B M Lavakumar
The natives of Kodagu are usually overjoyed as the October month arrives. They are basked in the mood of monsoon season for nearly 4 to 5 months while they get ready to relax, welcome the guests at their abodes, pay obeisance to their dear goddess Cauvery.
The mighty Cauvery River is known as goddess of prosperity to people of Karnataka, goddess of good-fortune to Tamil Nadu and is worshiped as mother goddess by the natives of Kodagu.The devotees arrive at the origin of Cauvery River at the hill range of Brahmakundike in Talakaveri during October and on Sankramana day that falls on October 17 this year and at the auspicious moment 12.01pm, wherein the origin seems to be full of surprises.
Among a few festivals that are celebrated in Kodagu, Cauverys majestic view at its origin on Sankramana day is one. The locals call it as Cauvery Sankramana. On that day, the natives get a few branches of a tree from the woods, make sizes of about 4 to 5 feet, shave off the skin a little on both ends,get a specific variety of twines which they wove together to the sticks and burry in front of their homes, fields, plantations and decorate with flowers.A few of them make dosa at home and take it to the largest paddy field where the decorated sticks are buried and puja is offered. This proves how much the natives of Kodagu worship mother nature. The origin of Cauvery River lies above 5,000 feet from sea level on Brahmagiri hill ranges at Talakaveri about 42 kilometers away from Madikeri. Talakaveri has been a treasure on earth and also a tourists’ hotspot in Kodagu and a significant worship center. Cauvery River that originates at Talakaveri flows with full might and enchanting milky bubbles is a great treat indeed. The innumerable devotees arrive at this location from across the nation and also take a holy dip into the pristine waters.
Cauvery River that originates at Talakaveri, flows through winding valleys and joined by tributaries along its journey from Bhagamandala, Balamuri, Guhya, hill ranges covering about 381 kilometers in Karnataka, further flowing into Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry, a distance of about 802 kilometers, and joins Bay of Bengal, all along irrigating farmlands and worship centers located along its route. The ancient Skanda text has the story that exemplifies the origin of Cauvery River at Talakaveri. In that era, there lived a sage by the name Kavera in Brahmagiri hill near Talakaveri. He was longing for a daughter and that made him to go on long meditation seeking the graces from Lord Brahma. Lord Brahma, who was pleased with the penance and meditation of sage, gave him a foster daughter by the name Lopamudre who grew in his ashram and was known as Cauvery.
South Kashi Bhagamandala
Those who travel to Talakaveri, make it a point to go to Bhagamandala and offer puja to Bhagandeshwar. Bhagamandala is confluence where there are temples dedicated to Shiva, Subramanya, Vishnu and Ganapati. It was known as Bhagamandala because the sage Bhaganda had done his penance and meditation at this hill. Its also known as south Kashi. Bhagamandala hill is flocked by innumerable pilgrims especially during this season. A few devotees offer puja for the repose of the souls of their parents. A lamp will be lit in a room of Bhagandeshwar temple throughout one-month of Tulasankramana. The devotees pour the ghee that they offer. Similarly they offer rice to the Akshaya barn with the hope that their storerooms are always full of grains.