Tawi originates from Kali Kundi glacier in Kaplash mountains of Bhaderwah, Jammu. It’s a glacier-fed river, and its water is considered very auspicious amongst the Dogra community. Dogras pray at “dabbar”, the deepest point of Tawi.
Tawi derives its name from the word Toshi which after distortion became Tawi in Dogri. It received its name Toshi from Sun God, whom she pleased or by whom she was pleased ‘‘Toshi-Toshit Bhaskra’’.
Around 1980 AD an eminent Pandit of Jammu, Dwarika Nath Shastri wrote an eulogy of the river, Tawi Shatkam in about 100 verses and named as Surya Putri- the daughter of the Sun God Surya. All these Tawis, whether of Poonch, Rajouri or Jammu and whether daughter of Sun God or his beloveds, have one thing common in them; they originate from their eastern mountains, in the east and west direction, making their waters to glow and shine, in the morning.
There is this old Dogri folk tale of Raja Bhair connected with the origin of Tawi. Once, old King Vasuki of Jammu fell gravely ill. Then his physicians said to him, “Maharaj, the blisters on your body would go away if only you could bathe in the pristine waters of the sacred lake at the foot of Mount Kailash! But given the present state of your health, we cannot advise you to undertake the arduous journey.”
“If I cannot travel to Mount Kailash, then the waters of the holy lake will have to be brought down to me,” said the Raja.
King Vasuki called forth a conclave of the eight tribes of the Nagas and proclaimed before them:
“I bequeath the reign of Jammu to the first man who brings me a stream from the holy Kailash!’’
The Naga princes, each one in a hurry to oblige the ailing king, went far and wide in search of the healing river. But young Bhair turned out to be the most cunning of them all. Rather than wasting his energy and time in a pointless search, he followed the straight route to the Kailash Lake to achieve his aim. But when he reached there, he saw that the place had not one but several large bodies of water. Which one would be of use to the king, he wondered. At last, he chose the Kali kund, which was blocked by a huge rock. He toppled it aside and hurriedly scampered out of the way of the surging waters. Crystal clear water gushed forth from the basin.
The prince strode beside the stream and thus became the first man to have created the river Bhair. In due course, the river Bhair wended its way through numerous mountains and hills and reached the city of Jammu. The river is now known as ‘Tawi.’ The ancient palace of the Dogra princes is located on the right bank of the Tawi. Finding the river by his doorstep, King Vasuki was very happy. He kept on diving into it till all the traces of his ailment had gone from his body. Then, in keeping with his word, he anointed Prince Bhair the King of Jammu.
Prince Kai, the eldest son of Vasuki Nag Ji, too had endeavored in his own manner to carry out King Vasuki’s command. Hurrying back with a huge vessel of water, he was expecting to be the first one to reach the kingdom. But someone told him on the way that his stepbrother, Prince Bhair, had already brought a whole stream for the king to dive in. Prince Kai was furious. Dashing the water vessel on the ground, he turned back instantly. The spot on which he had spun around in rage became a gorge, while the water that had spilled out from the pot went on to form the Chandrabhaga River.
The prince then reached Akhnoor, where he forcibly took over the reins of the government and declared himself the king.
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