Sarva PanchangSarva Panchang
Sankranti

Tula Sankranti

Also called: Jala Vishuva Sankranti, Kaveri Theerthodbhava, Tula Sankramana

Marks the Sun's transit into Libra (Tula). It is traditionally called Jala Vishuva, the autumn equinox, although because of precession the actual autumn equinox now falls more than three weeks earlier, around 22 September. In Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, it is celebrated with immense joy as Kaveri Theerthodbhava at Talakaveri in the Brahmagiri hills of Coorg, where the sacred river Kaveri is believed to surge forth miraculously at an exact calculated auspicious moment.

Key facts

Paksha
Vishuva Class (Equinox Ingress)
Lunar month
Sun enters Tula (Libra) in Ashwin / Kartik
Observed on
The day the Sun enters Tula Rashi (~October 17-18)
Deities
Goddess Kaveri, Surya Dev, Lord Vishnu

The story

The Skanda Purana (Kaveri Mahatmya) narrates how Goddess Kaveri manifested as a sacred river through the blessings of Sage Agastya and Lord Ganesha to relieve severe drought in the southern realm, promising to bless her waters with special holiness on Tula Sankranti.

Practices

  • Witnessing the holy resurgence (Theerthodbhava) at the Brahmakundike in Talakaveri, Coorg
  • Taking a sacred bath in the holy Cauvery river at dawn
  • Farmers offering agricultural harvest gratitude and worshipping coconut and rice
  • Charity of food grains and seasonal fruits to the needy

Regional variations

  • Massive state festival in Coorg (Kodagu) and celebrated throughout the Cauvery delta basin in Tamil Nadu (Aippasi month)

Common questions

What is Kaveri Theerthodbhava?
It is the sacred moment on Tula Sankranti when the holy water inside the spring of Talakaveri in Coorg visibly bubbles and surges, witnessed by thousands of pilgrims.

Types of Sankranti