Papanasam is a panchayat town situated in the Thanjavur district of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Geographically, it serves as a suburban region of Kumbakonam and is located approximately 15 kilometres (9.3 mi) from Kumbakonam and 25 kilometres (16 mi) from Thanjavur.
The name Papanasam translates literally to "Destruction of Sins" in the Tamil language. It is recognized as a local administrative area within the region's rural landscape.