The Hindu : Karnataka News : Stream of devotees arrive for ‘teerthodbhava’

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Oct 19, 2007
ePaper

Karnataka

Karnataka

Stream of devotees arrive for ‘teerthodbhava’

Staff Correspondent

TALACAUVERY (KODAGU district): Devotees from across the State and also Kerala and Tamil Nadu thronged Talacauvery on Thursday to have a glimpse of the annual “Teerthodbhava” which occurred at 8.19 a.m., a minute before the scheduled time.

Goddess Cauvery is said to emerge from the “Brahmakundike”, a tiny pond in front of the shrine, in the form of holy water (teertha).

The “Teerthodbhava” took place amid chanting of “Cauverammana padaravindakke Govinda, Govinda..” by devotees and hymns by priests, who sat around the “Brahmakundike” in anticipation of the “teertha”.

A cool breeze wafted around and mist engulfed the hill shrine at the foothills of the mighty Brahmagiri Hills in the Western Ghats range as the “archakas” performed “mahamangalarati” to invoke the blessings of the river goddess. The little shrine of goddess Cauvery was bedecked with floral decorations. Frenzied devotees jumped into the main pond (kola) in front of the “Brahmakundike” after breaking the tight police cordon to have the first glimpse of the holy water and to collect it.

A large number of devotees thronged Talacauvery in the early hours of the day, waiting anxiously for the final moment. Thanks to the renovation work undertaken by the Cauvery Neeravari Nigama, more space has been made available this time, enabling easy movement of people. Huge slabs of granite stones have been laid all round, including the main pond. Renovation work is nearing completion both at Bhagamandala and Talacauvery.

The Kodagu Ekikarana Ranga organised free food distribution for devotees for the 17th year in a row. Chettiyar families and other groups from Mandya organised free food distribution at Talacauvery, while the Virajpet Kodava Samaja it at Bhagamandala. Madikeri MLA K.G. Bopaiah; Virajpet MLA H.D. Basavaraj, president of the zilla panchayat Deerghakeshi Shivanna, Deputy Commissioner K.R. Niranjan, Superintendent of Police Thrilok Chandra, and ‘deva takkas’ (headmen) Kodi Motayya and Balladka Appaji were among those who witnessed the “teerthodbhava”.

A large number of devotees took a dip at the Sangam in Bhagamandala.

Several male devotees tonsured their heads. They offered puja at the Sri Bhagandeshwara Temple before proceeding to Talacauvery.

Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation and private buses plied as usual. The police had a tough time regulating traffic as a large number of cars and jeeps, apart from two-wheelers, were lined up at Bhagamandala and Talacauvery.

A number of stalls has been put up at Bhagamandala. The ensuing Cauvery “jatre” will go on for a month from Thursday.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Karnataka