Paapanasam
It is situated 56 km to the North of Tirunelveli. The Car or the Chariot Festival and Adithabasu Vizha is celebrated in this temple in June-July. Lakhs of people flock to this place on this occasion.
Papanasam is place famous for its religious importance, situated 56 Km to the North of Tirunelveli. The place is said to be the redeemer of all sins, the main attraction of the place is the Car or the Chariot festival and Asithabasu Vizha celebrated here in June- July.
The tale famous here says, once there was a Pandyan king who converted to Buddhism. He harassed and ill-treated those among his subjects who did not convert to Buddhism as he decreed. A family of a father and two children who were ardent devotees of Lord Shiva, after unable to face this harassment left the state and went to a neighbouring state.
The place they went was under the grip of a civil war the family got under it. The children, one boy and the other a girl, got separated from each other in this war. After many years wandering through many states and places they arrived in Banares. With luck they both met each other and fell in love and later got married without realising that they were siblings.
They found out their mistake afterwards and sought ways of absolving their sin. They were advised to wear black and to bathe in all the sacred waters in India and when their black cloth will turn into white then there sins are absolved.
Accordingly they started they journey wearing black cloth they went place to place in search of redemption. Finally one day they arrived at Papanasam and when they bathed in the river their clothes turned white indicating the absolution of their sin.
From that say the deity in this temple is called 'Papavinaseswarar' (the redeemer of sins). People flock here in huge numbers to take dip in this river and redeem their souls.
