Sage Gautama is one of the saptarishis or seven important sages
of the ancient world as per Anusasana Parva of the Mahabharata. One of the most
popular incidents associated with Sage Gautama is mentioned in the Ramayana is
of Indra, the king of Devas, trying to rob the chastity of Gautama Rishi’s wife
Anasuya and the subsequent curse that the saint gave to Indra and Anasuya.
Sage Gautama is said to have brought Ganga in the form of Godavari
to the south of Vindhyas. Therefore the river is also known as Gautami.
In the famous story Satyakama Jabala in the Chandogya
Upanishad, it is Sage Gautama who extols that anyone can seek truth – family,
caste, creed and religion are of no value for a true seeker. A seeker of truth
must be honest and should always speak truth.
The origin of Trimbakeshwar Temple, one of the 12
Jyotrilinga temple, is associated with Sage Gautama.