The Triyambakeshwara temple is located in the Triyambak town near Nasik in the state of Maharashtra. It is also a place of origin of river Godavari. Legend has it that Gowtama muni resided on the Bhramagiri hill here with his wife Ahalya. The ultimate aim of their life was penance and good of others. Once there was a drought.Saint Gautam did a great Mangalik tapas to please Varun Dev(God of rain) so that he can solve the problem of drought. Gautam Rishi made a pit and with the help of Varuna’s miraculous power, it filled with water. Varuna said, “Due to the power of your penance, this hole would be an unending source of water “Akshya”. Varun Dev blessed Rishi Gautam that it will become famous by Rishi's name. It will augment all holy rituals like Yagna, Dana, Tapa and worship of Gods. The other sages and their wives became jealous of the fame that sage Gautam was getting. All the sages came together and started worshipping Lord Ganesha. Lord Ganesha pleased with their devotion assumed form and being told the boon to be granted dissuaded the sages from doing so. But when the sages did not listen, Ganesha had to accode to the request of the adamant sages, but he warned them to be ready to face the consequences of angering a great saint like Gautama.

Lord Ganesha took the form of a cow and entered the courtyard of sage Gautam's house and started eating grass and plants. Gautam rishi came there and started pushing the cow with a thick stick. As soon as the stick touched the cow, the cow dropped down dead. Unfortunately, that moment the other wicked sages came there and criticised Gautam Rishi for his cruelty for “Gohatya”(Cow slaughter). They insulted him and said that he must leave that palce immediately in order to save it from the aftermath of Gohatya. The sages suggested that he should circumambulate the earth thrice, the Mountain Brahmagiri 100 times, holy bath in the Ganges and worshipping of 1 crore Shivalingas. Sage Gautam therfore did all that in order to get rid of the sin. He also worshipped Shiva, to bring the Ganga down to his hermitage to purify the premises. The Ganga came down as Godavari, and Shiva took up an abode here in the form of Tryambaka. Ganga who came on the request of Gautama became Gautam Ganga.