Honors one of the Saptarishis (Seven Great Sages Rishi) | ||
Gautama Maharishi (Sanskrit: महर्षिः गौतम) is one of the Saptarṣis (Seven Great Sages Ṛṣis of the current Manvantara (seventh). He was one of the Maharishis of Vedic times, known to have been the discoverer of Mantras -- 'Mantra-drashtā', in Sanskrit. The Rig Veda has several suktas (Sanskrit: 'hymns') that go with his name. The Vedic sage Gautama is credited with authoring many hymns in Mandala 1.
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He was the son of Rahugana, belonging to the line of Angiras. The Devi Bhagavatam says that the river Godavari is so named because of its association with Gotama. He had two sons by name Vamadeva and Nodhas, both themselves discoverers of Mantras. There is a hymn called Bhadra in the Sama Veda which again is ascribed to Gotama Maharishi.
His wife is Ahalya, herself the 'mind born daughter' (Sanskrit: manasa putri) of Creator Brahma. The Puranas speak of the story wherein it is described how Gotama won the hand of Ahalya by circumambulating the divine cow in order to fulfill the stipulation of Brahma that whoever first goes round the whole Earth will win the hand of Ahalya. The 'chief priest' (Sanskrit: Purohita) of King Janaka of Mithila, by name Shatananda, was the son of Gotama and Ahalya. Gotama's sixty-year-long penance is mentioned in the Shanti Parva of the Mahabharata. The Narada purana describes the story of the 12-year famine during which Gotama fed all the Rishis and saved them.
Gotama was one of the famous seven rishis termed Saptarshi. He was the progenitor of the Gautama gotra. He was the son of Rahugana.
With Bharadvaja, Gotama shares a common ancestry as they are both descended from Angirasa, and sometimes they are both bracketed together under the name Angirasa.
The sons of Gotama are Vamadeva and Nodha. The 4th book of the Rigveda is that of the Vamadeva Gautama.
Legends
The descendant of Lord Shiva as Trimbakeshvar, that constitutes the source of the Jyotirlinga nearby, happened for the sake of Gotama. The Brahmanda Purana mentions that one of the sub-branches of the Raanaayani branch of Sama Veda was initiated by this Gotama. Some famous disciples of Gotama were Praachina-yogya, Shaandilya, Gārgya, and Bharadvaja.
According to the Ramayana, Rishi Gotama once went to take bath in the river Ganges early morning. The king of the Devas, Indra, was fascinated with Gotama's wife, Ahalya. Indra came in the form of Gotama and made love to Ahalya. As he was escaping, he was caught by Rishi Gotama who was returning to the Ashrama from his bath. Gautam cursed Ahalya and Indra both for this act. Ahalya was converted to stone, while Indra was cursed with one thousands of female genitalia (Sahasrayoni). Later, taking pity on both, Gotama converted both these curses. Indra curse was converted to thousands of eyes he came to be known as Sahasrāksha. As for Ahalya, Gotama granted her the boon that she would be liberated by the touch of the feet of Lord Rama (Lord Vishnu).
Similar names
A Dharmasutra is known as Gautama Dharmasutra, but was not authored by Gautama Maharishi.
Akṣapāda Gotama is the 2nd century CE founder of the Nyaya school of Hindu philosophy, but is not Gotama Maharishi.
Gautama Buddha is the name of the founder of Buddhism.