The Kaveri River is believed as one of the holy rivers by the devout Hindus and is often known as Dakshin Ganga or the `Ganges of the South`. The river is embodied as the Goddess Kaveri Amman, who is worshipped at several shrines along the course of the river. According to Hindu legends, Vishnumaya or Lopamudra, daughter of Lord Brahma, took birth on the earth as the child of the Kavera Muni and later was married to Sage Agasthaya. Later, she took the form of the river Kaveri in order to serve mankind.
Talakaveri is a pilgrimage spot set amidst Bramahagiri Hills in Kodagu. Pilgrims from all over the country come to these three temples at the birthplace of the river, especially on the particular day known as Tula sankramana when the river water has been said to gush out like a fountain at a predetermined time.
In the month of Tula, devotees take holy dip in the Kavery river. The pilgrim centers in its banks across Tamilnadu are visited by thousands devotees, most prominent of them is the Mayavaram. The three major river islands at Kaveri have a strong Sri Vaishnava legacy, with lovely sculptures of Lord Vishnu in a reclining posture on the mythological seven-headed serpent as his celestial bed or the Sheshashayana. These three temples are known as Madya Ranga, Adi Ranga and Anthya Ranga.
On the banks of the Kaveri is the ancient temple town of Talakad where the holy festival Panchalinga Darshana is held every 12 years and devotees bathe in the Kaveri River. Gigantic temples built by the Chola kings, then maintained and nourished by the Vijayanagara and Maratha kings, dot the Kaveri delta. Majority of the Vaishnava Divya desam temples those having been sung by the Alwars and Saivite `Paadal Petra sthalam` temples are in the delta.
The temple town of Kumbakonam is in the Kaveri banks. The bathing ghats along the River Kaveri are Amma Mandapam in Srirangam, Bhagavath Padithurai in Kumbakonam, Pushya Mandapa Padithurai in Thiruvaiyaru, Chakkarai Padithurai in Kumbakonam and Thula Kattam in Mayavaram.
The river Kaveri is the holy river of India and holds the special religious importance. People in India considers river Kaveri as Goddess and shows reverence to it. She has been referred as the Goddess Kaveri Amman. According to the legends she purifies our karmas and washes away all our pains and sufferings. She is believed to be our Universal mother and gives us peace.