sq mi)
Languages
 • OfficialTelugu
Time zoneUTC+5:30 (IST)
Vehicle RegistrationAP05 (Former)
AP39 (from 30 January 2019)[3]

Pithapuram (also spelled as Pitapuram) is a city and municipality in the Kakinada district of Andhra Pradesh, 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.[4] Pitapuram is also the birthplace of Sripada Sri Vallabha, a prominent 14th-century Hindu saint.[5] The town holds significant historical and religious significance, being mentioned in ancient texts such as the Skanda Purana and Srinatha's Bheemeswara Puranam (c. 15th century).[6]

Historically, Pitapuram has roots dating back to ancient times as a sovereign city.[7] It is referenced in Samudragupta's Prayaga inscription (c. 350 CE)[8] under the name Pishtapura, during the reign of King Mahendra.[9] In the 7th century CE, it served as the initial capital of the Eastern Chalukyas before they moved their capital to Vengi.[10][11] Over time, Pitapuram later became one of the administrative divisions, or Rāṣṭras, of the Eastern Chalukyas.[12] During the late 12th century, Pruthviswara (r. 1186–1207) of the Velanati Chodas ruled from Pitapuram. In the 12th and 13th centuries, the Pitapuram Chalukyas, a collateral branch of the Chalukyas, controlled the surrounding region, including Rajamahendravaram, Pitapuram, and Draksharamam. By the 18th century, Pitapuram became the centre of the Pitapuram Estate, which covered an area of 393 square miles (1,020 km2) by 1903.[13]

  1. ^ "Municipalities, Municipal Corporations & UDAs" (PDF). Directorate of city and Country Planning. Government of Andhra Pradesh. Archived from the original (PDF) on 28 January 2016. Retrieved 28 January 2016.
  2. ^ "Census 2011". The Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India. Retrieved 24 August 2014.
  3. ^ "New 'AP 39' code to register vehicles in Andhra Pradesh launched". The New Indian Express. Vijayawada. 31 January 2019. Archived from the original on 3 February 2019. Retrieved 9 June 2019.
  4. ^ "Constitution of Godavari Urban Development Authority with headquarters at Godavari" (PDF). Municipal Administration and Urban Development Department. Government of Andhra Pradesh. Archived from the original (PDF) on 18 January 2017. Retrieved 9 November 2016.
  5. ^ "Sree Pada Sree Vallabha | Sree Datta Vaibhavam".
  6. ^ Rao, P. R. Ramachandra (2005). The Splendour of Andhra Art. Akshara. p. 82.
  7. ^ Hemingway F. R. (1915). Madras District Gazetteers Godavari (1915).
  8. ^ Full inscription, Fleet, John Faithfull (1888). Corpus Inscriptionum Indicarum Vol. 3. pp. 1-17.
  9. ^ Ashvini Agrawal (1989). Rise and Fall of the Imperial Guptas. Motilal Banarsidass. p. 109. ISBN 978-81-208-0592-7.
  10. ^ Sen, Sailendra Nath (1999). Ancient Indian History and Civilization. New Age International. p. 362. ISBN 978-81-224-1198-0.
  11. ^ Epigraphia Indica. Vol. 29. Manager of Publications. 1987 [1888]. p. 46.
  12. ^ "Role of Chalukyas of Vengi and its Polity During Post-Gupta Period". History Discussion. 31 July 2014. Retrieved 4 October 2020.
  13. ^ "Glory of the Pithapuram Estate". 1915.