Word

Gautama

Sanskrit

In General

Gautama Maharshi is one of the saptharshi. He was the son of Rahugana, a sage belonging to the line of Angiras. His wife is Ahalya, a mind-born daughter of Creator Brahma. His two sons by name Vamadeva and Nodhas composed Rig_Veda Mantras. The Purohita of King Janaka of Mithila, by name Shatananda, was another son of Gautama and Ahalya. Some famous disciples of Gautama were Prachina-yogya, Shandilya, Gargya, and Bharadwaja.

Gautama was also the author of Dharma-sutra known as Gautama Dharma sutra. It is the most earliest Dharma Sutra. It contains 28 chapters with 1000 sloka. Almost every aspect of the observances of Dharma is discussed in the text. The four Ashramas, the forty sanskaras, the four varnas are discussed in the usual way. The Duties of King and governance of country, the punishments for various offences, duties of ach person, the dharmas of women, the rules for Prayaschitha (atonement for sins), and the rules of succession of property.

Veda

The Rig Veda has several suktas that go with his name. The 4th book of the Rigveda is that of the Vamadeva Gautama family.There is a hymn called Bhadra in the Sama Veda which again is ascribed to Gautama Maharishi.

Purana

The Puranas speak of the story wherein it is described how Gautama 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.

According to the Ramayana, Rishi Gautama once went to take bath in the river Ganges early morning. The king of the Devas, Indra, was fascinated with Gautam's wife, Ahalya. Indra came in the form of Gautam and made love to Ahalya. As he was escaping, he was caught by Rishi Gautama who was returning to the Ashrama from his bath. Gautam cursed Ahalya and Indra both for this act. Ahalya was converted to stone. Ahalya was brought back to life by Sri Rama by touching the stoneof Ahalya by his foot.

The Devi Bhagavatam says that the river Godavari is so named because of its association with Gautama