The Kaveri river meets the Narmada river near Mandhata (Omkareshwar), around 882 km from Narmada's source.[1] The Narmada Mahatmya texts, which glorify the Narmada river, extol the confluence (sangam) of Narmada and Kaveri as a holy place (tirtha). Along with its bigger namesake in the South, the Kaveri river of Madhya Pradesh has been mentioned in the Matsya and the Kurma Puranas.[2]
The junction of the Kaveri and Narmada is famed throughout the world; it destroys all sins; one should bathe there because the Kaveri is very sacred and the Narmada is a great river; whatever benefit a man may gain between the Ganges and Yamuna (that is, at Prayaga), the same accrues to him when he bathes at the Kaveri-sangama.
According to the Matsya Purana, Kubera performed a tapas in honour of Shiva at the confluence of Kaveri and Narmada, which made him the lord of yakshas.[3] The Kurma Purana also similarly praises the confluence, declaring that it destroys guilts. It recommends that one should bathe and worship Shiva at this confluence.[4] The Agni Purana also mentions a Kaveri sangama, which F. E. Pargiter identifies with the Kaveri-Narmada confluence.[2]
