Ganesha and the River Kaveri

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Ganesha and the River Kaveri

While Ganga is the biggest river of north India, Kaveri is the most

important river of south India. Kaveri is also called Dakshina

Ganga or 'Ganga of the south'. Many Indians lovingly address the

Kaveri as 'Kaveri-amma' or 'Kaveri-taai' (mother Kaveri). Some

people call the river Ponni. In Tamil, 'ponni' means 'gold'.

 

To bring water to the arid areas of South, Sage Agastya with the

blessings of Brahma obtained water in his Kamndalu (the

vessel used to hold water for rituals of worship) from Shiva. He

then came down south wanting to find the ideal spot from which

the river could flow, and reached the Kodagu (Coorg) hills. He

called out to a little boy (Ganesha in disguise), and asked him to

hold the vessel carefully while he searched around for a good

spot.

Ganesha, in his wisdom, selected the right place for the origin of

the river, and left the Kamandalu on the ground at that spot. A

crow came and sat on the vessel and when Agastya returned

and saw it, he shooed it away. When it flew of, it upset the

Kamandalu and the water gushing forth was the sacred River

Kaveri flowing from the spot now known as Talakaveri.

 

There is a shrine near the kundike and a big tank in front of it

where devotees baths before offering prayers. There are 2

temples, a Shiva temple and with a rare and ancient Shiva Linga,

and another temple dedicated to Lord Ganesha. This temple

has a holy Ashwantha tree where, according to legend, the

Trimurti's - Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh gave Darshan to sage

Agastya.

 

According to a different version of the above legend, Vishnu Maya

became a dwarf and Agastya carried her in a small mud pot to

south India. In south India, God Ganesha turned the pot upside

down. Immediately, Vishnu Maya emerged out of the pot and

assumed the form of the river Kaveri!