Kaveri

Goddess Kaveri personifies the sacred Kaveri River of South India, revered as the 'Dakshina Ganga' or Ganga of the South. Her origin is described in the Skanda Purana and the Kaveri Mahatmya, where she is born as the daughter of King Kavera and later becomes a river to bless the land. According to the Brahmanda Purana, she is associated with the sage Agastya, who carried her in his kamandalu (water pot) and released her at the request of Lord Ganesha, giving rise to the river's flow. In some traditions, she is considered the consort of Agastya.

Iconographically, Kaveri is depicted as a fair-complexioned goddess seated on a lotus or a fish, holding a water vessel and flowers, often with a pot of grains symbolizing fertility and abundance. Her attributes include fertility, prosperity, purity, and the flowing nature of water. The river is central to the agricultural prosperity of Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, irrigating vast paddy fields, and is worshipped as a life-giving mother. Major festivals include Kaveri Pushkaram, a twelve-yearly event when Jupiter enters the sign of Simha (Leo), and Kaveri Sankramana, celebrated in Karnataka when the river rises.

Regional worship is prominent in Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Kerala, with numerous temples dedicated to her, such as the Kaveri Temple at Talakaveri in Coorg, the source of the river. In Hindu cosmology, she is one of the seven sacred rivers (Sapta Sindhu) and is believed to purify sins. The Kaveri Stotram and the mantra 'Om Kāverīyai namaḥ' are chanted for her blessings. Her myths emphasize her role as a bestower of fertility and her connection to the sage Agastya, as narrated in the Mahabharata Vana Parva, where the river's origin is linked to the sage's penance.

Fair-complexioned goddess seated on a lotus or fish. Holds water vessel and flowers. Often depicted with a pot of grains symbolizing fertility.