River Kaveri (Cauvery)
Religious Significance
The Kaveri river is considered sacred by devout Hindus and is often referred to as Dakshin Ganga or the ‘Ganges of the South’. The river is personified as the Goddess Kaveri Amman, who is worshipped at several shrines along the course of the river.
According to Hindu mythology, Vishnumaya or Lopamudra, daughter of Lord Brahma, was born on the earth as the child of the Kavera Muni. She got married to Sage Agasthaya. Later, she became the river Kaveri in order to serve mankind.
Ecological Significance
The river basin supports a wide spectrum of organisms, many of which are endemic. It is the natural habitat many fish varieties including the Mahseer, one of the popular game varieties.
The Kaveri river is one of the important rivers in our country. The river along with its major tributaries (Kabini, Noyyal, Bhavani, Amaravathy, Lokapavani, Kapila, Hemavathi etc.) pass through important urban centres including Bangalore, Mysore, Coimbatore, Trichy and Erode and acts as a lifeline to the people of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.
Large-scale water extraction and other activities in the river have adversely affected the water quantity and quality.
Place of Origin: Talakaveri (Western Ghats), Karnataka
Length: 765 km
Confluence: Bay of Bengal, Kaveripattinam (Tamil Nadu)