Boon of Cauvery maha pushkaram

In India, everyone believes in the cleansing nature of water, especially the rivers. Tirtha yatra is a pilgrimage in itself. In other countries, most people visit rivers to take in the sights and sounds of nature. In our country, where rivers have been crisscrossing the earth for thousands of years, it is a journey to cleanse one’s soul and be rid of sins.

The practice of paying a visit to rivers and praying, is followed rigorously by many devotees during guru peyarchi. Guru bhagawan is said to reside in one of the 12 rasis for one year. When he moves from one rasi to another, people plan a trip to the particular river associated with the rasi and take a holy dip. For example, when guru is in mesha rasi, it is advisable to bathe in the Ganges.

Likewise, Narmada river is associated with rishabha rasi, Saraswati with midhuna rasi, Yamuna river with kadagam, Godavari with simha rasi, Krishna with kanni, Cauvery with tula, Thamirabharani with viruchikam, the Brahmaputra with dhanus, Tungabhadra with magara rasi, the Sindhu with kumbham and Bharanitha (tributary of Godavari) with meena rasi.

This year, guru is residing in tula, and this sojourn is celebrated for a few days as Cauvery pushkaram, from September 12 to 23. An additional benefit this year is the fact that it is the maha pushkaram at Cauvery, since guru has completed a 12-year cycle of arriving in tula rasi, making it the 144th year of sojourn in this rasi (12x12=144) . While it is recommended that one participate in a pushkaram festival when guru bhagawan has come to stay in one’s rasi (for e.g., those under tula rasi should know that guru is sojourning there for one year), those who fall under other rasis may also visit the river banks of Cauvery, and take part in the prayers being conducted there until September 23. While bathing in the rivers, many are known to chant, Gangeca, Yamunecaiva, Godavari, Saraswati, Narmade, Sindhu, Cauvery jalesamin sannidham kuru. (Meaning, ‘these rivers should flow wherever I bathe’). This ancient prayer establishes the fact that praying for one’s sins to be washed away starts in the Ganges and ends in Cauvery.

There is an interesting story as to why absolution is complete only at Cauvery. After millions of devotees bathed in the waters of the Ganges, Yamuna and Saraswati, the three rivers became so polluted that they complained to Brahma about the pollution and wanted a way out.

Brahma is said to have informed not only the trio but also all devotees that they should bathe in Cauvery at the point where it enters Mayavaram, during the Tamil month of Aippasi.

“Cauvery can never be polluted,” Brahma said. “Originating in Karnataka, she meanders through many lands and arrives at Srirangam, the abode of Sri Ranganatha and wraps herself around the island town like a garland of offering to the Lord. She will never be polluted,” he added.

Just as how Haridwar is famous for the Ganga arti, during Cauvery maha pushkaram, Cauvery arti is done on a grand scale at sunset in Ammamandapam, Srirangam. It is said that one has to bathe in the Ganges for three days for getting rid of one’s sins, five days in the Yamuna, but just one session in the Cauvery is sufficient to absolve one of one’s sins. Cauvery also means the one who grants one liberation from the cycle of life and death. In fact, even the birds, dogs and other creatures in the Cauvery belt are said to attain moksha, by virtue of being touched by the breeze wafting off the Cauvery.