“Shatshashti koti teerthani dvisaptha bhuvaneshu
cha.
Keshavasya ajnaya yanti thulamaase marudvridham”
(Sixtysix crore Holy Waters from 14 worlds come to
stay in Cauvery in the month of Tula as ordered by Keshava) - Agni Purana.
The start of Tula Maasa is when the Sun enters the
zodiac Libra, this is Tula Sankramana and on this auspicious moment it is
believed that Teertha (Holy Water) springs from the Kundike (Pond) and empties
itself into the larger tank at Talakaveri.
According to a legend the entire living souls in the
earth plane travelled north to be witness to the wedding of Maharudradea and Uma
in Himalayas. This caused a bit of an imbalance on the earth with heavy load
making it tilt towards the North. Observing this Maharudradeva asked Agastya
Muni to go down South to ensure that balance is restored. Agastya Muni was
saddened by this order as this would mean that he would be deprived of being a witness
to the colossal wedding. Maharudradeva understood his plight and told him that
he would ensure that he got powers to view the wedding sitting in South. In
those times there were no rivers in the South it was Dandakarnya, the dry
forest so Maharudradeva released some Ganga water from his matted locks and
gave it to Agastya Muni asking him to release it as soon as he goes there so
that it will flow as a river. Agastya Muni collected in his Kamandalu (Water
pot) set out towards South.
Agastya reached the southern parts of the country
and sat on Brahmagiri with the waters in his Kamandalu to watch the wedding. He
was so engrossed in watching the wedding rituals that he forgot to release the
water. Time passed the region was waterless and it reached a critical state.
Ganesha on the advice of Narada Muni, took the form of a crow, went and sat on
the Kamandala, thus toppling it and allowing the waters to flow as a river. Hence
this water stream is known as Kaveri, as it was enabled by a crow (Kaka). This place
at Brahmagiri hill is considered the Ugamastana (Origin) of Kaveri and on the
site is a thriving temple by the same name, near Bhagamandala in Kodagu
district, Karnataka, India.
The new freedom provided by Ganesha to Kaveri made
her flow in such a surge that the saree knot of the women folk was spun around
and it went behind. This is the unique style even today the Kodava women drape
the saree with the frills behind. For the Kodava people Kaveri is their mother,
father, relative and friend. They revere her so much that it is one of their
principal deities.
Kaveri has become Jeevanadi (Lifeline) to millions
of people quenching thirst and helping farmers raise bumper crops most notably Ragi,
Paddy, Sugarcane, Fruits and Vegetables. Practically Karnataka and Tamil Nadu depend on Kaveri a lot. This would
not have been possible but for the great engineer Sir M. Vishweshwariah who envisioned
the Krishna Raja Sagara dam project commissioned in the year 1931. When the
construction cost went beyond the estimate and the project was in a verge of
discontinuation for lack of funds, in an act that signified rare compassion and
great vision for the welfare of future generation, Maharani Kempananjammanni
Vani Vilasa Sannidhana of Wodeyar Dynasty sold family jewellery, diamonds, gold
and silver plates to raise funds for construction. This effort helped the
estimated 82,000 Kms irrigating and providing drinking water to Karnataka and
Tamil Nadu.
May Kaveri bless us all......!
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