Thousands of devotees flocked to Talacauvery in Kodagu district near here to witness the Cauvery Theerthodbhava amid religious rituals today at early hours.
The annual ritual to mark the gushing of water from a spring in a tank at Talacauvery, considered to be the source of the Kaveri river, draws a large number of devotees from not only Kodagu and but also from different parts of Karnataka, and neighbouring Tamil Nadu and Kerala.
The Kaveri Theerthodbhava took place at 6.28 a.m., a minute earlier than the scheduled 6.29 p.m., with a battery of priests chanting mantras before sprinkling holy water on the devotees.
The turnout, however, was perceived to be less this year. Devotees from Tamil Nadu, who used to constitute a substantial chunk of devotees, were negligible, according to police and official sources, reported The Hindu.
The devotees, gathered around the Punya Kola (the holy pool where devotees take holy dips) since midnight, rushed into the Kola at 2.35 am itself. A pearl necklace adorned the idol of Goddess Cauvery, presented by industrialist Arun Cariappa.
The Police found it difficult to control the crowd charged with religious sentiments. The Talacauvery Jathra will be held for a month, during which it is considered auspicious to take a holy dip at the Triveni Sangama, the confluence of three rivers, offer pinda daana and then proceed further up the hill 5 kms to Talacauvery, to bathe in the Punya Kola.
As has been the practice since the past several years, members of Kodagu Ekikarana Ranga, Mandya Nagarikara Samithi, the Chettiar family and members of Virajpet Kodava Samaja distributed food packets to the pilgrims.
What is Theerthodbhava
Every year, at a pre-determined time in mid October, water ‘gushes’ out from the pond at Talacauvery, the birthplace of river Kaveri, considered the holiest place for the Coorgs (Kodavas). Talacauvery is also a pilgrimage centre for the people of South India, especially those living on the banks of Cauvery.
The ‘Theerthodbhava’ occurs on October 17, the ‘Tula Sankramana’ day. Tala Cauvery, the birthplace of the sacred river, is situated on the slopes of Brahmagiri Hills in Western Ghat range of Kodagu district. Brahmagiri hills has some old temples and holy water ponds. Located amidst forest, coffee-orange plantations and the 4187-foot Brahmagiri Hills, offering nature’s splendour and beauty to the pilgrim, Tala Cauvery turns auspicious for hundreds of people coming from both Kodagu and neighbouring districts on the auspicious Tula Sankramana day to witness the emerging of holy water from thr ‘Kundike’, the sacred pond. At the appointed hour, the sacred river rises from a small pond and flows down the slopes. Hundreds of pilgrims jump into the big tank in front of the small pond and take a holy dip. Tala Cauvery is 39 kilometers from Madikeri, the headquarters of the district.
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