The story of Kaveri (one of the seven sacred rivers)

Shiva and Parvathi were marrying each other in the North. This day is very special to all the GODs and Sages. Everybody came to the North, and no-one was in the South. Suddendly, in the middle, the marriage was disturbed because, the ground started shaking like it was the end of the earth!

 Shiva said in surprise,”Parvathi, everybody is in the North and no one is in the South, and that’s why the earth has tilted to the North!” Then he called Agastya, the smartest sage. Shiva asked Agastya,”Agastya will you go to the South?” Agastya said “OH LORD, I don’t want to go to the South. I want to see your marriage.” Shiva said ”You will be able to see my marriage in the South when you meditate on one of the Kodagu (Coorg) hills. Agastya said,”But there is no water in the South!” Shiva said calmly, ”Take the river Kaveri in your “kamandalu”(small pot).”Kaiveri water flowed out of Shiva’s palm, into Agastyas kamandalu.”

Agastya reached Kodagu hills, and Earth restored balance. Then he decided to meditate on Bhrama Giri, one of the Kodagu hills. This is a special hill as Bhrahma is born on this hill. Agastya reached Bhrahma Giri and started to meditate.

Meanwhile, Indra had a beautiful flower garden in the south. But an evil monster comes everyday and destroys his garden. Then Indra had needed to replant it again. One day he killed the demon but he had one problem left…while they were fighting they destroyed Indra’s garden, but he couldn’t replant it because he ran out of water. Until then, Indra was the only God who had water in the South. Then he prayed to Lord Ganesha to get water in the South.

Ganesha accepted his prayer, and appeared before Indra, and said, “I will spill the river Kaveri, to get water in the South.” Ganesha transformed himself into a crow, and spilled the kaveri river out of Agastya’s kamadalu. Then Ganesha quickly turned into a boy. Agastya opened his eyes, and he saw his kamadalu and he gasped when he saw a fat boy next to his spilled kamandalu. Agastya said angrily, “You silly boy, you spilled the only water I had!” He picked up his stick and chased Ganesha to give a tap on his head. But Ganesha was so fat that he could only run slow. Agastya caught him and was about to give a tap on his head, then Ganesha showed his actual form. Agastya bowed down before him. Then Ganesha said,”Let Kaveri flow.”

Then river Kaveri flowed from Bhrahma Giri to Bhagamandala (another Kodagu hill), where she was renamed as Abbey Falls as a waterfall in Bhagamandala.

That’s the end of the story of river Kaveri!

Quiz:

1Q. Whose marriage was happening in the North?

1. Shiva
2. Ganesha
3. Agastya

2Q. Where was Agastya asked to go?

a.       West         

b.      East

c.       South

3Q. Who is this Story about?

a.       Shiva

b.      Agastya

c.       Kaveri

4Q. What is this Mythology?

a.       Indian

b.      Greek

c.       Roman

The End