Gautamāśrama is the sacred āśrama (hermitage) of the great ṛshi Gautama. It stands on the Brahmagiri hill at the source of the river Godāvarī, in what is now Maharashtra. The Nārada Mahā Purāṇa tells how Gautama Maharshi caused the death of a cow by accident, with the touch of a blade of darbha grass, and was crushed by grief at the burden of karma. He performed severe tapas (austerity) here to bring Bhagavān Śiva and the waters of svarga (heaven) to this place. Bhagavān Śiva appeared, brought down the waters of the Gaṅgā, and the Godāvarī, the sacred river of the Deccan, was born. The Tryambakeśvara Jyotirliṅga, close by, marks the permanent home of Bhagavān Śiva at this site.

Gautama Maharshi

Gautama is one of the great brahmarshis of the Vedic and Purāṇic tradition. He was the husband of Ahalyā, whose account is told in the Rāmāyaṇa. He founded a major Vedic śākhā (branch of study) of the Sāmaveda, and many Purāṇas honour him. His āśrama on the Brahmagiri hill became the place of one of the most important events in the sacred geography of Bhārata. (Nārada Mahā Purāṇa, Uttarārdha, Chapter 72)

The death of the cow

A great drought had struck the whole region around Gautama’s āśrama. By his tapas Gautama gained food and water for all the ṛshis who had gathered there. A cow came to Gautama’s fields. One account says it was a divine cow sent by rival ṛshis to harm Gautama’s good name. Gautama touched it with a blade of darbha grass to drive it away, and it fell dead. The ṛshis who had gathered declared this a go-hatyā (killing of a cow).

Gautama had meant no harm, but he was shattered. Go-hatyā is one of the five mahāpātakas (great sins), and even a killing by accident caused deep distress of spirit. He decided to perform tapas strong enough to bring the Gaṅgā herself to cleanse him. (Nārada Mahā Purāṇa, Uttarārdha, Chapter 72)

Tapas and the birth of the Godāvarī

Gautama performed extraordinary tapas on the Brahmagiri hill, calling on Bhagavān Śiva. Bhagavān Śiva appeared and offered him a vara (boon). Gautama asked that the Gaṅgā come down here to cleanse him. Bhagavān Śiva agreed. The waters of svarga, a form of the Gaṅgā, came down and flowed from the Brahmagiri hill as the Godāvarī.

The name Godāvarī is explained as “the waters of Gautama (Go-ta-ma) which give (dā) liberation to cows and to all beings”, or simply as “the river connected with Gautama”. She flows east across the Deccan Plateau to the sea and cleanses all who bathe in her. She is also called Dakshiṇa-Gaṅgā, the Gaṅgā of the south, and she carries the same śakti (power) as the northern Gaṅgā. (Nārada Mahā Purāṇa, Uttarārdha, Chapter 72)

The holiness of Gautamāśrama

The āśrama itself, the Brahmagiri hill, is a supreme tīrtha. The Uttarārdha declares:

A bath at the source of the Godāvarī (at Gautamāśrama, on Brahmagiri) cleanses all go-hatyā and all mahāpātakas.
Those who bathe here on auspicious tithis (lunar days) receive the fruit of all tīrthas together.
The kshetra is filled with the presence of Bhagavān Śiva; Tryambakeśvara is established right beside it.
Pilgrims who go from here to Tryambakeśvara receive the combined fruit of both kshetras.

(Nārada Mahā Purāṇa, Uttarārdha, Chapter 72)

The Godāvarī in other Purāṇas

The Godāvarī flows from Brahmagiri to the sea, and several Purāṇas describe her. The Nārada Mahā Purāṇa, in its Uttarārdha, gives the account of her birth through Gautama.

Sources

Nārada Mahā Purāṇa, Uttarārdha, Chapter 72