The Miracle of Kaveri
Seeta myself and Seeta's cousin
Last
week, I had a most wonderful trip. I went to the picturesque slopes of the
Brahmagiri hills. The holy place, from where Mother River Cauvery (Kaveri)
springs.
Kaveri
is considered the Ganga of the South of India.
My
friend Seeta, who I have known for the last 30 years, was visiting the place and
she invited me to go along with her.
So
I flew to Bangalore.
From
there, it was 5hrs, of scenic drive to Coorg.
My
friend Seeta is originally from Coorg, hence we stayed with her sister and
brother in law.
Both,
doctors, both very hospitable, and both, great human beings.
Early
next morning, we drove for about 2 hrs, where the Mother Kaveri moves, as in a
slow dance, under the bridges, that adorn the beautiful landscape.
I
took 3 dips, and imagined, Mother’s Grace descending over me. I felt blessed!
Then
it was another half an hour to the source of Mother Kaveri. It is called Thalla
Cauvery.
On
top of a mountain, was a small tank. About 4ft. by 4 ft, believed to be the
birthplace of Mother Kaveri.
A
few steps below the small tank, there is a bigger tank, the size of large
swimming pool.
We
again took the dips. The gracious pandit poured water over my head from the
higher, smaller tank above. The water was clean. Why am I surprised?
Now
let me tell you the story of the sacred place.
Beautiful
Kaveri is the daughter of the Sage Kaavera.
Kaveri
performed tremendous penance, to be able to achieve the boon, of becoming a
river, for the arid region.
As
Kaveri turned into a beautiful damsel, the enamoured Sage Agastya asked
Kaveri’s father for her hand in marriage.
The
father could not refuse the sage. Hence Kaveri, being a dutiful daughter agreed
to marry the sage, but there was a condition attached to the matrimony.
She
told her husband that if he left her alone, for any amount of time, she would
leave him.
The
sage agreed. The wedding was solemnized.
However,
once the sage left her alone, for a short while, as he went nearby for a bath.
Kaveri
decided to leave her husband, as she had vowed, she would do, if her condition
was not fulfilled.
The
Sage protested. The locals interfered and took sides, in the dispute that arose
between husband and wife. They were cursed, that they would become corrupted by
sin.
The
Mother transformed into a Mighty River and promised that whosoever bathed in her
clear cool waters, would be absolved of all negativity.
Not
only that. Mother Kaveri promised to appear once a year. I bet that you are
about to ask me how She does that?
Well,
a holy miracle occurs every year. As soon as the sun reaches a particular
position, mostly on the 17th of October, the water in the small tank
bubbles up, as the locals implore Mother to come, one more time to wash away
their negativities. And she does. Appear.
I
was fortunate to be there on the 17th of October
J.
However Her Darshan time, was at 1.30 in the morning
L.
Oh
2 more things! The force of Mother Kaveri, turning into a mighty river, made the
pleats of Her sari, which were in the front, move to the back. Until today, the
charming ladies of Coorg wear their sarees with the pleats at the back.
Also
the water beneath the bigger tank disappears, to appear much later as a dancing
stream. Maybe that happened as Kaveri hid, because of the wrath of her husband.
I
was told, that even though scientists have dug at the site, to find the hidden
waters of Mother Kaveri, under the tank, they have been unable to.
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