SAGEGAUTHAMA-Part 3 (Final Part) Dearfriends,
This posting about sage GAUTHAMA is compiled from Googlesearch by asking many questions curious to me and posted in my style which isdesired by a few members than as QA posting. Information relevant from Wikipedia and other sourcesare also included. Thisposting is least intended to all knowing and criticizing and fault findingmembers. Hope the postings will be interesting and informative to manyof my friends. Since the information is more, it is posted in parts. This is 3rd part of the posting Gopalakrishnan 23-02-2026 Gange cha Yamune chaivaGodavari Saraswathi Narmada Sindhu KaveriJalasmin Sannidham Guru.. The sloka mentioned is the Gange cha Yamune chaiva mantra, asacred bathing prayer (Snaan Mantra) used in Hinduism to invoke the presence ofseven holy rivers—Ganga, Yamuna, Godavari, Saraswati, Narmada, Sindhu, andKaveri—into one's bathwater for purification and spiritual cleansing. गङ्गे च यमुने चैव गोदावरि सरस्वति । नर्मदे सिन्धु कावेरि जलेऽस्मिन् सन्निधिं कुरु ॥ Gaṅge ca yamune caiva godāvari sarasvati | Narmade sindhu kāveri jale'smin sannidhiṃ kuru || Meaning: "O Ganga, Yamuna, Godavari, Saraswati, Narmada, Sindhu(Indus), and Kaveri! Please be present in this water." Key Details: Purpose: It is chanted while bathing to convert ordinarywater into holy water, drawing the sacred energy of India's main rivers. Significance: It helps in removing physical and spiritualimpurities. Context: It is part of the daily ritual to honour the riversas goddesses and sanctify the body. My note- If not daily , onUpakarma day we recite this mantra . Godavari river is brought to earth by sageGautama. Sage Gautama’s lineage Sage Gautama (Gautama Maharishi) is a revered Vedic seerbelonging to the Angirasa lineage, descending from Brahma > Angiras > Utathya > Dirghatamas >Gautama. He is considered one of the Saptarishis (seven great sages)and the founder of the Gautama gotra, born as the son of sage Dirghatamas orRahugana. Key Details of SageGautama’s Lineage and Family: Ancestry: He belongs to the Angirasa gotra. Wife: Ahalya, one of thefive Panchakanyas (five revered women in Hindu epics). Sons: Shatananda: Known from the Ramayana. Vamadeva and Nodhas: Mentions of them as discoverers ofmantras in the Rig Veda. Saradvan and Cirakari: Mentioned in the Mahabharata. Daughters: Jayanti, Jaya, and Aparajita (mentioned in VamanaPurana). Disciples: Known to have trained disciples like Shandilya, Gargya, and Bharadwaja. Sage Gautama is famously known as the author of the NyayaSutras and as the husband of Ahalya, whom he cursed for her unintentional rolein the deception by Lord Indra. Kripacharya According to Hindu mythology and the Mahabharata epic, Kripacharya was the grandson of SageGautama. Here are the details of his lineage and birth: Grandfather: Kripacharya was the grandson of the sage Gautama(also known as Maharishi Gautama). Father: He was the son ofSharadvan (or Sharadvana), who was the son of Sage Gautama. Sharadvan was a great archer bornwith arrows, who later became a sage. Birth: Kripa and his twin sister, Kripi (who later marriedDronacharya), were born underextraordinary circumstances when Sharadvan was distracted by the ApsaraJanapadi, causing his semen to fall upon a cluster of weeds, which then splitto form the twins. Upbringing: They were found and adopted by King Shantanu ofHastinapura. Lineage: Due to this, Kripacharya is also referred to as adescendant of the Gautama clan or Gotra. Kripacharya is recognized as one of the seven Chiranjivis(immortals) in Hindu tradition. His famous cursed wife ‘Ahilya’ was extricated by lord Rama. All the children were born to Ahalyabefore Indra incident if we look chronology of events in Ramayana Dronacharya Gautama’s grandsonKrupacharya trained Kauravas and Pandavas in archery whereas his grand daughter Krupi was married tofamous teacher Dronacharya. Development ofAyurveda Sage Gautama was present in the ancient conclave of rishisheld below mountain Himalaya to discuss the management of diseases occurred onaccount of consuming domestic food as mentioned in Charaka Samhita. All the rishis present there learnt Ayurveda from sageBhardwaja. Hence, it can beconcluded that sage Gautama may also have contributed in further development ofAyurveda. Gautama Darma Gauatama was also the author of Dharma-sutra known as GautamaDharma sutra . It is in fact theearliest Dharma Sutra. Itcontains 28 chapters with 1000 aphorisms. Almost every aspect of theobservances of Hindu dharma – including the rules for the four Ashramas,the forty sanskāras, the four varnas, kingly duties, the punishments forvarious offences, the obsequies for the dead, do’s and don’ts of foodconsumption, the dharmas of women, the rules for Praayaschitta (atonement for sins), and therules of succession of property. In this sense Gautama’s Dharma Shastra may perhaps be considered theoldest law book of the world. Battle o Kurukeshthra When the battle of Kurukshetra was going on, Dronacharya tookover the commandership of the Kaurava army and got ready to destroy the entirePandava army. At thatpoint, Gautama entered the battle field, addressed the Drona, “stopthe killings and give up arms. You are fighting a battle against your Varn-ashram dharma.Embrace death and go to heaven”. Drona, giving respect tothe words of the sage, gave up his arms and left the battle field. As advisedby sage Gautama, he went to heaven by the Yogadharana way. Sage Gautama- atraveller Sage Gautam used to travel all over the world with theintention of helping people. Sage Gautam had mastered the great Savitri Mantra. Sage Gautama was the one to whom the great Vyahrthimanthra‘Janah’ was revealed. He was a great Tapasvi. He was devoted to God and agenerous host. 12 year famine The Narada Purana describes the story of the 12-year famineduring which sage Gautam fed other sages and saved them. Once the country wasreeling under a great famine, but owing to the virtue of Sage Gautam, his ashram dwellers had notexperienced the calamity. Thousands of sages took refuge in his ashram. Sage Gautamwelcomed everyone with open arms and played host to them. The famine continuedfor years, but Gautam offered them great hospitality. Creation of Godavaririver- Addition He is very famous for various stories. Two of them areprominently known to the world – the creation of the Godavari river and the curse of Ahalya.Let us first understand the story of the Godavari river’s creation. Kotirudra Samhita in theShiva Puranadescribes the story of the Godavari river’s creation. On the Brahmagirimountain, the mind-son of Brahma, Gautama Maharishi was engrossed in penanceand meditation. There was a drought in that area for a hundred whole years andhence crops could not grow there. For the goodness and wellness of the residents of that area, GautamaMaharishi started meditating in a direction to impress the god of the ocean,Varuna. Varunaappears to Gautama after six months of his penance. Varuna denies therequest of Maharishi Gautama as it would be against the wishes of the othergods who have made this happen in the area. Gautama successfully convinced Varuna, the god of oceans,into helping them get rid of a long spell of drought in the Brahmagirimountains where Gautama was meditating. Gautama did so by digging a ditch which Varuna fills withholy water. Soon, Gautama, his wife Ahalya and their disciples, aswell as the other sages and their families, moved into the region. However,when it came to water sharing, the other sages stake first claim to the water,and refuse to share it with Gautama disciples. When Ahalyamanaged to collect the water before anyone else, the wives of the other sagesinvoked Lord Ganesha name to force Gautama to leave his hermitage. Appearance in Yugas Vedic Period: Sage Gautama is recognized as aprofound Vedic sage, with hymns attributed to him in the Rig Veda. Epic Periods (Ramayana/Mahabharata): Referencesin the Ramayana (Treta Yuga) and Mahabharata (Dwapara Yuga) suggest he livedduring these eras. He is mentioned in the Shanti Parva of the Mahabharata andinteracted with figures in the Ramayana. Sage Gautama (Gautama Maharishi) is primarily recognized as aprominent Saptarishi (one of the seven great sages) in Vedic literature. Whilemany of the stories involving him and his wife, Ahalya, are popularly placed in the Treta Yuga(specifically the story of her turning into stone), various Puranas andtraditions connect him to events in Satya Yuga or describe him as a timelesssage existing across yugas. Key aspects of SageGautama’s role, often associated with Satya Yuga or his eternal, righteousnature, include: Progenitor and Sage: He is known as the founder of theGautama Gotra and is a son of Rahugana, belonging to the lineage of Angiras. Heis one of the Maharishis who discovered Sanskrit mantras, with many hymns inthe Rig Veda attributed to him. Ahalya's Creation andMarriage-Addition According to the Ramayana, Brahma created Ahalya as the mostbeautiful woman to be the wife of the wisest man, whom he determined to be SageGautama after Gautama circumambulated the cow Surabhi, which was consideredequivalent to traversing the three worlds. The Curse TimelineAmbiguity: While theredemption of Ahalya by Lord Rama is a staple of Treta Yuga, some interpretations suggest theincident with Indra, Ahalya, and the subsequent cursing happened at the veryend of Satya Yuga or ina transitional phase. The curse was that she would remain as a stone (orinvisible) until Rama touched her. Additional points Penance and Divine Knowledge: Throughout the scriptures,Gautama is portrayed as a rishi constantly engaged in intense tapas (penance)in the Himalayas. Creator of Dharmic Texts: He is credited with writing theNyaya Sutras (a core text of Hindu philosophy), Dharma Sutras (rules of law),and Pitr-Medha Sutras. In many contexts, Gautama Maharishi acts as a representativeof the strict righteousness and intellectual focus (Nyaya) of the early ages. Sage Gautama, one of the Saptarishis (seven great sages) ofVedic times, plays a pivotal role in the Treta Yuga, primarily featured in theRamayana through the narrative of his wife, Ahalya, and his curses upon her andIndra. He is recognized as a profound sage who lived through both Treta andDwapara Yugas, dedicated to intense penance and scriptural study. Here are the key partsand incidents associated with Sage Gautama in the Treta Yuga: Husband of Ahalya: Gautama was married to Ahalya, who wascreated by Brahma and is considered one of the five "Panchakanyas"(virtuous women). Theylived in an isolated hermitage, with their marriage recorded in the UttaraKanda of the Ramayana. The Ahalya-Indra Episode: In a significant episode, Indra,the king of the gods, deceived Ahalya by disguised as Sage Gautama while thesage was away for his morning rituals. Cursing Indra and Ahalya: Upon discovering the deception, anenraged Gautama cursed Indra, resulting in him being covered with a thousandvaginas (later transformed into eyes). He cursed Ahalya to become an invisible,inanimate stone, forced to repent for her mistake (or the deception) until shewas liberated by Lord Rama. Ahalya's Redemption (Liberation): Gautama ordained thatAhalya would be freed from her curse when Lord Rama visited her hermitageduring his exile. After Rama touched the stone with his feet, Ahalya regainedher form, and Sage Gautama took her back after her penance was complete. Contribution to Scriptures: Gautama is credited withdiscovering mantras in the Rig Veda and is a Rishi of the Vedic era. Ascetic Life: Following the incident with Ahalya, Gautamawent to the Himalayas to perform further austerities and penance. While primarily known for this episode in the Treta Yuga, the scriptures (such as the ShantiParva of the Mahabharata) also mention his, long-term penance during thisperiod. Role in the DwaparaYuga (Mahabharata Era): Advising on the Battlefield: When the Kurukshetra war was atits peak, Sage Gautama, along with other sages, appeared on the battlefield toadvise Dronacharya, the commander of the Kaurava army. He urged Dronacharya tostop the indiscriminate slaughter and renounce his arms, as the war violatedrighteous duties (Varnashram Dharma). Role in the Birth ofArjuna: During theperiod when Pandu was living in the forest, Sage Gautama was among the sageswhose presence was significant. References indicate that he played a role in the eventssurrounding the birth of Arjuna. Guidance to Pandavas & Others: He ismentioned as one of the sages who visited Bhishma Pitamaha on his bed of arrowsto offer guidance. He also instructed King Vrishadarbhi on the moralhazards of accepting improper rewards. Sixty-Year Penance (ShantiParva): TheMahabharata (Shanti Parva) describes a sixty-year-long, intense penanceperformed by Sage Gautama, during which he held great spiritual power andwisdom. Progenitor of Gotra: As a prominent rishi, his legacycontinued through the continuation of the Gautama Gotra, and he was revered byboth the Pandavas and Kauravas. In summary, during the Dwapara Yuga, Gautama Rishi acted as adetached, wise spiritual guide, advising, performing penance, and maintainingthe spiritual order amid the massive moral breakdown of the Mahabharata war Kaliyuga and sageGauthama Sage Gautama (Gautama Maharishi) holds a significant, albeitmostly transcendental and supportive, role in the current epoch of Kaliyugawithin Hindu tradition. As one of the Saptarishis (seven great sages) of thecurrent Manvantara, he is considered a Chiranjivi - one who lives for a verylong time or is considered immortal in the context of cosmic cycles) or atleast a highly venerated seer whose influence persists throughout all yugas. Here is his role inKaliyuga: Immortal Guardian (Saptarishi): Sage Gautama is one of theseven sages (Saptarishis) who are believed to be guiding humanity andoverseeing the unfolding of Dharma in the present age. They reside in thestellar region of the Saptarshi-mandala, shining as part of the Big Dipper. Presence on Earth(Godavari/Gautami Ganga): A key, lingering impact of Sage Gautama in this yuga is the riverGodavari, which he brought to the earth to purify it. The regionaround Brahmagiri is closely associated with him, and it is believed that herequested Lord Shiva to remain on earth till the end of Kaliyuga, making thearea a sacred place for pilgrimage to wash away sins, particularly during thetime when Jupiter stays in Leo (Simha Rashi). Teacher of Logic (Nyaya Darshana): His contributions to Vedicknowledge, particularly as the founder of the Nyaya philosophy (school oflogic), continue to influence Indian intellectual tradition in the present age. Intervention in History (End of Dvapara/Start of Kaliyuga):While often placed in earlier yugas, legends describe him as having appeared tostop Dronacharya from excessive, unethical killings during the Kurukshetra war,helping to guide him towards a more spiritual departure (yogi-dharana). His role in Kaliyuga is generally that of a cosmic guide anda source of purification, rather than an active, public participant in dailyworldly affairs. Mentor to the Future(Kalki Avatar): Scriptures state that at the end of Kaliyuga, SageGautama will reappear or be present to guide Lord Kalki, the tenth and finalavatar of Vishnu who will restore righteousness. End of posting -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Thatha_Patty" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/thatha_patty/1296237044.742153.1771824653706%40mail.yahoo.com.
