atonement

 Some Brahmins and their wives lived in Maharishi Gautama's Tapovan. Once, the wives of Brahmins became angry with Ahalya, wife of Maharishi Gautama. Asked their husbands of Brahmins to do the sage Gautama. For this, Brahmins worshiped Lord Shri Ganesha. Ganesh ji was very pleased with the worship of Brahmins and asked him to ask for the bride. The Brahmins said, 'Lord! If you are happy with us, then get Rishi Gautama out of this ashram. ' Ganesh ji persuaded the Brahmins for this boon but they all remained firm on their groom.

In the last, Ganesh ji had to accept his defeat. Ganesha took the form of a weak cow and went to the sage Gautama's field. The sage Gautama saw the cow eating fodder in his field and with tenderness in his hand started humming him. Caught for She died as soon as the cow's body started eating. This caused a lot of outcry.

All the Brahmins gathered and started to condemn the sage Gautama for killing the cow. The sage was very sad to see this incident. All the Brahmins asked the sage to leave the ashram. Being forced, the sage Gautama moved away from there with his wife Ahilya. But where the sage went, all the Brahmins made their living even after the sage left. Everyone started saying that you have killed cow because of which you do not have any right to perform Vedas and Yajnadi. Sage Gautama prayed to those Brahmins and said that they want to make atonement. In such a way, tell them some way of salvation.

Then he said- 'Gautam! You have to do three revolutions of the entire earth and tell everyone about your sin. After doing this one will have to fast for a month. After this, 101 circumambulation of 'Brahmagiri' will have to be done. Only after this your purification will be done. Or bring Gangaji here and bathe in his water. Also, worship Shiva with one crore earth shivalingas. After doing this, bathe in Gangaji again. Orbit this Brahmagari 11 times. After this, the holy Shivlings will have to be given a bath with the holy water of hundred pots. Only then will you be saved. '

Maharishi Gautama did exactly as the Brahmins had said. All those engaged in worshiping Shiva were engrossed in completing the task. Pleased with this, Shiva asked Gautam to ask for a bride. Maharishi Gautam said to him, 'Lord, I want you to free me from the sin of cow slaughter.' Lord Shiva said on this, 'Gautam! You have not committed any sin. You have been cheated The crime of cow slaughtering was fraudulently imposed on you. To do this, I want to punish the Brahmins of your ashram. '

On this Maharishi Gautam said, 'Lord! I got to see you because of them. Forgive them as my absolute interest. On this, many sages, munis and deities gathered there and approved from Lord Shiva that they should reside there forever. Adhering to the sages, sages and deities, Shiva became located here in the name of Trimbakeshwar Jyotirlinga.

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