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According to Sthalapurana, this holy river originally was
flowing off the temple under the name of Uttaravahini, but at
the behest of Agasthya it changed its course and has been
flowing touching the temple walls for the benefit of the pilgrims.
When Agasthya visited with his wife Lopamudra and stayed here
during his paryatana in the Andhra Pradesh, he found water
resources not satisfactory, and the citizens and yatris were
facing hardships for bath and drinking. He then travailed further
down and established a temple near Thondawada of Chandragiri
mandalam. Here too the scarcity of water stared into his eyes.
He then did penance and prayed to Mother Ganga to descend
to these parts and flow perennially for the benefit of people and
crops. Gracing him with Sakshatkar, she agreed to fulfil his
desire, since his humanism was quite laudable. Forthwith she
started flowing from a place now called. Anjaneyagutta, and
then took the other two streams called
Kalyani and Bhima into her fold. After that it flowed southwards to offer
Jalabhishek to Mahadev abiding in Agastheeswaralyam, built by him. From there it
moved further towards north to lift the people and rejuvenate the dying crops
surrounding the Kalahasti area. Fulfilling the Agasthaya's humanitarian wish,
she then joined Bay of Bengal near Vaakadu. Since then the same course is
continued. In token of her granting the wish of Agasthya, there are found the
holy foot prints of Mother Ganga
- near the Agastheeswaralayam, the scene of Agasthya's penance. And they are
being worshipped even today with great eclat on Asweeja Pournami offering several
prayers. As the
Ganges is flowing at the ardent prayer
of that Maharshi, the water rids one of his sins,
if bathed. Hence the craze for bath, particularly on two occasions - Sivaratri
and Uttarayana Punyakala.
To cap all, as it were, here occurs Pushkaram every year under Magha Nakshatra
in the month of Magha masa. An unusual occurrence. Hence the thirtham aspect of
Triputi is this kshetra.
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