Papanasam - Ambasamudhram

                                                                   

Name of the temple: Papanasam temple

Location: Tirunelveli district/ papanasam                                                           

Archagar name:

Contact number:

Temple timings: Morning: 6:00 am to 12:30 pm

                             Evening: 4:00 pm to 8:30 pm

Moolavar name: Papanasa nadhar

                                                            Other sannidhis: Kalyana sundharar, dhakshina moorthi, sanisvarar, surya bagavaan, chandhira baghavaan, kanni vinaayagar, subramanya swaamy, kasi vishwa nadhar, saptha                                                                      maathas

                                                                       Thaayaar : Ulagammai

                                               Address: Papanasam temple, papanasam, VK puram, Ambasamudram

                                                                   

Speciality: Drinking a little turmeric water with which Ambal was anointed, blesses childless couple with child and those seeking for marriage with a suitable partner.

Many devotees went to the Himalayas to see Lord Shiva - Paravthi’s celestial wedding, this caused the Northern side to tilt on one side. Upon Lord Shiva’s advice, Sage Agathiya went to South of Pothigai to restore balance. Lord Shiva - Parvati are said to have appeared in their resplendent wedding form in the Tamil month of Chithirai (April 14- May 15). Behind the sanctum sanctorum in the temple is Lord Shiva seated on a bull with Ambal as Kalyana Sundarar.Nearby are Agathiya and his wife, Lopamutra, in a worshiping form.

Another legend says that Indra accepted Dvashta, the son of Sukracharya, the demon master, as his teacher. Once, Dvashta performed a yagna for the goodness of the Asuras(demons). When Indra came to know about this yagna, Indra killed Dvashta as a result of which Indra suffered from Brahmahati dosha.

He visited earth and went to many Shiva temples to get rid of this dosha. Lord Jupiter told Indra that by worshiping the Lord at Papanasam, he will be relieved of his dosha. As soon as Indra reached Papanasam, he is said to have got rid of his dosha.

Agathiyar's disciple Romasa said that he wanted to consecrate shivalinga at several places on the banks of the river Thamirabarani and to choose the places for it. Agathiyar asked him to throw the lotus flowers that had been worshiped to Shiva into the Thamirabarani river and to consecrate the linga wherever they landed. Accordingly Romasa threw lotus flowers into the water and 9 flowers got washed ashore at 9 places. He then consecrated shiva lingas at these 9 places. These nine places are known as Navakailshas. Since there are nine Navagrahas, each planet is assigned to each of these Navakailasha. Papanasam, the first house, belongs to the first planet Surya is known as Surya Kailayam! The lingam here is known as Mukkila lingam. The Thamirabharani river, which originates in Podhigai hill and flows down as a stream near the temple. Every day during the afternoon worship, fishes in the Thamirabharani river are given sacred offerings.

In the sanctum sanctorum Papanasa linga is in the form of Rudraksha and is also found under the Mukila tree. Rig, Yajur and Sama vedha worship the lord in the form of kila tree and they also provide shadow to the lord, while Atharvana vedha worships the lord in the form of space. Since the 3 vedas are the kila tree, the lingam here is known as Mukila nadhar.

Another legend says that Nataraja stood between the horns of Nandi and gave dance darshan to Vyagrabhadar and Patanjali on a Thaipusam. Therefore, special pujas are performed here in Thaipusam by applying sandalwood paste on Nandi.

Next to the main gopuram, Nataraja is in the Anandathandava form in a separate sannidhi. He is known as "Punugu Sabapati". If there are any doshas in horoscope praying sabapathi is said to remove these doshas.

Special days of worship: Brahmotsavam is celebrated for 10 days in Tamil month of Chitra, wedding display ceremony for Agathiyar also happens during this time. Apart from this Thaipusam is also specially celebrated.

Saptha Kanikas - Brahmi, Maheshwari, Kowmaari, Vaishnavi, Indraani, Varaahi and Chaamundi