Thirunelly Papanasini - Pinnappara
Thirunelli
Temple draws pilgrims from all over, primarily for ancestral rites. The rituals
are performed on the banks of the stream Papanasini which flows down from Mount
Brahmagiri. It is believed that this stream has divine power to dissolve sins
of all the mortals. Another major attraction of the temple is the holy rock
where people pray for their forefathers.
The
beautiful Brahmagiri hills and the surrounding lush green forests have made the
temple premises a valley of tranquility. So everybody feels completely relaxed
after sitting in the sanctum of the temple. The temple is an embodiment of
ancient temple architecture.
Papanasini : Emanating
from the heart of Brahmagiri flowing through roots, leaves and flowers of
ancient trees and medicinal herbs, Papanasini is a holy mountain stream
accessible around 1 km northwest of the Thirunelly temple premises.One dip in
the cold Papanasini waters is reputed to wash away all sins committed in a
lifetime. It is further believed that Papanasini is the confluence of the
rivers Ganges and Saraswathy.
It is
a wild stream that originates from the Brahmagiri Hills which later joins River
Kalindi. It is almost 400 mtrs away from the temple, on its western side. Thus,
the spring and river near the temple is called Papanasini: “washes away all
sins”.
It is
believed that River Ganga and River Saraswathi join in Papanasini. Therefore
Papanasini is called the Southern Kashi. A ritual dip in Papanasini is believed
to wash one away, of all worldly sins committed in a life time. If we immerse
the ashes of the dead in Papanasini, it is equivalent to that of doing
Karmas(Rituals ) in Gaya. At Papanasini there is a sacred rock called
Pinnappara where ritual offerings to the spirits of the departed are made
(known as bali).
People
believe that Parasurama, the famous incarnation of Lord Vishnu visited
Tirunelly and performed last rites at the death of his father sage Jamadagni.
He also took immersion in the Papanasini to wipe away sins committed owing to
the annihilation of Kshatriyas. The ashes of Rajiv Gandhi was immersed in
Papanasini in 1991. Papanasini (destroyer of sins) has an interesting story to
reveal. When Brahma was consecrating Vishnu’s idol Garuda (the carrier of
Vishnu) reached over the sky, above the installation venue with the Amrit
Kumbha (pot of nectar). During Garuda’s circling over, a drop of Amrit fell on
the stream, which provided purifying power to the water in the stream. After
that incident the stream came to be called Papanasini. Papanasini later joins
in River Kalindi which is a tributary of River Kabani which later joins in
River Kaveri.
At
Papanasini, there is a sacred rock called Pinnappara where ritual offerings to
the spirits of the departed are made (known as bali).
Pinnappara : This
rock is supposed to be the bone of an asuran (demon) named Pazhana-bhedi, who
was killed by Vishnu. At the time of his death he prayed to Vishnu that his
body be converted into a rock extending from Thirunelli to Gaya and divided
into three parts fit for the performance of offerings for the departed, at
1. Thiurnelli representing his
foot,
2. Godavari representing the
middle part, and
3. Gaya representing the head.
Offerings
at any of these three places are supposed to have special benefits in producing
happiness and in the propitiation of the spirits. In Tirunelli ritual
offerings to the spirits are made at Pinnappara, especially on the New Moon
days of the Malayalam months Karkkidakom, Thulam and Kumbham.
It is
believed that Sri Rama and his brother Lakshmana performed the ‘pithrukarma’ of
their father King Dasaratha, standing on this rock.
Trisillery
temple : It is inextricably linked with legends and folklore to Thirunelli Temple. The belief is that the Pinnappara at Thirunelli is a continuous stretch
upto Thrissilery. Therefore it has been a practice that those who come to do
the ancestral rites at Thirunelli, first visit Thrissilery and make a
Vilakkumaala offering there.
You may also like this .....
How
to Reach : On the side of the Brahmagiri hills in Wayanad lay an ancient
temple, dedicated to the Lord Maha Vishnu, Thirunelli temple, surrounded by
beautiful hills and forests, is located 32 km away from Mananthavady.
