Shaktipeeth

Godavaritira Shakti Peetha

Sri Umakotilingeswara Swamy Sri Sitarama Swamy Temple - Shakti Peetha

Kotilingala Veedhi, Kothapeta, Seethampet, River, Andhra Pradesh 533104

Sri Uma Kotilingeswara Swamy Temple stands at Kotilingala Revu on the Godavari River in Rajamahendravaram. It is traditionally identified with the Godavaritira Shakti Peetha, associated with Sati’s left cheek. The complex primarily centres on Shiva worship and also includes a Sita-Rama shrine.

At this Peetha

Devi: Vishveshi
Also known as: Rakini
Bhairava: Vishvesha
Bhairava also known as: Dandapani, Vatsanabha
Body part / ornament: Vama-ganda
Festival: Maha Shivaratri, Karthika Masam, Navaratri
Nearest city: Rajamahendravaram
Nearest airport: Rajahmundry Airport
Nearest railway station: Rajahmundry Railway Station
Nearest bus station: Rajamahendravaram Bus Station

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Sri Uma Kotilingeswara Swamy Sri Sitarama Swamy Temple stands at Kotilingalapeta in Rajamahendravaram, close to the Godavari River. The complex is primarily a Shaiva place of worship, centred on Sri Uma Kotilingeswara Swamy, and also contains a shrine dedicated to Sita and Rama. Local accounts connect the temple with an old sacred landscape on the Godavari’s bank and preserve traditions concerning the worship of Shiva at this site.

In the Shakti Peetha tradition represented in this database, the temple is identified with Godavaritira Peetha. The Shivacharita tradition associates the place with Sati’s vama-ganda, or left cheek. D. C. Sircar records the presiding Shakti as Vishveshi and the accompanying Bhairava as Dandapani. Other transmitted names include Rakini for the goddess and Vatsanabha for Bhairava. These variations reflect the differences found across historical Shakti Peetha lists.

The identification of this particular Rajamahendravaram temple with the classical Godavaritira Peetha is traditional rather than universally established. It should therefore be presented as a respected regional association, not an undisputed archaeological conclusion. Today, the shrine forms part of Rajamahendravaram’s wider pilgrimage landscape, combining devotion to Shiva, Shakti, Sita and Rama beside one of India’s most sacred rivers.

Note on the body part

At Godavaritira, the Shivacharita tradition associates Sati’s vama-ganda (left cheek) with the Peetha. D. C. Sircar records the Devi as Vishveshi and Bhairava as Dandapani, while another tradition names the goddess Rakini and Bhairava Vatsanabha. The temple identification is traditional rather than certain.

Notes

1. For the dteails of Peetha, Body parts, Devi, Bhairava we primarily used the book The Shakta Pithas by Dr. Dines Chandra Sircar (D. C. Sircar), and secondaryly used the book 108 Divya Shaktipeethas by Banwari Lal Kanchhal. 2. This Shaktipeeth is mentioned in the list of the Pithas (Mahapithas) in the Shivacharita