The Tapti River took birth in the Betul district from a place called Multai. The Sanskrit name of Multai is Multapi, meaning origin of Tapi Mata or the Tapti River. The Tapi River that flows in Thailand, was named after India`s Tapti River in August 1915. According to Hindu views, the Tapti River is the daughter of Lord Surya. There is a Purana mentioning the virtues of Tapti extensively and it praises the river as more sacred than all other rivers including the Ganges.

The Tapti purana says that "Ganga Snane, Narmada Darshane ch Tapti Smarane paapam nashyati". This saying means that by bathing in the Ganges, beholding Narmada and remembering Tapti, the devotee can be delivered from all sins.