Tamsa River

Not to be confused with Tons River.
Tamsa River
Tons River
River
Country India
States Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh
Landmark Purwa Falls
Source Tamakund
 - location Maihar tehsil, Satna district, Kaimur Range, Madhya Pradesh
 - elevation 610 m (2,001 ft)
Mouth Ganges
 - location Sirsa, Uttar Pradesh
 - coordinates 25°16′31″N 82°4′55″E / 25.27528°N 82.08194°E / 25.27528; 82.08194Coordinates: 25°16′31″N 82°4′55″E / 25.27528°N 82.08194°E / 25.27528; 82.08194
Length 264 km (164 mi)

The Tamsa River (also known as the Tons River) is a tributary of the Ganges flowing through the Indian states of Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh.

Course

The Tamsa rises in a tank at Tamakund in the Kaimur Range at an elevation of 610 metres (2,000 ft). It flows through the fertile districts of Satna and Rewa. At the edge of the Purwa plateau, the Tamsa and its tributaries form a number of waterfalls. The river receives the Belan in UP and joins the Ganges at Sirsa, about 311 kilometres (193 mi) downstream of the confluence of the Ganges and Yamuna. The total length of the river is 264 kilometres (164 mi). It has a total drainage area of 16,860 square kilometres (6,510 sq mi).[1][2]

The Tamsa River while descending through the Rewa Plateau and draining northwards makes a vertical falls of 70m known as Purwa Falls.[3] Some of the more notable waterfalls on the tributaries of the Tamsa river, as they come down from the Rewa Plateau, are: Chachai Falls (127m) on the Bihad River, a tributary of the Tamsa, the Keoti Falls (98m) on the Mahana River, a tributary of the Tamsa, and Odda Falls (145m) on the Odda River, a tributary of the Belah River, which is itself a tributary of the Tamsa,[4]

Mythology

This river has also got importance in Hinduism. As this is the river on which Rama spent his first night during the 14 years of forest exile. When Rama left Ayodhya people followed him and were not ready to return to their homes. In the evening Rama, Lakshmana and Sita and all the people reached the banks of the Tamsa. Rama and everyone agreed to spend the night at the banks of the Tamasa river and continue the journey next morning. Rama left people sleeping and continued the journey further.[5]

The Ashrama of sage Valmiki was at the banks of Tamasa river.[6] When Sita was exiled by Rama, she left Ayodhya and came to the banks of Tamasa river some 15 km away from the city, where she met Valmiki. He requested Sita to live in his ashrama situated at the bank of the Tamasa river. Here Sita spent all her remaining life, and here her twin sons Lava and Kusha received education and trained in military skills under the tutelage of Valmiki.[7]

Also on the banks of river Tamsa was the ashram of Bharadwaj, mentioned in the Valmiki Ramayana; it is here that on seeing the plight a bird couple, Valmiki created his first verse, shloka.[8]

References

  1. ↑ K.L.Rao. India’s Water Wealth. p. 71, The Tons (Google books). Retrieved 2010-07-10.
  2. ↑ Upkar Prakashan Editorial Board. Uttar Pradesh General Knowledge. p. 24 (Google books). Retrieved 2010-07-10.
  3. ↑ K. Bharatdwaj. Physical Geography: Hydrosphere. p. 161 (Google books). Retrieved 2010-07-10.
  4. ↑ K. Bharatdwaj. Physical Geography: Hydrosphere. p. 154 (Google books). Retrieved 2010-07-11.
  5. ↑ "At the banks of the Tamsa River". The Story of Valmiki Ramayan. Retrieved 2010-07-10.
  6. ↑ Vishvanath Limaye (1984). Historic Rama of Valmiki. Gyan Ganga Prakashan.
  7. ↑ Mittal, J.P. (2006). History of Ancient India: From 7300 BC to 4250 BC (Volume 1). Atlantic Publishers & Distributors. p. 368. ISBN 81-269-0615-4.
  8. ↑ Kala, Jayantika (1988). Epic scenes in Indian plastic art. Abhinav Publications. p. 7. ISBN 81-7017-228-4.

External links

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