On Gotrams

[Guest guest]

PraNAms to all:

 

A friend of mine wanted info on Gotras. If you direct

to the site or can provide references or can answer

the questions, that will be great. YOu can respond to

my personal email if it not of general interest.

 

Appreciate your help.

 

Thanks

 

Hari Om

Sadananda

------------

 

 

I am trying to find some information about a critical

aspect of our Dharma, i.e. Gotra. We all know that

each Hindu has a Gotra. What I am looking for is

 

 

How many Gotras are there?

Is there any further subdivision than the Gotra?

When a particular Gotra started (time aspect)?

What is the process of starting a new Gotra? Why the

person who started a Gotra won’t use his father or

Guru’s Gotra?

Are Gotras geographical distributed over India ? In

other words, will we find a particular Gotra in

particular part of India ?

What I am trying to prove is that

 

Gotras are independent of the so called Caste?

Hopefully I will find a Gotra which we can find in two

or three different Castes. That will prove beyond

doubt that Caste system has no sanction from the

scriptures.

 

It is very important that all information must be

properly referenced and cross-checked. Your help in

this is greatly appreciated.

 

Rakesh

[Guest guest]

Note to fello members: The subject matter is not directly related to

the scope of this list and please do not start any debate on the

questions posed by Sri Rakesh. However everyone (always) welcome to

share any relevant information that can provide further insights on

the addressed questions.

 

 

Namaste Sri Rakesh:

 

A detailed research on the topic of Gotrams will very well qualify to

become a Ph.D. dissertaion. I am saying this because the question is

very deep and no rigorous explanations are currently available.

 

The following references may be useful:

 

A Tamil Book with the title, " Rishis and Gothrams " published by Little

Flower Company, Madras contains detailed information on the origin of

Gotras.

 

Wikepedia is a great reference site for gathering information on

almost all questions related to Vedic religion and associated

scriptures with details:

 

A Gotra is the lineage or clan assigned to a Hindu at birth. In most

cases, the system is patrilineal and the gotra assigned is that of

the person's father. (Link below for information)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gotra

 

The following links may be also useful:

 

http://www.salagram.net/sstp-Gotras.html

 

http://www.gsbkerala.com/gotra.htm

 

http://vasavi-northamerica.org/Sitebody/Gothras/index.htm

(102 are listed)

 

http://www.boloji.com/hinduism/054.htm

 

 

I honestly believe that if you go through the materials above, you

will likely rephrase your questions and get a better understanding of

Gotras and the origin of gotras. It should be pointed out (at least

in Tamil Nadu as for as I know) that family lineage was identified by

the Gotras (correspond to name of the Rishis) and it was more common

in Brahmin (Smarta) families. This does not necessarily mean that

all Rishis are Brahmins.

 

Good Luck with your research proposal and I do believe that you have

to conduct the research yourself if you want a satisfactory answer

from your point of view.

 

With my warmest regards,

 

 

Question from Sri Rakesh:

 

> I am trying to find some information about a critical

> aspect of our Dharma, i.e. Gotra. We all know that

> each Hindu has a Gotra. What I am looking for is

>

>

> How many Gotras are there?

> Is there any further subdivision than the Gotra?

> When a particular Gotra started (time aspect)?

> What is the process of starting a new Gotra? Why the

> person who started a Gotra won't use his father or

> Guru's Gotra?

> Are Gotras geographical distributed over India ? In

> other words, will we find a particular Gotra in

> particular part of India ?

> What I am trying to prove is that

>

> Gotras are independent of the so called Caste?

> Hopefully I will find a Gotra which we can find in two

> or three different Castes. That will prove beyond

> doubt that Caste system has no sanction from the

> scriptures.

>

> It is very important that all information must be

> properly referenced and cross-checked. Your help in

> this is greatly appreciated.

>

> Rakesh

>