Gotras and Pravaras - How Gotras Formed and Its History
Gotras and Pravaras - How Gotras Formed and Its History
Haritasmriti or
Katyayana:
Yajnavalkya mentions Katyayana. Katyayanasmriti is quoted in several works of
Viswarupa, Mitramisra etc.
Smriti Chandrika cites 600 verses of Katyayana sutras. He may belong to the same
period as Narada and Brihaspati.
Manu:
Manu is a mythical personality and is the ancestor of the entire humankind. Manu
received the code from Brahma, and communicated it to ten sages and requested
Bhrigu Rishi to repeat it to the other nine. This code of conduct recited by Bhrigu is
called Manusmriti
Narada:
Sage Narada was probably a native of Nepal around first century AD.
Naradasmriti is the first legal code unhampered by the mass of religious and moral
teachings. Some authors think that Narada belonged to Gupta period when there
was a distinct revival of Brahminism and Sanskrit literature.
Vasishta:
Vasishta belonged to 3rd century BC and a native of North India. Vasishtas
teachings are called Vasishtasutra or Vasishtasmriti.
Vishnu:
Vishnu belonged to 1st or 2nd century AD. Vishnus teachings are called
Vishnusutra or Vishnusmriti.
Yajnavalkya:
Yajnavalkya belonged to Suklayajurveda School12. He was a native of Mithila City
in North Bihar and probably lived anywhere from few centuries before Christ to 200
AD.
However, some scholars think he belonged to first or second century AD.
Yajnavalkya Dharmasmriti has been subject of numerous commentaries.
The most celebrated of all the commentaries of Yajnavlkyasmriti is Mitakshara and
is practically the beginning of the Brahmin law and the so-called Hindu law.
Passages from Mitakshara have been found practically in every part of the Indian
Continent and became an authority. The Yajnavlkyasmriti is concise, more
systematic and better arranged than the Manusmriti.
Sage
Gothras desended
Bhrigu
Angirah
Atri;
Viswamitr
a
Kasyap;
Vashisht
Vashisht,
Kundin,
Jatukaraniya
Agastya.
Idhamabahar,
Yagyabhar
Upamanyu,
Somabahar,
Parashara
and
Sambhabahar
and
The smaarta
Manusmriti).
Brahmins
follow
Apastambasmriti
oder
Apastambasutra
(not
Apasthamba (~600 BC) was one of the earliest lawmakers of south India who lived
on the banks of River Godavari.
Boudhayana, Parasara, Yajnvalkya sutras and other laws were also important in the
past, e.g., in the courts of Srikrishnadevaraya.
Q-10. What are the details of Brahmins of Andhra today?
A-10. Pradhamasakha Niyogi Brahmins (see below) follow Yajnavalkya sutras and
Kanva sutras.
The smaarta Brahmins in Andhra Pradesh can be grouped into two major divisions
formed about a thousand to about 700 years ago (most probably during Kakatiya
rule), Niyogi and Vaidiki.
However, in addition to smaarta Brahmins, there are other Brahmin groups such as
Sri Vaishnavas, Madhavas and Aradhyas.
Niyogi Brahmins : Niyogi Brahmins are those Brahmins who took up various secular
vocations including military activities and gave up religious vocation, especially the
priesthood. Niyogi Brahmins depend and emphasize on modern education. They
were ministers in the courts of kings and feudatories. Many of them were village
accountants/clerks, karanams (Andhra) or patwaris (Telangana), until recently. The
Niyogis are considered to be eligible for priestly service. But they will never either
accept a religious gift or partake of Sraaddha food (food given to Brahmins duiring
the death related rituals).
According to Jogendranath Bhattacharya, Niyogi name is derived from Yoga, which
means religious contemplation or meditation, as opposed to Yaga, which means
religious sacrifice. Niyogin in Sanskrit also means "employed" or "appointed" and
accordingly, it is probable that they are so-called because they accept secular
employment. Niyogi Brahmins include eminent personalities like Veeresalingam
Kandukuri, Radhakrishnan Sarvepalli, Venkatgiri Varahagiri, KL Rao, Prakasam
Tanguturi, Venkatanarasimharao Pamulaparti (PV), General K. V. Krishnarao etc. As
the times have changed, even Vaidika Brahmins should earn money to protect the
Dharma, despite the traditional ban on earning money. That was one of the main
reasons for the existence of Niyogi Brahmins. There are many subcastes in Vaidiki
Brahmins as well:
Among the Vaishnavities, the strict vegetarians and highly educated people also
are given the approximate status of brahmins in Andhra Pradesh. They adhere to
either the medieval Tenkalai or Vadakalai and Agaama scriptures These Vaishnavite
Brahmins are spread mainly in Karnataka and Andhra, and to some extent in
Tamilnadu also .
The great Vaishnavite reformers like Ramanujacharya, Ramananda (north India),
Madhva (all over south India), Vallabhacharya (found among velanadu, gujarat,
rajasthan and UP), Nimbaarka, etc.
Not all the followers of these Vaishnavite
reformers are Brahmins. Some of these Vaishnavites include Acharis and velanadu
vaideekulu. These Vaishnavas are also known as Andhra Vaishnava. Many of the
famous temple establishments like Tirupati and Ahobilam are run per vaishnavite
agamic canons.
Q-11. What are the praised activities of Ramanujacharya?
A-11. The big hearted Raamanuja fought against caste distinctions and gathered
under his doctrine, people from all walks of life and caste and religion and
occupation and said henceforth they shall be known as one community. Thus he
created the Vaishnava community, and told them to always work for reform of
society.
The great Raamanuja specifically included among his followers sc's, tribals,
immigrant foreign soldiers, arabs and turks, destitutes women, jains, etc. All the
same it appears they made sure that the brightest were selected as Sri
Vaishnavites, evangelizers of vaishnavism, without any regard to their former caste
or other origins One characteristic method used by the gurus was community
dinners, where everybody sat together without distinction. This went a long way
towards reduction of old discriminations.
As a consequence there are expert cooks who easily handle very large scale
cooking among them.
Q-12. Do Jains have joined Vaishanvisam?
A-12. It seems many jains also merged with vaishnavites, just like in an earlier era
buddhists shifted to various sects of saivism The vaishnavite communities in
Andhra Pradesh have a marked bent towards education, literature and performing
arts like music and dance.
Q-13. What is the period of Madwacharya?
A-13. The Madhvaas date from the recent reform activities of Madhvacharya
(somewhere in the 12th century) also of the vaishnava sampradaya , and they
were prominent in the last days of Vijayanagar (1500's). A famous guru of the line
was Raghavendraswami. (They are found all over karnataka, south Maharashtra,
Tamilnadu as well as Andhra.
Q-14. Who were the earliest group of Brahmins came to Tamilnadu?
A-14. The earliest group of Brahmins to come to Tamil Nadu is largely known as
Gurukuls. They have been here from very ancient times and were primarily invited
to be temple priests in the early Chola period. Many of them were great Vedic
scholars. They conducted the coronation of the kings and acted as their spiritual
advisors and Gurus. Many of them were the great exponents of Vedic Astrology and
Ayurvedic Medicine. They are supposed to be followers of Baudhyana sutra
and
are
divided
as
'Kanchipuram',
'Tiruvalangadu'
and
'Thirukazhakundram' Gurukuls. It is interesting that all the three are the names
of ancient towns and temples around Kanchipuram. This clearly indicates that the
earliest migration was to Kanchipuram.
Q-15. Who are Kashmri Brahmins? Are they branhched from Saraswath
Brahmins?
A-15. According to accepted traditions in the rest of the country, Kashmiri Brahmins
are believed to be a branch of the Saraswat Brahmins who were so called because
they were believed to have settled along the course of an ancient river in the
North-West Indian Continet (Indo-Pak region) called Saraswati. When this river dried
up, these Brahmins migrated. A large section of this uprooted community was
settled in the Western Konkan coast of the present state of Maharashtra. Others
moved further North into the Valley of Kashmir. The first Prime Minister of the
Indian Union, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, belongs to the Pandit community of kasmiri
Brahmins. The Nehru dynasty ruled the Union for almost half a century.
Q-16. Who are Tuluva Brahmins?
A-16. The ancient Tulu nadu extended from Gokarna in the north, all along coastal
Karnataka up to Kasargod in the south. This included both coastal Uttara Kannada
district as well as all of Dakshina Kannada district. Over many centuries the
principal language of Tulu nadu was Tulu. Today Tulu is spoken only south of River
Kalyanpur in Udupi and Dakshina Kannada districts of Karnataka. This is the
heartland of Tulu nadu today. While Udupi is the religious center of Tulu nadu,
Mangalore is the commercial hub.
Q-17. Other than Viswamithra can you say a few non Brahmin sages?
A-17. In the past, however, through rigorous courses and tests some non-Brahmins
became Rishis, e.g., Kings like Viswamitra, Vishnuvardhana, Radheerga,
Veerahavya etc. became Rishis and established their own Vedik schools and new
Brahmin branches.
Q-18. What is the relation with Sanskrit for Brahmins?
A-18. The Sanskrit is an ancient language that became irrelvant to Indians in
general, and Brahmins in particular. It is the language of Brahmins. However,
whenever, Brahmins migrated to lands, they adopted to the local language and
customs and adopted local Gods, yet maintained their Sanskrit language, the
Vedas, traditions and culture.
Q-19. What was the reason Yanjalwakia came out from vaisampayana ?
A-19. Once upon a time, an assembly of Brahmins was arranged in presence of
Lord Brahma. All the Brahmin teachers and professors were invited. It was declared
that who ever among the invited fails to attend the Brahmin assembly would be
considered to have committed the sin of murder of a Brahmin (Brahmahatya).
For some unavoidable circumstances, Professor Vaisampayana could not attend
this meeting and acquired the sin of Brahmahatya. He assembled all his disciples
and requested them to share the burden of the sin of murder.
One of his disciples was Yajnavalkya. He was a great intellectual and was very
powerful due to his knowledge. He came forward and suggested that he would take
all the sin and manage it with his powers and requested Vaisampayana to let go
other disciples.
Vaisampayana was enraged at this request. He considered this request as
arrogance of Yagnavalkya and completely out of line. Consequently, he ordered
Yajnavalkya to give up all the learning that he learned from Vaisampayana and
leave his school immediately. Yajnavalkya followed the orders of the professor and
discarded all the learning, which immediately evaporated into the solar dimension.
And he became poorer in his knowledge and hence in powers and luster.
Yajnavalkya went to the Sun God and requested the Sun to teach him Yajurveda.
The Sun God agreed to teach and asked him to follow him in the form a horse
during his continuous travel across the skies and learn. Thus Yajnavlakya became a
Vajasaneya, one who learned as a horse and a branch formed called Vajasaneya
sakha. This Yajurveda learned by Yajnavlkya as a horse from the Sun God is called
SuklaYajurveda and the earlier one that was learned from Vaismpayana was
Krishna Yajurveda.
Q-20. Do gothra system started during Yajurveda period?
A-20. There is a thinking like that .The gotra system is part of a system of
classification or identification of various Brahmin families in ancient times. The
gotra classification took form probably sometime during the Yajur Veda period, after
the Rig Veda period. It is believed that the gotras (now account to a total of 49)
started to consolidate some around 10-8 Century B.C.
The present day gotra classification is created from a core of 8 rishis (The Saptha
rishis + Aga Agastya). The Seven rishis are Gautama, Bhardwaja, Vishwamitra,
Jamadagni, Vasistha, Kashyapa and Atri. Seven Rishis (Saptarshi) are recognized as
the mind born sons of the creator Brahma. They desired offspring and received it.
All present day Brahmin communities are said to be descendants of these 8 Rishis.
Over the years the number of gotras incresed due to:
Descendents of these Rishis also started new family lineage or new gotras
(Kaundinya was a descendent of Vasihta, Vishwamitra was a descendent of
Kaushika and Vatsa was a descendent of Jamadagni).
Inspired by a saint whose name they bear as their own Gotra.
The lines of descent from the major rishis are originally divided into Ganas [sub
divisions] and each Gana is further divided into families.
However, subsequently the term gotra is frequently applied to the ganas and to the
families within the ganas interchangeably.
Q-21. How do Kula devata principle originated?
A-21. These Rishis belonged to different sects like Shakti, Shavites and Vishnavites
and had different deities for worship. Such deities came to be known as the
Kuladevatas.
A-27. Brahma according to Puranas had 4 sons: Atri, Bhrigu,Vasishta and Ankiras.
Q-28. What was the gothra of Sreerama (Sri Ram)?
A-28. Lord Rama was Raghu Vansha. This was because Lord Rama's greatgrandfather Raghu became famous.
A Gotra relates directly to the original seven or eight Rishis of the Vedas. In this
sense, Lord Rama did not have a Gotra, and in rituals his Gotra would be the Gotra
of his Brahmin priest. This practice is still common today as it was in ancient times
according to earliest Hindu sources.
Therefore, Gotra has always been only a Brahmin lineage that descends from
seven or eight rishis associated with the Saptarishi or the seven stars of the Great
Bear constellation as according to original Hindu Vedic system.
Q-29. Though gothras were for all was it particular to keep the ray by Brahmins?
A-29. Yes. The word "Gotra" means "ray." In Brahmin tradition, it is the duty of
the Brahmin to keep his particular ray alive by doing daily rituals that he
may transmit the power of that ray to others for the benefit of mankind.
Q-30. Do Family deity known as kula deivam or kula devata is related to
Gothra?
A-30. NO NO NO. A common mistake is to consider gotra to be synonymous with
clan or Kula. A kula is basically a set of people following similar rituals, often
worshipping the same God (the Kula-Devata - the God of the clan). Kula has
nothing to do with lineage or caste. In fact, it is possible to change one's Kula,
based on his faith or Ishta-deva. Note-I had the experience of meeting many gothra
Brahmins coming to my Kuladeivam Jadayudayar temple in Kallidaikurichi.
Q-31. Do sudras see gothra for marriage?
A-31. Shudras also have gotras, and follow it in marriages. For example a weaver
falls under Markandeya gotra. Markandeya was known be a Maharishi and had 60
sons. Marriages are held within Markandeya but never in same family name. So,
every weaver falls under one of these gotra. Marriages within the gotra ("swagotra"
marriages) are banned under the rule of exogamy in the traditional matrimonial
system. People within the gotra are regarded as kin and marrying such a person
would be thought of as incest.
Q-32. DO Gothra is partilineal or matrilineal too?
A-32. In some communities, where gotra membership passed from father to
children, marriages were allowed between uncle and niece, while such marriages
were forbidden in matrilineal communities, like Malayalis and Tuluvas, where gotra
membership was passed down from the mother.
Q-33. Do Kanchipuram was one of the oldest cities?
A-33 Yes. Kanchipuram is one of the two most ancient cities of India, the other
being Varanasi (Kashi). The linkage between the Varanasi (Kashi) and Kanchi has
existed from earliest times and has been facilitating the migration of priests
between the North and the South.
Q-34. Do Kanchipuram was the orginal destination for priests from north?
A-34. It is possible that Kanchipuram, Tiruvangadu and Tirukalikundram were the
first destinations for the Gurukuls who arrived. They stayed and worked there till
they were redeployed to other interior temples and towns.
Q-35. Where do Brahmin communities flourished and how it was expanded?
A-35. Vedas mention a mighty river called the Sarasvati where Brahmin
communities flourished, where the Indus Valley civilization flourished and
dispersed when the Saraswati river dried up around 1900 BCE. Long before, during
the Ramayana period Brahmins migrated to Dandakaranya (Dandaka Forest) in the
south with Viswamitra, the author of several hymns in Rigveda including Gayatri
mantra.
Q-36. Do Rigveda is declared as part of world heritage by UNESCO?
A-36. Yes, UNESCO declared, Rig Veda as part of the World Heritage.
Q-37. What are the daily practices of a Brahmin?
A-37. Daily practices of Brahmins include sandhyavandana (prayers to Gayatri and
Sun God), prayer to ishtadaiva or ilavelpu (personal God), yoga, non-violence,
vegetarianism etc. Everything in the daily life of a Brahmin is a ritual.
However, special rituals include marriage, ritual conception and consummation of
the wedding, rituals of childbirth, naming ceremony, first feeding ceremony, the
childs first tonsure, upanayana (the sacred-thread ceremony - initiation into vedic
learning and ritual), ritual baths, cremation rituals, shraaddha, etc. All of these
rituals are very important for a practicing Brahmin.
Traditional Brahmin accepts Vedas as apaurusheyam (not man-made), but revealed
truths and of eternal validity or relevance and hence the Vedas are considered
Srutis that which have been heard and are the paramount source of Brahmin
traditions and is believed to be divine.
Q-38. According to Panini and Bodhayana what is the explanation of
gothra?
A-38. In general, gotra denotes all persons who trace descent in an unbroken male
line from a common male ancestor. Panini defines gotra for grammatical purposes
as ' apatyam pautraprabhrti gotram' (IV. 1. 162), which means 'the word gotra
denotes the progeny (of a sage) beginning with the son's son. When a person says '
I am Kashypasa-gotra' he means that he traces his descent from the ancient sage
Kashyapa by unbroken male descent. According to the Baudhyanas'rauta-stra
A-41. Yes. Sutra Period: During the sutra period, roughly sometime during 1000 BC
to 200 BC, Brahmins became divided into various Sakhas or branches, based on
the adoption of different Vedas and different readings and interpretations of Vedas
Sects or schools for different denominations of the same Veda were formed, under
the leadership of distinguished teachers among Brahmins.
The teachings of these distinguished rishis are called sutras.
Every Veda has its own sutras. The sutras that deal with social, moral and legal
precepts are called dharma sutras, whereas those sutras that deal with
ceremonials are called Srauta sutras and domestic rituals are called gruhya sutras.
Sutras are generally written in prose or in mixed prose and verse. These sutras are
based on divine Vedas and are manmade and hence are called Smritis, meaning
recollected or remembered.
There are several Brahmin law givers such as Angirasa, Apasthambha, Atri,
Brihaspati, Boudhayana, Daksha, Gautama, Harita, Katyayana, Likhita, Manu,
Parasara, Samvarta, Sankha, Satatapa, Usanasa, Vasishta, Vishnu, Vyasa,
Yajnavalkya and Yama.
Q-42
A-42. Bharadwaja was one of the great sages (rishis) descendant of rishi Angirasa,
whose accomplishments are detailed in the Puranas. Bharadwaja rishi was the
father of Dronacharya and the grandfather of Ashwatthama
He was one of the Saptarshis (Seven Great Sages Rishi) in the present Manvantara;
with others being Atri, Vashishtha, Vishvamitra, Gautama, Jamadagni, Kashyapa
[1].
Q-43. What is the orgin of Gothra?
A-43. The word "gotra" means "lineage" in the Sanskrit language. Among those of
the Brahmin caste, gotras are reckoned patrilineally. Each gotra takes the name of
a famous Rishi or sage who was the patrilineal forebearer of that clan. And each
Gotra is addressed by the suffix 'sa' or 'asa' as relevant.
The concept of Gotra was the first attempt among Brahmins to classify themselves
among different groups. At the beginning, these gentes identified themselves by
the names of various rishis (Angirasa, Atri, Gautam, Kashyapa, Bhrigu, Vasishtha,
Kutsa, and Bharadvaja; the first seven of these are often enumerated as
Saptarishis).
Hence the gotra was applied to the grouping stemming from one of these rishis as
his descendants
Many lines of descent from the major rishis were later grouped separately.
Accordingly, the major gotras were divided into ganas (subdivisions) and each gana
was further divided into groups of families. The term gotra was then frequently
started being applied to the ganas and to the sub-ganas.
Every brahmin claims to be a direct patrilinial descendant of one of the founding
rishis of a certain gana or sub-gana. It is the gana or sub-gana that is now
commonly referred to as gotra.
Over the years, the number of gotras increased due to:Descendants of original rishi
also started new family lineage or new gotras and Inspired by another rishi whose
name they bear as their own gotra.
Q-44. Do Gothra and Pravara are related to ?
A-44. Surely . Pravara is the number of the most excellent (-cf. reference, SanskritEnglish Dictionary,Monier-Williams) rishis who belonged to that particular gotra to
which a person belongs.
Gotra is the name of the founding father. In vedic ritual, the importance of the
pravara appears to be in its use by the ritualist for extolling his ancestry and
proclaiming, "as a descendant of worthy ancestors, I am a fit and proper person to
do the act I am performing."
The sacred thread yajnopavita worn on upanayana has close connection with the
concept of pravaras related to brahmin gotra system. While tying the knots of
sacred thread, an oath is taken in the name of each one of these three or five of
the most excellent rishis belonging to one's gotra.(Is there any such ractise.?
Telling mantra-Yanjopaveetham paramam pavithram prajapathae golden thread,
silver thread followed by cotton thread is worn I think I want your enlightenment)
It may be noted some gothras have variations of pravara sages. When the variation
is more intermarriage from the same gothra is permitted provided the pravars are
shisya pravaras.
The full affiliation of a brhamana consists of (1) gotra, (2) pravaras (3) sutra (of
Kalpa), (4) shakha.
A brahmana named 'X' introduces himself as follows : I am 'X', of Shrivatsa gotra,
of pastamba sutra, of Taittiriya shkha of Yajurveda, of five pravaras named
Bhrgava, Chyvana, pnavan, Aurva and Jmdagnya (This example is based upon
the example given by Pattbhirm Shastri in the introduction to Vedrtha-Prijata,
cf. ref.).
Harita
4. To help recognise Man's special status in the hierarchy of God's creations-the eternal
principles underlying cosmic creation.
Sri Ramanuja was also of Harita Gotra. Ramanujacharya, was a theologian, philosopher, and
scriptural exegete. He is seen by rvais n avasas the third and most important teacher
(crya) of their tradition, and by Hindus as the leading expounder of Viis t dvaita, one of
the classical interpretations of the dominant Vedanta school of Hindu philosophy,Setu
madhav Pagadi an eminent scholar of medieval Indian history was also belonging to this
gotra .