Igororh at 09:12, 3 June 2025

2025-06-03T09:12:04Z

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{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2020}}
{{Use Indian English|date=July 2020}}
{{Infobox waterfall
| name = Agasthiyar Falls
| alt_name = Papanasam Falls
| photo_caption = Cascade of Papanasam Falls
| photo = Papanasam Waterfall.jpg
| map = Tamil Nadu
| map_width =
| relief = yes
| coordinates = {{coord|8|42|14.23|N|77|21|49.07|E|type:waterbody_scale:50000|format=dms|display=inline,title}}
| location = [[Papanasam, Tirunelveli|Papanasam]], [[Tirunelveli district]], [[Tamil Nadu]]
| map_label = Agasthiyar Falls
| type = Segmented Plunges
| elevation =
| height = {{convert|300|ft|abbr=on}}
| height_longest =
| number_drops =
| average_width =
| average_flow =
| watercourse = [[Tamiraparani River]]
| world_rank =
}}

'''Agasthiyar Falls''' (also called '''Papanasam Falls''') is located close to [[Papanasam, Tirunelveli|Papanasam]] in [[Tirunelveli district]] in the [[South India]]n state of [[Tamil Nadu]]. The falls is located on the [[Western Ghats]] and to the south of Papanasam lower, the lake from where [[Tamiraparani River]] originates. It is located {{convert|42|km|mi|abbr=on}} from the nearest city [[Tirunelveli]]. As per Hindu legend, it is the place where sage [[Agasthya]] got a view of Shiva in his marriage costume.

The [[Tirunelveli district]] administration organises Chittirai Vishnu festival every year during the [[Tamil calendar|Tamil month]] of ''Chittirai'' (April - May), during the [[Tamil New Year]] day. The falls is a prominent tourist destination in the region and usually frequented by devotees of the [[Papanasanathar Temple]] and [[Sabarimala]].

==Legend==
[[File:Agastiyar with wife.jpg|200px|left|Image of sage [[Agasthya]] with his wife|thumb]]
As per [[Hindu]] legend, during the divine wedding of [[Shiva]] and [[Parvathi]], there was heavy crowd at [[Kailash]], the abode of Shiva. Sage [[Agasthya]] could not view event and prayed to [[Shiva]] at this place to get him a view of the event. Pleased by his devotion, Shiva appeared to the sage and his wife Lopamundra along with Parvathi in his marriage attire. Shiva made the place his abode and came to be called Papanasanathar and the falls nearby the temple got the name of Agasthiyar as Agasthiyar Falls.<ref>{{cite book|title=Spiritual India Handbook|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=djI5mL2qeocC&dq=papanasam+temple&pg=PT342|page=342|publisher=Jaico Publishing House|year=2009|isbn=9788184950243|last=Knapp|first=Stephen}}</ref> [[Tamiraparani River]] reaches is descent in flat land at this place. As per another legend, sage Urosamar floated a set of flowers in the river and the first flower reached the shore at this place. The sage established a temple for Papanasanathar and worshipped the deity here.<ref name="dinamalar">{{cite web|title=Sri Papansanathar temple|url=https://temple.dinamalar.com/en/new_en.php?id=871|year=2014|access-date=1 November 2015|publisher=Dinamalar}}</ref>

As per another legend, the king of celestial deities, [[Indra]] slayed a demon Dwastha, the son of [[Sukracharya]] (the Guru of [[Asura]]s, the demons) as he was performing a penance to seek superior powers against the Devas. Indra incurred ''Brahmatti Dosha'', a sin attained for slaying the [[Brahmin]]. He roamed around a lot of places for doing penance and finally on the advice of [[Brihaspathi]], he landed at Papanasam. Since his sin (''Papam'' locally) was expiated in this place, it came to be known as Papanasam.<ref name="dinamalar"/>

==Geography==
[[File:Thamirabarani River @ Agasthiyar Falls.jpg|200x200px|thumb|Image of downstream Thamirabarani]]
[[File:Agastiyar falls.jpg|200px|thumb|Image of falls|left]]
Agasthiyar Falls is located in [[Western Ghats]] to the South of Papanasam town and to the north of Papanasam Lower, the first lake in the descent of [[Tamiraparani River]]. It is located {{convert|42|km|mi|abbr=on}} from the nearest city [[Tirunelveli]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Falls in Tirunelveli district|url=http://tirunelveli.nic.in/falls.html|publisher=Tirunelveli district administration|year=2011|accessdate=17 November 2015}}</ref> The waters from the falls meanders the stream in the river to Papansam hydro electric project and reaches the catchment area to the [[Papanasam Dam]], which has a storage capacity of {{convert|142.15|ft|m|abbr=on}}.<ref name=hindu/> The place is frequented by animals like [[Tiger]] and [[Leopard|Panther]], which are frequently spotted in the route from Agasthiyar Falls to Papansam as both are located close to [[Kalakkad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve]].<ref name=hindu3>{{cite news|title=Animals come out in open even during day|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-tamilnadu/animals-come-out-in-open-even-during-day/article3710079.ece|work=The Hindu|location=Tirunelveli|date=1 August 2012|accessdate=17 November 2015}}</ref> The falls receives its waters during the [[South-west monsoon]] from May to September, but the maximum amount of rainfall is received during the [[North-east monsoon]] during October to December.But the falls is commonly said by the nearby locales as 365 days falls as people can go there any day because the water is from the dam hence the water flow will not be affected by the monsoon to a large extent. There is a small temple of Agasthiyar near the falls, where devotees worship after taking a holy dip in the falls.<ref name=hindu2>{{cite news|title='Agasthiar' does a Courtallam|url=http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/bline/2003/07/05/stories/2003070500941700.htm|publisher=The Hindu Business Line|location=Papanasam|date=4 July 2003|accessdate=17 November 2015|last=T.E.|first=Raja Simhan}}</ref>

==Culture==
The [[Tirunelveli district]] administration organises Chittirai Vishnu festival every year during the [[Tamil calendar|Tamil month]] of ''Chittirai'' (April - May), during the [[Tamil New Year]] day. The falls is usually frequented by devotees of the [[Papanasanathar Temple]], who take a holy dip in the falls before visiting the temple.<ref>{{cite news|title=Path leading to Agasthiyar Falls will be repaired|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-tamilnadu/path-leading-to-agasthiyar-falls-will-be-repaired/article1828922.ece|work=The Hindu|location=Tirunelveli|date=16 April 2007|accessdate=17 November 2015}}</ref> The falls is also frequented by tourists to [[Sabarimala]] during the November - December season in a religious circuit in the region and [[Kutralam falls]].<ref name=hindu1>{{cite news|title=Tirparappu falls attracts tourists|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/tirparappu-falls-attracts-tourists/article7376643.ece|work=The Hindu|location=Nagercoil|date=2 July 2015|accessdate=17 November 2015}}</ref> Flood warning is issued during [[North-east monsoon]] when excessive rain results in overflow and the falls remain closed for the visitors.<ref name=hindu>{{cite news|title=Flood in the Tamirabharani|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-tamilnadu/flood-in-the-tamirabharani/article6684751.ece|work=The Hindu|location=Tirunelveli|date=12 December 2014|accessdate=17 November 2015}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[List of waterfalls]]
* [[List of waterfalls in India]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==

{{commons category}}

[[Category:Waterfalls of Tamil Nadu]]
[[Category:Geography of Tirunelveli district]]

Agasthiyar Falls - Revision history

Igororh at 09:12, 3 June 2025