= RIVER STORIES *GODAVARI « pi ¢ TAMRAPARNI _ , -The route to your roots Founder Editor: Anant Pai When they look back at their formative years, many Indians nostalgically recall the vital part ‘Amar Chitra Katha comics have played in their lives. It was Amar Chitra Katha that first gave them a glimpse of their glorious heritage. Since they were introduced in 1967, there are now over 450 Amar Chitra Katha titles to choose from. Over 100 million copies have been sold worldwide Now, Amar Chitra Katha fifles are even more widely available in 1000 + bookstores all across India. If you do not have access to a bookstore near you, you can also buy all the titles through our online store, www.amarchitrakatha.com. We provide quick delivery anywhere in the world. To make it easy for you to locate the fitles of your choice from our treasure trove of titles, the books are now arranged in six categories. Epics and Mythology Best known stories from the Epics and the Puranas Indian Classics Enchanting tales from Indian literature Fables and Humour Evergreen folktales, legends and tales of wisdom and humour Bravehearts Stirring tales of brave men and women of India Visionaries Inspiring tales of thinkers, social reformers and nation builders Contemporary Classics The best of modem Indian literature Rosoarch and Seript: Godavari - Krithika Nair Narmada and Tamraparni - Niranjana Sivaram Mlustrations: Godavari - Onkar Nath Bhattacharya Narmada and Tamraparni- Rajib Das Colourist: Periasamy Samikannu, Venkatesan Muniyan Layout: Anvita Tekriwal Deputy Art Director: Ritoparna Hazra Savio Mascarenhas roject Manager: Sanjana Kapur Executive Editor: Reena Ittyerah Puri AMAR CHITRA KATHA PVT LTD. © Anar Chita Kaha Pvt Lid, Pebriary 2021, Published by Amar Chitra Katha Pvt. Ltd, AFL House, 7th oor, Lok Bharati Complex Marol Maroc Road Ande (Eas, Mumbai - 40008, India Fcehook: The Amar Chitra Katha Stato lntagram: @amarchitakatha Twit: @ACKConics ‘lights reserva. Thisbookie old subjnct othe condtionthathe pblstion may tbe reproduced, stored na retreat including bt net inte compte, sts extrral aves elecuonicorcigtal dvces evades wastes or vansmited in any frm eb ary mes including bat hot lated te cyoatyling, photocopying. docutech or ther reproyaphic reproductions mechanical ecrdng electron, dg verons without he prior writen permision ofthe pblsher nor be otherwise rested nary foes binding of cover ther than thatin which ts pubished and without asmlat conan being impos on thesubseq ent purchaseWe ‘CANNOT GO ON UKE THIS. T SHALL PERFORM A PENANCE AN?AMAR CHITRA KATHA GROWN 40 MANY GRAINS, FRUITS AND VEGETABLES, T CAN FINALLY COOK A GOOD, MEAL FOR YOU. HOWEVER, THE OTHER ASHRAMS REMAINED DRY EVEN IF THEY RECEIVED WATER, "3 WERE BURNING WITH JEALOLISY.GODAVARI [GALINA ANP AHALYA NOTICED THE DRYNESS OF THE OTHER ASHRAM.AMAR CHITRA KATHA GANESHA TOOK THE GLISE OF A BRAHMIN ANP VISITED GALITAMA’S ASHRAMGODAVARIAMAR CHITRA KATHAGODAVARIAMAR CHITRA KATHA GALITAMA THEN TOOK GANGA TO A PLACE CALLED TRIMBAK NEAR NASHIK. WE SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF BEING ‘JEALOUS OF A SAGE AS GREAT AS HERE, SHE COULD FLOW DOWN TO QUENCH THE THIRST OF THIS PARCHED LAND: THE RIVER CAME TO BE KNOWN AS GODAVARI, SINCE SHE GAVE LIFE TO THE COW, ‘GO! OR ‘GALI’ MEANS COW, "DA! MEANS TO GRANT AND ‘VARI’ MEANS STREAM. HIS DEAR GANGA IN THE FORM OF GODAVARI. HE TOOK THE FORM OF | [A LINGA ANZ CAME TO BE KNOWN AS TRIMBAKESHWARA.GODAVARI THE ARABIAN 5EA 15 CLOSE TO TRIMBAK. IT IS SAID THAT AS THE GODAVAR! BEGAN TO FLOW TOWAR?S IT, pa) GAUTAMA, WITH A FEW BLADES OF KUSHA GRASS, DIRECTED THE RIVER'S COURSE EASTWARDS. [——> IN THIS WAY, A - aaa aces os ©)AMAR CHITRA KATHA SUDDENLY, SHE NARROWS DOWN TO LESS THAN QUARTER OF HER WIDTH AS SHE leurs THROLGE THE EASTERN ayGODAVARI THEN SHE CONTINHES AS A BROADER RIVER TILL SHE REACHES THE BAY OF BENGAL. RIVER Gopavag, BAY OF BENGAL ARABIAN SEA ‘MOTHER GODAVAR! AS DEPICTED IN A ‘STATUE IN KOVVUR, [Ir (5 SAID THAT OVERAWE? BY THE EXPANSE OF THE SEA, SHE BREAKS INTO SEVEN STREAMS AS SHE JOINS 7. THESE SEVEN STREAMS ARE NAMED AFTER THE SEVEN HOLY SAGES, THE SAPTARSHIS. SOME OF THE STREAMS ARE SILTED TODAY BLT THEY CONTINHE TO BE CONSIDERED AS HOLY PLACES TO VISIT. 2NARMADA~)) = SZ G “ean i: 4 mo) fers ae »)AMAR CHITRA KATHANARMADA “20 GREAT WAS THE HEAT, THAT PERSPIRATION POURED DONN HIS BODY AND FORMED A POOL AT HIS FEET. Sas EsAMAR CHITRA KATHA HE MUST BE my FATHER. THE ONE WHO) CREATED ME. AMARKANTAK”. IT 15 NAMED AFTER SHIVA, THE ETERNAL ONE WHO TRAPPED THE POISON, THAT SPEWED FROM THE CHURNING OF THE OCEAN OF MILK, IN HIS THROAT. “AMARKANTAK LIE IN THE MAIKAL! MOUNTAINS IN THE WESTERN GHATS, IN MADHYA PRADESH.NARMADAAMAR CHITRA KATHAAMAR CHITRA KATHA ae ase ; i iy) yy Pon J y JOHILA'S LIES WERE EXPOSED IN NO TIME.NARMADA THE RIVER NARMADA FLOWS FROM AMARKANTAK, WHERE SHE WAS BORN, INTO THE ARABIAN EA, |= THROLIGH MADHYA PRADESH AND ITTAR PRADESH, FINALLY JOINING THE GANGA AS HER SECOND LARGEST TRIBUTARY. 2TAMRAPARNI THE MALAYA MOUNTAINS, COVERED WITH LUSH, GREEN FORESTS, 5 HOME 10 DIVERSE HE LIVED THERE WITH HIS WIFE ANASLIYA AND THEIR MANY DISCIPLES.AMAR CHITRA KATHA TOU ARE RIGHT, SON. 5 INVOKED THE GANGA TO FLOW HERE AND SHE HAS ACCEPTED, ‘AY PRAYER. ey a‘TAMRAPARNIAMAR CHITRA KATHAes Sy ) D ee, | ad Oy vin =‘TAMRAPARNI 7 THERE — ING A an // wwe vou, Lore @ 2 es F a ‘your . " WO Po me et 4 4 > 2 i b» v ve iy i N mie * j Aan : is aAMAR CHITRA KATHA‘TAMRAPARNIAMAR CHITRA KATHA TAM@ArAeN MENT BACK HOME AND THE THREE OF THEM SET OFF ON THEIR PILGRIMAGE. THEY HAP HER FATHER’S PERMISSION. 10 PAGS THROLIGH DENSE FORESTS. ZF THAT 15 THEY FOLLOWED THE ZOLND AND REACHED TTS GOLRCE. A YOLNG WOMAN SAD OW THE FOREST FLOOR WEEPING. A MAN LAY MOTIONLESS OW THE GROUND IN ‘508! 6AMAR CHITRA KATHA‘TAMRAPARNIAMAR CHITRA KATHA THE RIVER'S TAMRA OR COPPER COLOUR HAS BEEN ATTRIBUTED TO THE LEAVES. SHED BY THE TREES ON ITS BANK, AND THE REV SAND IN ITS RIVER BED 39Once in Brahmaloka, a gathering of sages assembled fo recite the Sama Veda. Among them was the sage Durvasa, infamous for his short temper. As the chanting began, Durvasa sang c line out of tune. Hearing this, Saraswati laughed at him. Durvasa was furious. He was about to curse. Saraswati when Brahma stopped him. “You are a sage revered in the three worlds, yet you lose your temper so easily. What is the use ofall the meditation you have dene?” he asked. Durvasa realized he had taken offence for a light matter. When he apologized te Brahma, Brahma advised him fo go visit different holy places and pray for the strength to control his rage. ) asked Durvasa to head to the Tamrapami river. "Bathe in the river and set u a linge. | wi ou there," said Shiva, Durvasa left immediately, reached the Tamrapami an followed Shive's instructions. Once the linga was installed, Shiva and Parvati appeared. “Durvasa, why don't you compose a prayer in praise of the beautiful Tamraparni river?” he suggested. Durvasa agreed and composed the Tamraparni Stotram. Saraswati and Tamraparni arrived af the spot and listened tothe sage chant the storm, Saraswat, pleased with it, blessed Durvoza, The god then lft for their abodes. Tamraparni thanked Durvasa and returned to the ocean.YTHOLOGY yaa AN cm ee RIVER STORIES While their banks are dotted with temples, some rivers in India are not just places of worship, they are divinity by themselves. Some came down to earth to wash away sins and grant life, while others were created by Mahadeva himself. These rivers have continued to flow for aeons and our sacred texts have told the stories behind their origins. Amar Chitra Katha brings to you River Stories, a collection of tales about the rivers Godavari, Narmada and Tamraparni. Rivers that continue to nourish the lands they flow through even today. The blessings of these Ry rivers are truly life-giving to the people around them, making them goddesses in their own right.