Rishi Gautama or Maharishi Gautama is one of the Seven Great Sages Rishi (Saptarishis). In Hinduism he is a Rigvedic sage. The sage is mentioned in Buddhism and Jainism. Many Sanskrit hymns (Suktas) are dedicated to the Rishi Gautama in the Rig Veda and in Mandala 1.
Rishi Gautama belongs to the Angirasa lineage. He is Rahugana’s son and was the forefather of the paternal lineage of Gautam Gotra. Since both Bharadvaja and and Gautama descended from Angirasa, a common ancestry is shared by them. In fact both belong to the Angirasa category.
The River Godavari has attained its name because of its connection with Gautama. Ahalya was married to Rishi Gautama. Nodhas and Vamadeva both discoverers of Mantras are is his two sons. Bharadvaja, Praachina-yogya, Gargya and Shaandilya are some of Gautama’s popular disciples. Gautama initiated one of the sub-branches of the Raanaayani branch of Sama Veda, according to the Brahmanda Purana. It is also believed that Lord Shiva’s descendant as Trimbakeshvar which constitutes the source of Jyotirlinga has occurred for Gautama’s sake.
Mantras in Sanskrit were discovered by Rishi Gautama. He lived during the Treta Yuga and Dwapara Yuga and hence his references have been made in the Ramayan and the Mahabharata. He did penance in the Shanti Pava of Mahabharata for sixty long years. Rishi Gautama is the founder of the Gautama Gotra. With an intention to help people, Rishi Gautama, would travel around all over the world. A temple is dedicated to Maharishi Gautama and Ahalya at Pushkar, in Rajasthan.
