Editing Kaveri (section)

== Religious significance ==
[[File:Arulmigu Rajamariamman Devasthanam, JB (2025) - img 48 (cropped).jpg|thumb|A depiction of [[Agastya]] creating the Kaveri with [[Ganesha]], at a [[Kovil]] in [[Johor Bahru]], [[Malaysia]]]]

In [[Hinduism]], the river is considered one of seven holy rivers in India. The river is personified and worshiped as the river goddess ''Kaveri Amma.''<ref name="Wisdom" /><ref name="Rel">{{Cite book |last=Warrier |first=Shrikala |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qNhiCAAAQBAJ&dq=goddess+kaveri&pg=PA222 |title=Kamandalu: The Seven Sacred Rivers of Hinduism |publisher=Mayur University |year=2014 |pages=20, 192–195|isbn=978-0-95356-797-3}}</ref> Kaveri is mentioned as both a river and a goddess in various Hindu texts such as the ''[[Mahabharata]]'' and the ''[[Puranas]]''. The river is mentioned as one of the seven holy [[Ganges|Gangas]] and bathing in the river is said to grant one's desired as per the ''[[Sivapurana]]''. The ''[[Varaha Purana]]'' states that the river flows from the five great mountains and gives longevity to those who drink the waters of the river. The ''[[Skanda Purana]]'' narrates the various origins of the river. [[Shiva]] filled [[Agastya]]'s [[kamandala|bowl]] with Kaveri, who flowed as a river with the help of [[Ganesha]].<ref name="Wisdom" />

In another legend, [[Lopamudra]] becomes Agastya's wife and takes on a form of water during a severe drought in South India. Agastya carries her in his small brass water pot and Ganesha, in the form of crow, knocks the water pot down. The spilled water runs down the hill and onto the drought-stricken land.<ref>{{cite book |last=Eck |first=Diana L. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rNlJOSf__xYC&dq=kaveri+eck&pg=PA177 |title=India: A Sacred Geography |publisher=Harmony Books |year=2012 |location=United States |page=179|isbn=978-0-385-53191-7}}</ref> Another story narrates that during the [[Samudra Manthana]], or churning of the [[Kshira Sagara|Ocean of Milk]], [[Mohini]] and Lopamudra retrieved the nectar of immortality for the gods. Afterwards, [[Brahma]] took care of Lopamudra as his daughter and later offered her to king Kavera, who renamed her as Kaveri. When Kaveri grew up she prayed to Brahma to transform her into a purifying river.<ref name="Rel"/>

As per the [[Tamil literature]] ''[[Manimekalai]]'', Agastya drank the Ganges River in anger, when the floods destroyed his [[tapas]] and later released it in South India. ''[[Silapathikaram]]'' mentions Kaveri as the daughter of Kavera. In [[Theravada Buddhism]], Kaveri is mentioned as a water channel. It is part of the twenty canal-systems associated with the reservoir Parakkamasamudda that existed in the [[Polonnaruwa]] region during the reign of king [[Parakramabahu I]].<ref name="Wisdom"/>

[[Kaveri Pushkaram]] is a Hindu festival dedicated to the river.<ref name="IE">{{cite web|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/galleries/nation/2017/Sep/19/cauvery-pushkaram-celebration-of-rivers-100823.html|title=Cauvery Pushkaram: Celebration of rivers|work=[[The Indian Express]]|date=19 September 2019|access-date=1 June 2024}}</ref> It is generally observed once every 12 years,<ref name="IE"/> with a "Maha Pushkaram" held every 144 years.<ref name="India">{{cite web|url=https://www.india.com/travel/articles/kaveri-maha-pushkaram-2017-celebration-in-srirangam-and-mayiladuthurai-tamil-nadu-set-for-holy-festival-along-cauvery-3228342/|title=Kaveri Maha Pushkaram 2017 Celebration in Srirangam and Mayiladuthurai: Tamil Nadu Set for Holy Festival along Cauvery|work=India.com|date=12 September 2017|access-date=1 June 2024}}</ref><ref name="Mayil">{{cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/mayiladuthurai-ready-for-cauvery-maha-pushkaram/article19656872.ece|title=Mayiladuthurai ready for Cauvery Maha Pushkaram |newspaper=[[The Hindu]]|date=11 September 2017|access-date=1 June 2024}}</ref> The key pilgrimage sites includes [[Srirangam]] and Thula Kattam at [[Mayiladuthurai]] near the mouth of the river.<ref name="India"/><ref name="Mayil"/> The festival is celebrated for 12 days, and includes ceremonial observations such as [[Homa (ritual)|homam]], [[yagnam]], chanting of the [[Vedas]], ritual feeding, and [[Śrāddha|tharpanam]] accompanied by cultural activities such as music, dance, and spiritual speeches.<ref name="Mayil"/>