Maharishi Gautama | |
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 An early 19th-century painting showing Maharishi Gautama | |
| Personal life | |
| Spouse | Ahalyā |
| Children | Shatananda andothers |
| Honors | One of theSaptarishis (Seven Great SagesRishi) |
| Religious life | |
| Religion | Hinduism |
| Part ofa series on |
| Hindu philosophy |
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Sub-schools |
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Gautama (Sanskrit:महर्षिः गौतम,IAST:Maharṣiḥ Gautama) was a sage inHinduism and son ofBrahmin sageDirghatamas who is also mentioned in Jainism and Buddhism. Gautama is mentioned in theYajurveda,Ramayana, andGaṇeśa Pūrana and is known for cursing his wifeAhalyā. Another important story related to Gautama is about the creation of riverGodavari, which is also known as Gautami.[1][2]
According to theRamayana, Gautama's eldest son with Ahalya isShatananda. But according to theAdi Parva of Mahabharata, he had two sons named Sharadvana and Cirakari. Sharadvana was also known as Gautama, hence his childrenKripa andKripi were called Gautama and Gautami respectively. A daughter of Gautama is referred too, but her name is never disclosed in the epic.[3] In theSabha Parva, he is described to beget many children through Aushinara (daughter of Ushinara), amongst whom the eldest in Kakshivata. Gautama and Aushinara's wedding takes place at Magadha, the kingdom ofJarasandha.[4] According to theVamana Purana, he had three daughters named Jaya, Jayanti, and Aparajita.[5]
Gautama is also have said to be the ancestor ofShvetaketu, son ofUddalaka Aruni in theBrihadaranyaka Upanishad.[6]
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TheGaṇeśa Purāṇa andRamayana describesAhalyā as his wife. Their marriage is recorded in the Uttara Khaṇḍa, which is believed as an interpolation to the epic. As per the storyBrahma, the creator god, creates a beautiful girl and gifts her as a bride to Gautama and a son namedShatananda is born.
TheUpāsanā Khaṇḍa mentions Gautama cursing Indra when he comes home and findsIndra in an argument with his wife. It is revealed that Indra disguised as Gautama had sexual intimacy with Ahalyā and he curses Indra with 1000 vaginas[7] and turns Ahalyā into a stone untilRāma steps on her. Indra is eventually returned to normal after Gautama recites a mantra, and finds greatness inGaṇeśa that he reveals to theDevas.[7] and Ahalyā is graced by Rāma's foot.
TheBala Khaṇḍa mentions that Gautama spotsIndra, who is still in disguise, and curses him to lose histesticles. Gautama then curses Ahalya to stay in theAashram for thousands of years, eating and drinking nothing but air and to be absolved only by Raam (verses 29-31).
Gautama is mentioned in two tales insideBṛhadāraṇyaka Upaniṣad. He speaks toYajñavalkya withUddālaka Āruṇi,Gārgī Vāchaknavī and otherKuru andPañcāla sages inKing Janaka's kingdom to test to see ifYajñavalkya is a great sage.[6]
He also has a conversation withPravāhaṇa Jaivali afterJaivali meetsŚvetaketu and requests to meet his father. Jaivali promises to grant Gautama a boon, and describes the beauty and depth of the physical world, and teaches him how to performyajña.[6]
