The legend of Lord Ganesha and Gautama is mentioned in the Shiva Purana. Sage Gautama lived in his abode with Ahalya. The legend describes that Brahmin women went to a reservoir for filling water everyday. But sage Gautama created obstacles in their way and prevented them from getting water from the lake.
All the women approached Lord Ganesha and prayed to Him. They complained against Gautama and requested the Lord to help them. Ganesha agreed to help them and decided to play a trick on Gautama. Thus the elephant-faced god took the disguise of a cow. Then Gautama went to the cow and tried to move it away with a straw. The divine cow fell to the ground and immediately died just as Gautama touched the creature. This action earned Gautama a sin. Thus he left his ashrama in anguish. He went to various sacred places but as Gautama killed a cow, he could not be relieved of the sin.
Eventually Gautama prayed to Lord Shiva and engaged in tapas. Shiva became pleased with his devotion and Gautama of the sin and his sufferings. Then he bowed and worshipped Lord Shiva and Lord Ganesha.
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