Guru Dattatreya Jayanthi

Datta Jayanthi celebrated with lot of Gusto in Sri Pada Vallabha Kshetram at Pithapuram in East Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh. This Kshetram is also known as Padagaya Kshetram, Datta Kshetram or Vallabha Kshetram. Dattatreya Jayanti is a major festival and pada puja , also known as Sri Datta Paduka Puja, is the main ritual during the celebrations of Datta Jayanti in Ganugapur Sri Datta Mandir.Pada Gaya Kshetram located in Pithapuram, Andhra Pradesh, is also called as Sri Pada Sri Vallabha Samsthanam. It is popularly known as the birth place of Sripada Vallabha, the first divine incarnation of Lord Dattatreya." Devotees believe that in this place , the lord seeks bhiksha in various forms . 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, Sri Kukkuteshwara Swamy, Sri Dattatreya Swamy, and Pada Gaya. MEANING OF PITHAPURAM PITHAPURAM was earlier known as PEETHA PURAM OR 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. This place is considered as the 10TH SHAKTHI PEETHAM OF THE 18 (ASTHADASA) SHAKTHI PETTHAS. Shakti Peethas divine shrines of Devi. These are shrines that are highly revered by Shaktas (Shaktism). The mythology says about the falling of parts of the corpse of Sati Devi, when Lord Shiva took it and wandered. Here the seat place of shakthi has fallen.