( The G in this name is pronounced like 'g' in 'gout', TH ia pronounced like 'th'in 'with'. )
Gouthama is a famous sage. His name is mentioned many times in Mahaabhaaratham. He is one of the septet of the Sages (Athri,Vasishtha,Kashyapa,Gouthama,Vishvaamithra,Bharadvaaja,Jamadagni) of the term of the seventh i.e. current Manu, Vyvasvatha.
In Mahaabhaaratham, Ashvamedha parva mentions Gouthama the teacher of Uththanka. This story resembles the story of Udanka in Aadi parva in many aspects. But, except the similarity of the names Udanka and Uththanka, all the other names differ.
The Thelugu translation mentioned here Udanka, not Uththanka. The northern recensions named Uththanka in the Aadi parva too. It is presumed that these two sages are not the same.
Raamaayanam says that Janka's preceptor shathaananda was son of Gouthama. Gouthama was also associated with bringing river Ganga to the southern areas with the name Godaavari.
Bhaagavatham gives the lineage as following. Gouthama, Shathaananda, Shathadhrithi, Sharadvaan and Kripa. Kripa's sister Kripi was Drona's wife.
According to Raamaayanam and other Puraanams, the following story goes with Gouthama.
Ahalya was a beautiful girl created by Brahma. She was given to sage Gouthama as wife, discarding Indra's request for her.Yet, Indra did not lose hopes on her. He was waiting for a chance to trap Ahalya. Once, during the night, he took the form of a cock and crowed aloud near Gouthama's hermitage. The sage thought the night was closing to its end and went to the river for his regular bathing rites. Meanwhile Indra attained the form of Gouthama and went to Ahalya. The innocent Ahalya thought that her husband returned and allowed him to be close to her. Meanwhile, the real Gouthama returned and understood what had happened. He cursed Indra to bear the marks of vaginae all over his body. And he cursed Ahalya too, to remain a stone for many thousands of years. Upon Indra's praying for mercy, the sage allowed that the marks on Indra's body would look like eyes to others. And he also decreed that Ahalya would become normal with the touch Raama's (Not Parashuraama, Raama of Ayodhya, in the Raamaayanam) foot.
However, some scholars deny that Ahalya remained a stone for many years.
"After praying to Naaraayana, Nara, Sarasvathi and Vyaasa, then one should read the Jayam."
DEDICATED TO MY DEAR NIECE VYSHNAVI KRISHNA