Gotra

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Dear Sri Sriram,

 

The gotra system is part of a two type classification

of various Brahmin families in ancient times. The two

classifications are (1) Gotra and (2) Charana.

 

It is believed that Charana was more a prominent than

the gotra classification. The Charana is based on the

lineage of teachers and their students who then become

teachers. In ancient times (probably during the Rig

Vedic Period) it was more important for Brahmins to

be more aware of the charana as it is related to

education more that social activites.

 

The gotra classification took form probably (according

to some accounts) sometime during the Yajur Veda period,

after the Rig Veda period (some scholars have attributed

this to the fact that Rig Veda seem to point to Charana

more frequently that gotra).

 

It is believed that the gotras (now account to a total of

49) were a plenty and 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 +

Agastya). The Seven rishis are Bhrigu, Visvamitra, Angirasa,

Atri, Bharadvaja, Vashistha, Kanva.

 

It is believed that once there were 88000 rishis who were

following the sastras and were not tied down by the Samsara.

Of these, 8 of them desired progeny and received it. The

first of these 8 were Agastya. All present day Brahmin

communities are said to be descendants of these 8 rishis.

The 49 or so present day gotras are based on some sort

of sub-grouping of these 8 rishis.

 

The sampling of various Brahmin families across India

indicates that the gotras (their names ) vary from place

to place and may be more than 49 (this number seem to be

generally accepted by many scholars).

 

The gotra system was instituted for the purposes of identifying

one's ancestors and pay respects during various invocations

and other rituals to honour their fathers, fore-fathers

and so on, up to their respective rishis.

 

This was latter adopted to other aspects of the Brahmin

life, such as Marriage and temple worship.

 

In present days, the gotra classification is mainly used for

marriages. It was manily used so that that progeney will not be

allowed within the same gotra (sa-gora) in order to avoid

impure matrimoney. In fact the Manusmriti (according to some

accounts) strongly advises a man NOT to seek father's sisters's

daughter, mother's sister's daughter and mother's brother's

daughter for marriage. This however, is not followed in

many parts of India, in particular Tamil Nadu, where marriage

between brother and his elder sister's daughter is common.

 

It is also true that other Varnas has similar grouping and

follow some restrictions on marriage.

 

 

Venkatesh K. Elayavalli Cypress Semiconductor

Data Communications Division 3901 N. First St. MS 4

Phone: (408) 456 1858 San Jose CA 95134

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email: elayavalli (external)

Home Page Location: http://www.SriVaishnava.org

 

 

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