The Tamsa River (also called as Tons river) is a tributary of the
Ganges
The Ganges ( ) (in India: Ganga ( ); in Bangladesh: Padma ( )). "The Ganges Basin, known in India as the Ganga and in Bangladesh as the Padma, is an international river to which India, Bangladesh, Nepal and China are the riparian states." is ...
flowing through the
India
India, officially the Republic of India (Hindi: ), is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by area, seventh-largest country by area, the List of countries and dependencies by population, second-most populous ...
Madhya Pradesh
Madhya Pradesh (, ; meaning 'central province') is a state in central India. Its capital is Bhopal, and the largest city is Indore, with Jabalpur, Ujjain, Gwalior, Sagar, and Rewa being the other major cities. Madhya Pradesh is the second ...
and
Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh (; , 'Northern Province') is a state in northern India. With over 200 million inhabitants, it is the most populated state in India as well as the most populous country subdivision in the world. It was established in 195 ...
.
Course
The Tamsa rises in a tank at Tamakund in the Kaimur Range at an elevation of . It flows through the fertile districts of Satna and Rewa. At the edge of the Purwa plateau, the Tamsa and its tributaries form many waterfalls. The river receives the Belan in UP and joins the Ganges at Sirsa, about downstream of the confluence of the Ganges and Yamuna. The total length of the river is . It has a total drainage area of .
The Tamsa River while descending through the Rewa Plateau and draining northwards makes a vertical fall of 70m known as
Purwa Falls
The Purwa Falls is a waterfall in Rewa district in the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh
Madhya Pradesh (, ; meaning 'central province') is a state in central India. Its capital is Bhopal, and the largest city is Indore, with Jabalpur, Ujjain ...
. Some of the more notable waterfalls on the tributaries of the ''Tamsa'' river, as they come down from the Rewa Plateau, are:
Chachai Falls
Chachai Falls is in Rewa district in the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh. It is the 23rd highest waterfall in India.
The Falls
The Chachai Falls is on the Beehad River, a tributary of Tamsa or Tons River as it comes down from the Rewa Plateau. ...
(127m) on the Beehar River, a tributary of the Tamsa, the
Keoti Falls
Keoti Falls (also spelt Kevti) is in Rewa district in the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh. It is the 24th highest waterfall in India.
The Falls
The Keoti Falls is on the Mahana river, a tributary of Tamsa or Tons River as it comes down from th ...
(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,
Actually, the Tamsa River described in Valmiki Ramayana is a seasonal rivulet, originates somewhere in Barabanki, and flows through the Ayodhya district to Darban lake in Tanda tehsil in Ambedkar Nagar.
This river is left side of Ganga and Gomti. Thus has no relation to Reva or Madhya Pradesh.
Significance
This river has also got importance in Hinduism. As this is the river on which
Shri Ram
Rama (; ), Ram, Raman or Ramar, also known as Ramachandra (; , ), is a major deity in Hinduism. He is the seventh and one of the most popular ''avatars'' of Vishnu. In Rama-centric traditions of Hinduism, he is considered the Supreme Bein ...
spent his first night during the 14 years of forest exile. When Shri Ram left Ayodhya people followed him and were not ready to return to their homes. In the evening
Shri Ram
Rama (; ), Ram, Raman or Ramar, also known as Ramachandra (; , ), is a major deity in Hinduism. He is the seventh and one of the most popular ''avatars'' of Vishnu. In Rama-centric traditions of Hinduism, he is considered the Supreme Bein ...
Sita
Sita (; ) also called as Janaki and Vaidehi is a Hindu goddess and the female protagonist of the Hindu epic, ''Ramayana''. She is the consort of Rama, the avatar of the god Vishnu, and is regarded as a form of Vishnu's consort, Lakshmi. She ...
and all the people reached the banks of the Tamsa. Shri Ram and everyone agreed to spend the night at the banks of the Tamsa river and continue the journey next morning. Shri Ram left people sleeping and continued the journey further.)
The
Ashram
An ashram ( sa, आश्रम, ) is a spiritual hermitage or a monastery in Indian religions.
Etymology
The Sanskrit noun is a thematic nominal derivative from the root 'toil' (<
Valmiki
Valmiki (; Sanskrit: वाल्मीकि, ) is celebrated as the harbinger-poet in Sanskrit literature. The epic ''Ramayana'', dated variously from the 5th century BCE to first century BCE, is attributed to him, based on the attributio ...
was at the banks of Tamsa river. When Mata Sita was exiled by Shri Ram, she left Ayodhya and came to the banks of Tamsa 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 Tamsa river. Here Sita spent all her remaining life, and here her twin sons
Lava
Lava is molten or partially molten rock (magma) that has been expelled from the interior of a terrestrial planet (such as Earth) or a moon onto its surface. Lava may be erupted at a volcano or through a fracture in the crust, on land or ...
military
A military, also known collectively as armed forces, is a heavily armed, highly organized force primarily intended for warfare. It is typically authorized and maintained by a sovereign state, with its members identifiable by their distinct ...
skills under the tutelage of Valmiki.
Also on the banks of river Tamsa was the ashram of
Bharadwaj
Bharadwaj ( hi, भारद्वाज) is a surname mostly used by Brahmins. Notable people with the surname include:
*Abhay Bharadwaj (1954–2020), Indian advocate turned politician
*Anasuya Bharadwaj (born 1982), Indian television presenter a ...
, mentioned in the Valmiki Ramayana; it is here that on seeing the plight a bird couple,
Valmiki
Valmiki (; Sanskrit: वाल्मीकि, ) is celebrated as the harbinger-poet in Sanskrit literature. The epic ''Ramayana'', dated variously from the 5th century BCE to first century BCE, is attributed to him, based on the attributio ...
created his first verse, ''
shloka
Shloka or śloka ( sa, श्लोक , from the root , Macdonell, Arthur A., ''A Sanskrit Grammar for Students'', Appendix II, p. 232 (Oxford University Press, 3rd edition, 1927). in a broader sense, according to Monier-Williams's dictionary, is ...
''.
Towns And villages situated on Tamsa River
*
Teonthar
Teonthar is a town and a nagar panchayat in Rewa district in the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh.
History
Teonthar was once ruled by the Kol dynasty kings . Teonthar lies on one of the oldest routes between north India and south India. Teontha ...
Chakghat
Chakghat is a town and a nagar panchayat in Teonthar Block Rewa district in the state of Madhya Pradesh, India.
Demographics
India census, Chakghat NP had a population of 18,000. Males constitute 43% of the population and females 57%. 18% of ...
Maihar
Maihar is a tehsil in Satna, Madhya Pradesh, India. Maihar is known for the temple of the revered mother goddess Sharda situated on Trikuta hill.
Origin of the name
It is said that when lord Shiva was carrying the body of the dead mother go ...
*
Ballia
Ballia is a city with a municipal board in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. The eastern boundary of the city lies at the junction of two major rivers, the Ganges and the Ghaghara.The city is situated east of Varanasi and about 380 ...
*
Azamgarh
Azamgarh is a city in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. It is the headquarters of Azamgarh division, which consists of Ballia, Mau and Azamgarh districts. Azamgarh is situated on the bank of Tamsa River (Tons). It is located east of the s ...
Ambedkar Nagar district
Ambedkar Nagar is a district in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. This district is a part of Faizabad division (officially ''Ayodhya division'') in the Awadh region of the state. This district was established on 29 September 1995 by carvi ...