In Karnataka's Talacauvery, Thousands Of Devotees Celebrate Cauvery Theerthodbhava

On the night of October 17, thousands of devotees from Kodagu, Karnataka as well as from Tamil Nadu, gathered at Talacauvery in Kodagu to witness the sacred event of Cauvery Theerthodbhava. Amidst the resonant chanting of mantras and various religious rituals, this auspicious event started precisely at 1:26 am in Tukla Lagna, situated on the foothills of Brahmagiri within the revered Brahmakundike, acknowledged as the origin of the River Cauvery. Notably, this year the event unfolded a minute earlier than the anticipated time, drawing a vast audience.

Pradhan Archaka Gururaj Achar and Prashant Achar conducted a special puja on the occasion of the Cauvery Theerthodbhava. The procession also witnessed the participation of notable figures, including MP Pratap Singh.

During this period, the temple towns of Bhagamandala and Talacauvery exuded a festive ambience. Thousands of devotees, adorned in traditional Kodava attire, walked barefoot from Bhagamandala to Talacauvery. Here, they assembled to witness the event and offered hymns in praise of Cauvery. Temple chief priest Gururaj Achar, along with other priests, performed various ceremonial rites.

Legend has it that Goddess Cauvery manifests in the form of a natural spring, where water surges forth from the Brahmakundike. A dedicated group of priests, led by Prashanth Achar, Raviraj Achar and Gururaja Achar, recited Vedic hymns while anointing devotees with sacred water. Later, the faithful collected the theertha (holy water) for distribution among community members and to preserve in their homes as sacred tokens.

Additionally, on this significant day, devotees partake in purifying dips in the primary pond (Kalyani) situated before the Brahmakundike, offering their fervent prayers. They also collect consecrated water in vessels from the Kundike, with priests bestowing blessings through sprinkling the holy water. To manage the gathering, the vicinity around the pond is cordoned off, although, despite the barriers, devotees flocked around the Brahmakundike and the Kalyani.

Various Kodava organisations, such as Akhila Kodava Samaja Youth Wing, Connecting Kodavas, Kodava Riders Club, Jabbhoomi Trust, Thingakoru Mottu Sanghatane, Ammathi Kodava Samaja, Ponnampet Kodava Samaja, Madikeri Kodava Samaja, Balele Kodava Samaja, Kodava Kootaaliyada Koota, Kodava Samajas of Napoklu, Virajpet, Hudikeri, Mysuru, Amma Kodava Samaja, Youth Council, Kodavaamera Kondata, United Kodava Organisation, and Codava National Council, joined in the procession, offering praises to the deity.