Once there lived a sage Gautam with his wife Ahilya. The aim of their life was sacrament and good of others. Once there came a drought. Unselfish Gautam Rishi made a pit and filled it with water by pacifying God Varuna. Seeing this, the wives of other sages felt jealous. They made a conspiracy to drive Gautam Rishi and his wife out of the vicinity. All the sages came together and started worshipping Lord Ganesha. Lord Ganesha was pleased with their devotion assumed form and being told the boon to be granted discouraged the sages from doing so. But when the sages did not agree he blessed them accordingly and disappeared.
As soon as the stick touched the cow, the cow dropped down dead.At that moment the other evil sages came there and criticized Gautam Rishi for his cruelty. They told him to leave this place and go away. Gaumtam Rishi humbly accepted the decision.The sages suggested that Gaumtam Rishi should circumambulate the earth thrice, the Mountain Brahmagiri 100 times, holy bath in the Ganges and worshipping of 1 crore Shivalingas. After performing this penance, Lord Shiva appeared before them. Sage Gautam asked to be freed from the crime. Lord Shiva told Sage Gautam that he was innocent and pure. The other sages had planned a conspiracy against him.After that Lord Ganesha assumed the form of a cow and entered the courtyard of Gautam Rishi's house and started eating grass and plants. Rishi Gautam saw this and started hitting the cow with a stick.As soon as the stick touched the cow, the cow dropped down dead.At that moment the other evil sages came there and criticized Gautam Rishi for his cruelty. They told him to leave this place and go away. Gaumtam Rishi humbly accepted the decision.The sages suggested that Gaumtam Rishi should circumambulate the earth thrice, the Mountain Brahmagiri 100 times, holy bath in the Ganges and worshipping of 1 crore Shivalingas. After performing this penance, Lord Shiva appeared before them. Sage Gautam asked to be freed from the crime. Lord Shiva told Sage Gautam that he was innocent and pure. The other sages had planned a conspiracy against him.
Listening to this Sage Gautama was surprised, but said that if this weren't done he would have never met lord Shiva. After this Gautam Rishi asked Ganga from Lord Shiva. Shiva requested Ganga to flow down and make Sage Gautam pure. After that Ganga flowed down. Lord Shiva told Ganga to stay there eternally for the good of all the people. On the request of all the Gods, Lord Shiva resided by the river Gautami by the name Trimbakeshwar (one of the Jyotirlingas.). This Jyotirlinga named Trimbak, is the one which fulfills everyone's desires. It liberates all from their sins and miseries.
