BLOGS Stay Near Arulmigu Papanasa Nathar Temple, Papanasam | Nava Kailayam 1st Temple — Surya (Sun) Sthalam Nava Kailasam Temples May 2, 2026 Thirupuliyangudi Perumal Temple Nava Kailayam refers to nine individual ancient temples of Lord Shiva located in the southern districts of Tamil Nadu in Tirunelveli and Thoothukudi districts. All nine temples are linked with Sage Agasthiyar. Sage Agasthiyar placed nine flowers in the Thamirabarani River and instructed his disciple Uromacha Munivar to install a Shiva Lingam as Kailasha Nathar wherever each flower settled on the riverbank  and the nine flowers transformed into Shiva Lingams at each sacred location.  The first Nava Kailayam temple, built by Uromacha Maharishi, is at Papanasam. Lord Shiva takes the form of the Sun God here. Since the Sun is the first among the nine planets, Papanasam is attributed to the Sun  making it the Surya Kailash and Surya Kshetra of the Nava Kailayam circuit.  For pilgrims beginning the sacred Nava Kailayam Yatra, Ananta Vihara in Thirukolur is the most convenient and peaceful homestay base  ideally located within the Nava Tirupati and Nava Kailayam belts of the Thamirabarani valley. Lord Shiva is worshipped here as Sri Papanasanathar  also known as Kailasa Nathar, Pazhama Nayagan, Mukkaleenga Nathar, and Vayirasalinangam. His consort Goddess Parvati is worshipped here as Ulagammai. The Shiva Lingam of this temple is completely made of Rudraksha  a rare and extraordinary sacred material.  A granite wall surrounds the temple enclosing all its shrines, pierced by a seven-tiered gateway tower. The image of Papanasanathar in the form of a Lingam is housed in the sanctum. There are images of Somaskanda, Rishabaroodar, and Agasthya close to the sanctum with unique sculptural representations.  There are two sanctums in the temple one for Papanasa Nathar and the other for Ulagammai. The three courtyards before the inner sanctum are Mada Veethi, Nandavana Sutru, and the Ul-Sutru (Inner Courtyard). The flag mast, Nandi statue, sacrificial altar, and shrines of Bootha Vinayagar and Lord Subramanian are present in the inner courtyard. The statue of Lord Nataraja faces south to enjoy the breeze from the Podhigai Hills.  The Origin How Nava Kailayam Was Born Sage Romasa sought the advice of his Guru Agasthya to choose places on the banks of the Thamirabarani River for installing Shivalingas. The teacher told the disciple to throw flowers used for Shiva Puja on the river, and do the installations where the flowers reached the shores. Romasa threw lotus flowers as advised and the first flower reached Papanasam  making it the first and most sacred of all nine Nava Kailayam temples.  The planets number nine  therefore they were named Nava Kailash, each attributed to one planet. Sun being the first, Papanasam became the Surya Kailash.  The Legend How “Papanasam” Got Its Name Indra, the king of the Devas, had killed Dwashta, son of Sukracharya, while he was performing penance to seek powers against the Devas. Indra incurred Brahmahatya Dosha  the gravest sin of killing a Brahmin. He wandered among various Shiva Kshetras seeking relief, and Guru (planet Jupiter) advised him to go to this place and worship Lord Shiva. Even as Indra was entering the borders of this sacred place, he was immediately relieved from his sin. Hence, the place came to be known as Papanasam meaning “the destroyer of sins”  and the Lord as Papanasanathar.  The Legend of Sage Agasthya The Wedding Darshan Due to the heavy crowd of sages at Mount Kailash attending the wedding of Lord Shiva with Mother Parvati, the Earth lost its balance. Lord Shiva called Sage Agasthya to go to Pothigai Hills in the South to balance the Earth. On the first day of the Chithirai month, the Lord granted the Wedding Darshan to Sage Agasthya. Lord Papanasanatha graces the Wedding Darshan behind the sanctum sanctorum as Kalyanasundarar on his bull vehicle, with Sage Agasthya and his wife Lopamudra worshipping in the shrine. The Legend of Thaipoosam Nandi’s Darshan On a Thaipoosam day, Lord Nataraja granted darshan to sages Patanjali and Vyakrapatha, standing between the horns of Nandi the bull vehicle of Lord Shiva. Remembering this extraordinary event, special pujas are performed every Thaipoosam day with sandal paste applied to Nandi. Unique Features Worshipping the Lord at this temple is considered equal to worshipping at the Suriyanar Temple near Kumbakonam one of the most powerful Surya temples in Tamil Nadu. This temple is especially significant for people born under the Sun Sign Leo (Simma Rasi).  The mountains around Papanasam are home to 108 rare herbs not found anywhere else in the world. The sacred river Thamirabarani, which flows past the temple, is believed to carry purifying spiritual energy from the Podhigai Hills throughout the year.  The temple is also known as Indra Keezha Kshetram, Nava Kailasa Kshetram, and Surya Kailash. The Sthala Viruksham (sacred tree) of the temple is the Kizha Tree. The sacred Theerthams are Thamirabarani, Vedha Theertham, and Pazhaya Papanatha Theertham.  The Sacred Bathing Ghats & Agasthiyar Falls There are several bathing ghats  Thamirabarani Theertham, Vedha Theertham, Kalyana Theertham, Pana Theertham, and Vairava Theertham. The Agasthiyar Falls at Papanasa Theertham is ideal for families and children to bathe  this waterfall is never dry as it is fed by the life-giving waters of the Thamirabarani River throughout the year.  The Papanasam Falls drop from a height of 120 m, adjoined by the rocky walls of the Podhigai Hills. The mountains are home to 108 rare herbs. The nearby Papanasam Dam  also known as the Thamirabarani River Dam  was built during the British era and is surrounded by mountains and forests. Boating is possible in the reservoir lake.    Navagraha Significance — Surya (Sun) Sthalam Worshipping the Lord at this temple is equivalent to worshipping the Suriyanar Temple near Kumbakonam  making this the most powerful Surya Parihara Sthalam in the Nava Kailayam circuit.  Devotees pray here for: Relief from Surya (Sun) dosha Government job blessings & authority Health, vitality, and eyesight recovery Leo (Simma Rasi) blessings Relief from Brahmahatya dosha Destruction of all sins (Papanasam) Success and fame in