Trayambakeshwar Jyotirling Story

Trayambakeshwar Jyotirling Story

Sage Gautama and his beautiful wife, Sati Ahilya, lived in an ashram. The other Sages' wives hated Sati Ahilya. They asked their husbands to get Sage Gautama and Sati Ahilya to leave the ashram. The saints performed a tapasya to please Ganesha. When he appeared they asked him to help them get Sage Gautama out. Ganesha became a cow and started grazing in Sage Gautama's fields. Sage Gautama hit the cow with a small stick. But with a light blow, it dies. All the sages called Sage Gautama a sinner; they asked him to leave the ashram. Sadly, he left with his wife. He prayed to Lord Shiva for forgiveness. Lord Shiva appeared before him and told him the truth. At first, Sage Gautama wanted to punish the sages for their misdeed, but he forgave them as it was because of them that he could see Lord Shiva. He asked Lord Shiva to stay there forever. Lord Shiva consented, and became the Trayambakeshwar Jyotirling.