Trimbakeshwar is one among the 12 Jyotirlinga Temples in India . The 12 shrines are dedicated to Shiva. Story of Trimbakeshwar Jyotirlinga Temple is associated with Sage Gautama. Legend has it that Gautama Rishi, one of the Sapta Rishis, was living with his wife Ahalya on the Brahmagiri Mountain in the Sahyadri hills. Once there was a famine here for 24 years in the region. Rishi Gautama then propitiated Varuna, who blessed him with pit with an unlimited supply of water at Trimbakeshwar. With the water, Gautama Rishi was able to grow grains and vegetables. He thus fed other sages and people of the region. The people of the entire region considered the Sage to be the holiest. This resulted in jealousy and some Rishis of a neighboring region decided to disgrace the Sage. One day they set loose a cow in field of the Sage. The Sage tried to drive away the cow using holy Dharba grass. The cow suddenly died and the Rishis from the neighboring region accused Sage Gautama