Papanasam Sri Papanasanathar (Suriyan ) Temple (Nava Kailasam)- Thirunelveli

Address

Papanasam Sri Papanasanathar Temple (Suriyan ), Papanasam, Ambasamuthiram Taluk, Tirunelveli District. Telephone Number : 04634-293757

Diety

Papanasanathar(Shiva), Amman: Ulagammai (Parvathi)

Introduction

Papanasanathar Temple in Papanasam, a village in Tirunelveli district in the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu, is dedicated to god Shiva. It is located 60 km from Tirunelveli. Constructed in the Dravidian architecture, the temple has three precincts. Shiva is worshipped as Papanasanathar and his consort Parvathi as Ulagammai.A granite wall surrounds the temple, enclosing all its shrines. The temple has a seven-tiered gateway tower. The temple was originally built by Chandrakula Pandya, with further additions by the Vijayanagar and Nayak kings during the 16th century. The temple has artistic sculptures representative of Nayak art. Thala Virucham: Kizha Tree Theertham: Thamirabharani, Vedha theertham, Pazhaya Papanadha theertham

Puranic Significance

As per legend, during the divine wedding of Shiva and Parvathi, there was heavy crowd at Kailash. Sage Agasthya could not get a vision of the event and was praying to Shiva at this place and pleased by his devotion, Shiva appeared to him and his wife Lopamundra in Kalyana posture. The falls nearby the temple is thus called Agasthiyar Falls. As per another legend, sage Urosamar floated a set of flowers in Tamiraparani River and the first flower reached the shore at this place. The sage established a temple for Papanasanathar and worshipped the deity here. The lingam, the iconic form of Shiva in the temple is believed to an aspect of Surya, one of the planetary deities. The temple forms a series of Navagraha temples in the banks of Tamiraparani river where each of the nine planetary deities are considered to reside in one temples. The temples are classified as Nava Kailasam and the presiding deity of all the nine temples is Kailasanathar. The temple is associated with the planet Surya (Sun) and considered first in the series of the nine temples.

Beliefs

The turmeric water used for the abishek of Mother Ulagammai is consumed by women in small quantity for a happy wedding and child boon. Women also believe that this would increase the longevity of their Mangal Sutra. Devotees perform abishek to Lord Shiva and Mother Ulagammai and offer vastras.

Special Features

The worship of the lord of this temple is equivalent to worshiping the Lord Suriya Nainar Temple nearby Aaduthurai in Mayiladuthurai District. The lingam is believed to have appeared from kala tree and is called as Mukkala Nathar. There are images of Somaskanda, Rishabaroodar and Agastya close to the image with unique sculptural representation. Of the nine Kailash Kshetras – Nava Kailash – Papanasam is the first attributed to Sun God. Hence, the place is known as Surya Kshetra and Surya Kailash. On a Thaipoosam day, Lord Nataraja granted darshan to sages Patanjali and Vyakrapatha standing between the horns of Nandhi the bull vehicle of Lord Shiva. Remembering this event, special pujas are performed on the Thaipoosam day with sandal paste to Nandhi