Kaveri was the daughter of one of the local sagekings, Kavera. From birth she had a desire to serve humanity in some way. When the great sage, Agastya, came into the region to do penance for the welfare of the world, Kavera offered him his daughter's hand in marriage and the Sage gratefully accepted. Kaveri and Agastya became inseparable. She served her husband with devotion and never left his side. Then a demon came into the Coorg lands. His evil deeds caused all the springs to dry up and the earth to become parched and cracked. The suffering this brought to the good people, animals and plants was enormous and again Kaveri prayed for the gods to grant her fervent wish to help all beings. One morning, when Kaveri did not feel well enough to walk with her husband for their morning ablutions, Agastya transformed her into water and placed her in his kamandalu (sacred water pot used by sages) and proceeded to their usual prayer place. The sage set down the pot and entered the lake to bathe. The gods, perceiving that the time had come to fulfill Kaveri's desire, sent the elephant headed god, Lord Ganesha, remover of obstacles, in the form of a crow. Ganehsa tipped over the water pot and eagerly Kaveri leapt out, becoming a flowing river, bringing comfort and love to all the dry southern lands. Great was her happiness that she could finally serve all beings in their hour of need. Her husband was sad to be separated from her, but realizing the selflessness of her desire, the great sage gave her many blessings. She would be the "river of grace, washing away the sins of all who bathe in her," and that she would sustain millions of lives, bringing wealth and food to the people of the south for as long as the world lasts.

This lovely energy of grace and blessing still permeates the unspoiled rainforests of Coorg, filling our daily lives with an atmosphere of timelessness and abundance.