The Papanasam Temple is a Lord Shiva temple located in the Tirunelveli district of Tamil Nadu. According to legends, the gods have washed away all sins, and thus it is also known as “Papanasam”. According to legends, this is one of the most powerful temples to destroy sins. It stands on the banks of the Thamirabarani River, about 60 km from Tirunelveli. It is surrounded by beautiful hills and waterfalls, and so it is very peaceful for devotees. Thousands of visitors throng to the temple every year to seek blessings and cleanse their sins by taking a holy dip in the river. Papanasam Falls, which lies nearby the temple, is also visited by lots of people.
Darshan timings at the temple are between 6:00 am and 12:00 pm in the morning and between 4:00 pm and 7:00 pm in the evening. On special occasions, devotees can see special poojas such as Abhishekam and Archana performed every day. The temple celebrates Maha Shivaratri in a great deal with bringing in many pilgrims. Regular darshan is free; however, special pooja tickets are available at a small cost.
Divyadarshanam Online Booking 2025: TTD & ticket
Overview on Papanasam Temple Darshan
The temple is accessible by road and regular buses are available from all the nearby cities. The temple was erected between 1344 and 1347 by King Harihara Bukka Raya of the Vijayanagara Empire. It is one of the nine Kailash Kshetras, known as Nava Kailash, and is believed to be attributed to the Surya God, hence it is called Surya Kshetra. The temple celebrates the Chittirai Peruvila festival for 13 days, attracting thousands of devotees. Special darshan tickets are available at Rs. 50 per head.
overview table for Papanasam Temple Darshan 2025:
| Details | Information |
|---|---|
| Temple Opening Timings | Morning: 6:00 AM – 12:00 PM Evening: 4:00 PM – 7:00 PM |
| VIP Darshan Timings | Same as regular darshan (6:00 AM – 12:00 PM and 4:00 PM – 7:00 PM) |
| Special Pooja/Seva | Abhishekam, Archana (performed daily) |
| VIP Darshan Ticket Price | Rs. 50 per person |
| Major Festival | Maha Shivaratri |
| Special Festival | Chittirai Peruvila (13-day festival) |
| Nearby Attraction | Papanasam Falls |
| How to Reach | 60 km from Tirunelveli, accessible by road; regular buses available |
This table provides a quick overview of the key details regarding darshan, timings, and VIP options at Papanasam Temple for 2025
table with all the timings
| Days | Temple Opening Timings | Morning Puja Timings | Temple Break Time | Evening Puja Timings | Close Timings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | 6:30 am | 6:30 am to 1:00 pm | 1:00 pm to 4:30 pm | 4:30 pm to 8:00 pm | 8:00 pm |
| Tuesday | 6:30 am | 6:30 am to 1:00 pm | 1:00 pm to 4:30 pm | 4:30 pm to 8:00 pm | 8:00 pm |
| Wednesday | 6:30 am | 6:30 am to 1:00 pm | 1:00 pm to 4:30 pm | 4:30 pm to 8:00 pm | 8:00 pm |
| Thursday | 6:30 am | 6:30 am to 1:00 pm | 1:00 pm to 4:30 pm | 4:30 pm to 8:00 pm | 8:00 pm |
| Friday | 6:30 am | 6:30 am to 1:00 pm | 1:00 pm to 4:30 pm | 4:30 pm to 8:00 pm | 8:00 pm |
| Saturday | 6:30 am | 6:30 am to 1:00 pm | 1:00 pm to 4:30 pm | 4:30 pm to 8:00 pm | 8:00 pm |
| Sunday | 6:30 am | 6:30 am to 1:00 pm | 1:00 pm to 4:30 pm | 4:30 pm to 8:00 pm | 8:00 pm |
the Papanasam Temple Aarti/Puja offerings along with their fees, and a brief explanation:
S/N | Name of Pooja/Aarti | Fee Per Ticket (INR) | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sagasgara Naman Archanai | Rs. 5 | Basic prayer offering to the deity with flowers and chanting of mantras. |
| 2 | Thirumana Kattanam | Rs. 500 | A special pooja conducted for newly married couples to seek blessings from the deity. |
| 3 | Special Entry (Normal Days) | Rs. 5 | Allows devotees to enter the temple on regular days for darshan without long queues. |
| 4 | Special Entry (Function Days) | Rs. 10 | Special entry for darshan during festival days, which can be crowded. |
| 5 | Mudi Kanikkai | Rs. 10 | Offering of hair as a symbol of devotion and gratitude to the deity. |
| 6 | Panner Sadhuthal | Rs. 1 | Offering of rose water (Panner) to the deity. |
| 7 | Ashtothram | Rs. 5 | Recital of 108 names of the deity during the pooja. |
| 8 | Panneer | Rs. 2 | Offering of scented rose water to the deity. |
| 9 | Thengaai Udaippu Kattanam | Rs. 10 | Ritual of breaking a coconut as an offering to the deity. |
| 10 | Maavilakku | Rs. 10 | Offering of a traditional sweet dish (Maavilakku) made of rice flour and ghee to the deity. |
| 11 | Dress Changing Room | Rs. 2 | Access to a designated room for devotees to change attire, especially after a holy bath. |
| 12 | Stalavaralaru Book | Rs. 5 | A book about the history and significance of the Papanasam Temple. |
| 13 | Video (Marriage) And Photos | Rs. 300 | Permission to take videos and photos during marriage ceremonies held in the temple. |
| 14 | Niiranjanam | Rs. 100 | A special pooja where lamps are offered to the deity to seek blessings for health and success. |
| 15 | Thathu | Rs. 100 | Special offering during rituals involving the priest and family members. |
| 16 | Abishegam | Rs. 100 | Sacred bathing of the deity with water, milk, and other holy substances. |
| 17 | Vada Maalai Sathuthal | Rs. 30 | Offering of a garland made of Vadas (Indian savory doughnuts) to the deity. |
| 18 | Thanga Paavadai Sathuthal | Rs. 200 | Offering of a golden silk skirt to the deity, as a gesture of devotion. |
Frequently Asked Questions
Who or what is Papanasam Temple?
The Papanasam Temple is also called Arulmigu Papanasaswamy Temple is one of the important Shrines dedicated to Lord Shiva and is located in the village of Papanasam in the district of Tirunelveli in the state of Tamil Nadu in India.
What are the immortals of the temple now?
While the presiding deities are Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvathi also known as Ulagammai.
On what basis does the temple have its importance?
It is one of the nine Navagraha temples in Tamilnadu but exclusively for the worship of planetary deity. This one is said to be the first of these temples dedicated to the Sun (Surya).
How are the darshan timings?
The temple is open for darshan from **5:Open from 7:30 AM – 1:00 PM and again from 4:30 PM to 8:00 PM daily. There is a break from *1:00 PM to 4:30 PM*.
Is there any special pooja for specific day or any other rituals?
The temple conducts six poojas daily: The Thiruvanandal Pooja before sunrise at 6:15 AM, followed by Sirukalasanthi Pooja at 7:30 AM , Kalasandhi Pooja at 9:00 AM , Uchikalam Pooja at 11:00 AM , Sayaraksha Pooja at 6:00 PM and Ardhajama Pooja at 8:00 PM
**Does it cost anything to be allowed entry to the temple?
The good news is that there is *no charge* required to visit the Papanasam Temple.
How to reach the temple?
Transportation to the temple area is smoothly by road and rail. The nearest stations are the Tirunelveli Junction which is at approximately 20 km away. Those who want to go near the temple, they can prefer to take a bus from Tirunelveli or they can pick a taxi service.
**What kind of dressing is expected acceptable or allowed for visitors to the temple?
: For men it is mandatory to dress like dhoti and angavastram for women it is preferable to sarees or traditional cloths.
What are there to do nearby?
, and the Other places of interest are the Chidambaram Nataraja Temple, Courtallam Falls.