KUMAAR HOLIDAYS
No.42, Chowdary Nagar Main Road,
Valasaravakkam, Chennai-600087
Cell: 7810986933 / 7810896933 / 93810 61000
Website: www.kumaarholidays.com
E-mail: kumaarholidays1@gmail.com
Talakaveri is the place that is generally considered to be the source of the river Kaveri. It is located by Brahmagiri hill (not to be confused with the Brahmagiri range further south) near Bhagamandala in Kodagu district, Karnataka,
1,276 m. above sea level. However, there is not a permanent visible
flow from this place to the main rivercourse except during the rainy
season.
A tank or kundike has been erected on a hillside, at the place
that is said to be the origin. It is also marked by a small temple, and
the area is frequented by pilgrims. The river originates as a spring
feeding this tank, which is considered to be a holy place to bathe on
special days. The waters are then said to flow underground to emerge as
the Kaveri river some distance away. The temple has been renovated extensively by the state government recently [2007].
On Tulasankramana day (the first day of Tula Masa month, according to the Hindu calendar,
which normally falls in mid October) thousands of pilgrims flock to the
river's birthplace to witness the rise of the fountainhead, when water
gushes up from the spring at a predetermined moment. The tula snanam
(Sacred bath in the Tula month) is observed across pilgrim towns in Kaveri's banks.
Talakaveri is about 8 km away from Bhagamandala and 48 km from Madikeri.
Pilgrim center
The temple here is dedicated to Goddess Kaveriamma. Other deities
worshipped here are Lord Agasthiswara, which denotes the link between
Kaveri and Sage Agasthyaand Maha Ganapathi.
The legend goes that the Kaveri river was held in a Kamandalu (a container of sacred water) by Sage Agasthya. Vinaayaka
(Lord Ganesha) took the form of a crow and perched on the kamandalu of
Agasthya when Agasthya was meditating. When Agasthya realised this, he
shooed away the crow. But the devine crow tipped the kamandalu and
toppled it. Out poured Kaveri which started flowing. The crow
disappeared and in its place stood a small boy. Agasthya thought that
the boy was playing some prank and clenching both his fists, went to
pound the head of the small boy. But the boy escaped and Agasthya gave
chase. Finally the boy vanished and Lord Ganesha showed himself to
Agasthya. Agasthya was aghast at the realisation that he had just tried
to knock the head of Lord Ganesha himself. As atonement, he knocked his
own head with both of his clenched fists.
Brahmagiri Hills as seen from Talacauveri
The link between Kaveri and Lord Ganesha also extends to Srirangam as well, in Lord Ganesha's role in setting up the Ranganatha temple there. The temple at Tirumakudalu Narasipura (confluence of Kabini, Kaveri and the legendary Spatika Sarovara)) is also dedicated to Agasthiwara.
History of the temple priests of Talakaveri
It is believed that Mayura Varma, and Narasimman the Kadamba King who
ruled vast areas of southern and central India in the 4th Century A.D.
brought Brahmins from Ahi Kshetra (or Ahichatra) and put them in-charge
of various temples in Tulu Nadu. Ahi Kshetra is mentioned in the
Mahabharata as lying north of the Ganges, and as being the capital of
Northern Panchala. It is apparently the Adisadra of Ptolemy, and its
remains are visible near Ramnagar in Tahsil Aonla in Bareilly district.
The Brahmins who first landed in Shivalli in Tulunadu and then spread
across 31 villages came to be known as Shivalli Brahmins or Tulu
Brahmins. It is from Shivalli and Tulu Brahmins, that the priests of
Talakaveri temple have come from.
Achar Family of Talacauvery
The beginning of the Achar family in Talakaveri starts ten
generations or about 220 to 230 years ago. A Brahmin named Venkappayya
and his two brothers, along with their families came to Talakaveri on a
pilgrimage. Lingaraja the First was the ruler of Kodagu. One night God
appeared in Lingaraja's dream and indicated that there was a Brahmin
family currently visiting Talakaveri. God commanded Lingaraja to appoint
this Brahmin to be the priest at the temple. After the king arose from
his dream, he sent for this Brahmin family. The king's messengers found
Venkappayya in Talakaveri and informed him about the king's desire.
Venkappayya accompanied the king's messengers from Talakaveri to
Madikeri, a distance of about 24 miles to meet the king.
Lingaraja received Venkappayya and requested him to start daily puja
at the temple. The king set up an endowment to pay Venkappayya for his
services at the temple. This was the beginning of the Achar family of
Talacauvery. The priesthood bestowed by Lingaraja upon Venkappayya has
passed on through many generations to his heirs. It is hereditary as
most priesthoods are, and all male members of the family have the
birthright to become priests at the temple. The current generation of
Achar priests at the temple is the ninth from Venkappayya.
Venkappayya came from Shivalli Halli (village) of South Canara
district. The Brahmins here were called Putturayas, probably meaning
priests from Puttur. This Puttur is near Udupi. Venkappayya Putturaya's
descendants are the Achars. The current Achars are the ninth generation
from Venkappayya. It is not known why the descendants of Venkappayya
took on the surname of Achar. Although Venkappayya came to Talakaveri
with his two brothers, only Venkappayya's descendants are documented.
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