FW: Useful info-The Gothra and the Pravara

[Guest guest]

Dear Members,

this is some useful info how our traditions, social structure flourished and has

almost lost, some individual has passed this to me so am passing it to all who

can understand and develop, sustain them

 

in Short the Gotra classification is like what is there for all forms of life,

animals, plants do have a genre, family, species, family... classifications the

order may be a bit here and there, though it is still there within Brahmins, it

is there in all the 3 forward castes.

 

in humans during the Festival of India in the USA during mid 80's THERE WAS A

STUDY OF concepts of Indian culture done there like gothra also when a person is

born in a family with a Gothra the DNA ha s unique type IN IT after all we r

scattered from some common source up above the generations where all ppl mixed

[married] and their changes can be still be seen in the distinctiveness of the

gothra/DNA

 

and when women/girls got married as per tradition/Sapthasathi by the fire into a

different gothra there was a ALTERED dna PATERN IT IS reported so too in the

case of ADOPTION by shastric rites.

 

 

Please do not see this as a castist posting, I am looking at this only as a

scientific model used by our past generations, its practice, use may be decaying

over the decades, but concepts are v good. INTERESTING TO SAY the least. the

caste system is based on socio-ecconomic pattern, based on work, interests

persued, most of the great rishis like veda vyasa, valmiki have come from lower

casts purely by their dedication efforts have rishen to these heights

so has Vishwamitra from a King [kshatraya to a rishi] so there is no caste

barrier in place but ppl have inserted for vested interests later.

 

 

rest is food for thought

 

Prashant

 

 

-

Dr Sesha Sai

Perisepalli Venkata

aanandaashramam

Saturday, August 15, 2009 12:44 AM

The Gothra and the Pravara

 

 

Adhyatmika Ratna,

Sri Yaaga Vidya Praveena, Vedanta Visarada, Sahasradhika

Yaagakarta

Dr

P V Sesha Sai Aswamedhayaaji

Camp LOS ANGELES CA USA

web " http://aswamedhayaaji.com "

web USA

web HYPERLINKhttp://aswamedhayaaji.com, e mail shodasisai

shodasisai http://ritualsandprocedures.blogspot.com

13th August 2009

Phone 518 368

7956

My dear friends and like minded persons

In the recent past, when I came across people asking me and heard other some

Vedic scholars too – what is “Pravara†and most of them knew their Gothra

and not their Pravara. It is not a

complaint against lack of knowledge of them, but circumstances would not have

given opportunity to know what a Gothra is and what a Pravara. It is not that I

know much about it, but there are great personalities in the mailing group who

can surely enlighten on this subject, but to the extent of my source, I am

presenting the topic for the benefit of all. This letter is also being posted

to the

blog by name http://ritualsandprocedures.blogspot.com for further references.

What is a Gothra? More or less, it is nothing

but a blood group, when the modern groups are a few in number, the ancient sages

of India arrived at a minutest point and bifurcated the blood group into a

number of groups beyond the reach of the so called modern and so called

Scientific

world. The word " gotra " means

" lineage " and this word is of Sanskrit language. Among those of the

Brahmins, gotras are reckoned lineally. Each gotra takes the

name of a famous Rishi or sage who was the lineal fore bearer of that clan. And

each Gotra is addressed by the suffix 'sa' or 'asa' as relevant. The concept of

Gothra was the first attempt among Brahmins to classify themselves among

different groups. At the beginning, these genetics identified themselves by the

names of various Rishis Angirasa, Atri, Gowthama, Kasyapa, Bhrigu, Vasista, and

Bhraradwaja - the first seven of these are often enumerated as Saptarishis. It

is to be noted that Vishwamitra was initially a Kshatriya king, later chose and

rose to become an ascetic Rishi. There is a small confusion about the

great sage Agastya also in this regard. Therefore there are nine group origins

in the system as seen above. The

branches thereafter started percolated down.

Hence the gotra was applied to the grouping stemming from

one of these Rishis as descendants. Over the years, the number of gotras

increased due to Descendants of original Rishi which also started new family

lineage or new gotras.

Pravara is the number of the most excellent 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 ritualistic for extolling his ancestry and proclaiming,

in a manner as a descendant of worthy ancestors, one is fit and proper person to

do the act that he is performing. The sacred thread called as Upavita or

Yagnopavita 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 or seven or nine of the most excellent

rishis belonging to one's gotra.

 

 

The full affiliation of a BrÄhmin consists of Gothra,

Pravara, Sutra, and Sakha.

 

For Example - A Brahmin named: Sastry: introduces

himself as follows: I am: Sastry: of Shrivatsa gotra, of Āpastamba sutra, of

Taittiriya shÄkha of Yajurveda, of five pravaras named BhÄrgava, ChyÄvana,

Ä€pnava, Aurva and JÄmdagnya

While the gotras were classified initially

according to nine (?) Rishis, the

Pravara was classified under the

names of the following seven Rishis namely, Agastya, Angirasa, Atri,

Bhrigu, Kashyapa, Vasista, Viswaamitra, According to the listing of authors

included in the verses in Vedas, the rishi Jamadagni was a descendant of

rishi Bhrigu while the rishis Gautam and Bharadwaja were the descendants of

rishi

Angirasa.

The pravara identifies the association of a person with

three or sometimes five and some times seven and interestingly sometimes

nine (as is seen in some places) also of the above-mentioned Rishis.

For example, Kashyapa Gothram has 3 rishis associated

with it viz. Kashyapa, Daivala and Aavatsaara

Some of the

known Gothras and Pravaras are appended hereunder for the benefit of the readers

and this is subject to further modification by the learned scholars in the

relevant field. There are, however,

innumerable combinations which are not codified at one place due to different

reasons, and now I appeal to all the readers to place their comments on this and

add the known information in a blog created by me as

http:ritualsandprocedures.blogspot.com so that over a period of time, a

separate book on this subject may get published for the benefit of future

generations, as WE HAVE ALREADY STEPPED INTO AN AREA OF IGNORING ALL THESE RICH

TEXTS OF ANCIENT TRADITIONAL SCIENCES OF INDIA. I am also trying to procure

information

relating to the Gothra in respect of different castes in India and IT IS TO BE

NOTICED THAT EACH FAMILY IN INDIA HAS A GOTHRA IRRESPECTIVE OF THEIR CASTE.

1. Bharadwaja : Angirasa, Baaryhaspatya,,

Bharadwaja

2. Rathitara : Angirasa, Baaryhaspatya,

Rathitara

3. Vathula or Vathulasa : Bhargava,Vaitahavya,

Saavedasa

4. Srivasta or Srivastasa : Bhargava, Chyaavana,

Aapnavaana, Aurva, Jaamadaghneya

5. Salankayana : Viswaamitra, Aghamarshana, Devarata

6. Shatamarshana: Angirasa, Powrukutsa,

Traasatasya

7. Atreya: Atreya, Aarchanaasa, Syaavaasva

8. Kowsika: Vishwamitra, Aghamarshana, Kowsika

9. Kalabodhana/Kalabhavasa (3 variations)

1. Kalabodhana: Viswaamitra, Agamarshana,

Kalabodhana

2. Kalabodhana: Viswaamitra, Agamarshana,

Kalabodhana

3. Kalabhavasa: Viswaamitra, Agamarshana,

Kalabhavasa

10. Viswaamitra: Viswaamitra, Devarata, Owtala

11. Kaundinya: Vaasishta, Maitraavaruna,

Kaundinya

12. Haritasa: Angirasa, Ambarisha, Yuvanasva,

Haritasa

13. Gautamasa : Angirasa, Aayasya, Ausidyasa,

Kaakshivata, Vamadeva, Grihadugda, Gautamasa – seven rishis

14. Mowdgalya (3 Variations)

1. Angirasa, Bharmyasva, Mowdgalya

2. Tarkshya, Bharmyasva, Mowdgalya

3. Angirasa, Dhavya, Mowdgalya

15. Sandilya (3 Variations)

1. Kasyapa, Aavatsaara, Daivala

2. Kasyapa, Aavatsaara, Sandilya

3. Kasyapa, Daivala, Asitha

16. Naitruvakaasyapa: Kasyapa, Aavatsara,

Naitruva

17. Kutsa: Angirasa, Maandhatra, Kowtsa

18. Kanva (2 Variations)

1. Angirasa, Ajameeda, Kanva

2. Angirasa, Kowra, Kanva

19. Paraasara: Vaasishta, Saaktya, Paraasara

20. Aagastya: Aagastya, Tardhachyuta, Sowmavaha

21. Gargi (2 Variations)

1. Angirasa, Barhaspatya, Bharadwaja, upadhyay

2. Angirasa, Sainya, Gaargya

22. Badarayana: Angirasa, Paarshadaswa, Raatitara

23. Kasyapa (3 Variations)

1. Kasyapa, Aavatsaara, Daivala

2. Kasyapa, Aavatsaara, Naidruva (Naitruva)

3. Kasyapa, Aavatsaara, Naidruva (Naitruva),

Rebha, Raibha , Sandila, Saandilya

24. Sunkriti (2 Variations) or Saankritya

Gothra

1. Angirasa, Kowravidha, Saankritya

2. Sadhya ,Kowravidha, Saankritya

25. Angirasa, Pourukutsya, Thraasadasya

26. Goutam/Gowtamasa Aangeerasa, Ayasya, Gowtamasa

27. AgniVaiwaswatha: Angirasa, Barhaspthya,

Bharadwaja, Srukva, Agnivaiwaswatha

28. Sankhyayana: Vishwamitra, Aghamarshana,

Devaratha

29. Vishwamitra, Shraumita, Kaamakayana,

Devatarasa, Devaraata,

30. Kapi: Angirsa, Amahaiya, Orukshaya,

This may not be

just taken only Brahmin sect, the Vysya or the Agarwal community is still more

perfection as they take a bride out of their gothra as well out of the maternal

side gothra too.

 

Perhaps this may

be the reason; the Agarwal community is still maintaining their tradition almost

nearer to perfection.

 

The Kshatriya

too, more particular of observing Gothra while one among the four caste system

in the name of

Sudra also rely upon the same system of observing

Gothra or identifying themselves to a particular Gothra. Unfortunately the

“Sudra†is mistaken as

an inferior set of human beings in the society, but they are not

so, surely

they are the backbone of the entire society. A king should have soldiers, a

Brahmin

should have students, a Vysya should have demand for their trade and therefore

all sects like the so called Brahmin, Kshtriya, Vysya and Sudra are all inter

dependant and can never be isolated.

 

The caste system was solely on

their individual professions and there is no superiority or inferiority amongst

each of themand this is the basic

fact. Unfortunately this concept is

misconceived and misinterpreted for the mean individual reasons of a few select

individuals which have caused damage to the entire system and to speak further

to HINDUISM itself.

 

Well, the topic

is not a point of discussion for this paper, but the learned scholars, who are

receiving this mail, may contribute still better on the Gothra system and they

can upload their individual comments to the aforementioned blog so that the

viewers of future years will have all types of information on this

subject.

 

Thanking you all

for your patient reading.

I shall be back

again soon.

Yours affly

HARA HARA

MAHADEVA

DR P V SESHA SAI

ASWAMEDHAYAAJI

 

 

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

Dear all

 

The third kasyapa gothra should be read as Repa Kasyapa ( There is a

typographical error)

 

The gothras should be strictly followed. Now a days even in brahmins there are

arranged marriage among the same gotra. The pundits who conduct marriage  give

the girl for adoption to her own uncle before marriage, change gotra and do the

marriage.

regards.

 

Please, Please understand that same gotra means brothers and sisters. Those days

i was told even the pandit for shrard bojan should be from the gothra of father

for father's shrard. For mother's shrard one from father's gothra and the other

from mother's per marriage gothra.

 

 

regards

 

sankar

 

sankar

 

--- On Tue, 8/18/09, Prashant Kumar G B <gbp_kumar wrote:

 

 

Prashant Kumar G B <gbp_kumar

FW: Useful info-The Gothra and the Pravara

" jyotish remedies " , " jotish shastra "

, " JV " <jyotish-vidya >, " JG "

 

Tuesday, August 18, 2009, 4:29 PM

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dear Members,

this is some useful info how our traditions, social structure flourished and has

almost lost, some individual has passed this to me so am passing it to all who

can understand and develop, sustain them

 

in Short the Gotra classification is like what is there for all forms of life,

animals, plants do have a genre, family, species, family... classifications the

order may be a bit here and there, though it is still there within Brahmins, it

is there in all the 3 forward castes.

 

in humans during the Festival of India in the USA during mid 80's THERE WAS A

STUDY OF concepts of Indian culture done there like gothra also when a person is

born in a family with a Gothra the DNA ha s unique type IN IT after all we r

scattered from some common source up above the generations where all ppl mixed

[married] and their changes can be still be seen in the distinctiveness of the

gothra/DNA

 

and when women/girls got married as per tradition/Sapthasat hi by the fire into

a different gothra there was a ALTERED dna PATERN IT IS reported so too in the

case of ADOPTION by shastric rites.

 

Please do not see this as a castist posting, I am looking at this only as a

scientific model used by our past generations, its practice, use may be decaying

over the decades, but concepts are v good. INTERESTING TO SAY the least. the

caste system is based on socio-ecconomic pattern, based on work, interests

persued, most of the great rishis like veda vyasa, valmiki have come from lower

casts purely by their dedication efforts have rishen to these heights

so has Vishwamitra from a King [kshatraya to a rishi] so there is no caste

barrier in place but ppl have inserted for vested interests later.

 

rest is food for thought

 

Prashant

 

-

Dr Sesha Sai

Perisepalli Venkata

aanandaashramam@ gmail.com

Saturday, August 15, 2009 12:44 AM

The Gothra and the Pravara

 

Adhyatmika Ratna,

Sri Yaaga Vidya Praveena, Vedanta Visarada, Sahasradhika

Yaagakarta

Dr

P V Sesha Sai Aswamedhayaaji

Camp LOS ANGELES CA USA

web " http://aswamedhayaa ji.com "

web USA

web HYPERLINKhttp: //aswamedhayaaji .com, e mail shodasisai (AT) gmail (DOT) com

shodasisai (AT) gmail (DOT) com http://ritualsandpr ocedures. blogspot. com

13th August 2009

Phone 518 368

7956

My dear friends and like minded persons

In the recent past, when I came across people asking me and heard other some

Vedic scholars too – what is “Pravara†and most of them knew their Gothra

and not their Pravara. It is not a

complaint against lack of knowledge of them, but circumstances would not have

given opportunity to know what a Gothra is and what a Pravara. It is not that I

know much about it, but there are great personalities in the mailing group who

can surely enlighten on this subject, but to the extent of my source, I am

presenting the topic for the benefit of all. This letter is also being posted to

the

blog by name http://ritualsandpr ocedures. blogspot. com for further references.

What is a Gothra? More or less, it is nothing

but a blood group, when the modern groups are a few in number, the ancient sages

of India arrived at a minutest point and bifurcated the blood group into a

number of groups beyond the reach of the so called modern and so called

Scientific

world. The word " gotra " means

" lineage " and this word is of Sanskrit language. Among those of the

Brahmins, gotras are reckoned lineally. Each gotra takes the

name of a famous Rishi or sage who was the lineal fore bearer of that clan. And

each Gotra is addressed by the suffix 'sa' or 'asa' as relevant. The concept of

Gothra was the first attempt among Brahmins to classify themselves among

different groups. At the beginning, these genetics identified themselves by the

names of various Rishis Angirasa, Atri, Gowthama, Kasyapa, Bhrigu, Vasista, and

Bhraradwaja - the first seven of these are often enumerated as Saptarishis. It

is to be noted that Vishwamitra was initially a Kshatriya king, later chose and

rose to become an ascetic Rishi. There is a small confusion about the

great sage Agastya also in this regard. Therefore there are nine group origins

in the system as seen above. The

branches thereafter started percolated down.

Hence the gotra was applied to the grouping stemming from

one of these Rishis as descendants. Over the years, the number of gotras

increased due to Descendants of original Rishi which also started new family

lineage or new gotras.

Pravara is the number of the most excellent 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 ritualistic for extolling his ancestry and proclaiming,

in a manner as a descendant of worthy ancestors, one is fit and proper person to

do the act that he is performing. The sacred thread called as Upavita or

Yagnopavita 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 or seven or nine of the most excellent

rishis belonging to one's gotra.

 

The full affiliation of a BrÄhmin consists of Gothra,

Pravara, Sutra, and Sakha.

 

For Example - A Brahmin named: Sastry: introduces

himself as follows: I am: Sastry: of Shrivatsa gotra, of Āpastamba sutra, of

Taittiriya shÄkha of Yajurveda, of five pravaras named BhÄrgava, ChyÄvana,

Ä€pnava, Aurva and JÄmdagnya

While the gotras were classified initially

according to nine (?) Rishis, the

Pravara was classified under the

names of the following seven Rishis namely, Agastya, Angirasa, Atri,

Bhrigu, Kashyapa, Vasista, Viswaamitra, According to the listing of authors

included in the verses in Vedas, the rishi Jamadagni was a descendant of

rishi Bhrigu while the rishis Gautam and Bharadwaja were the descendants of

rishi

Angirasa.

The pravara identifies the association of a person with

three or sometimes five and some times seven and interestingly sometimes

nine (as is seen in some places) also of the above-mentioned Rishis.

For example, Kashyapa Gothram has 3 rishis associated

with it viz. Kashyapa, Daivala and Aavatsaara

Some of the

known Gothras and Pravaras are appended hereunder for the benefit of the readers

and this is subject to further modification by the learned scholars in the

relevant field. There are, however,

innumerable combinations which are not codified at one place due to different

reasons, and now I appeal to all the readers to place their comments on this and

add the known information in a blog created by me as http:ritualsandproc

edures.blogspot. com so that over a period of time, a

separate book on this subject may get published for the benefit of future

generations, as WE HAVE ALREADY STEPPED INTO AN AREA OF IGNORING ALL THESE RICH

TEXTS OF ANCIENT TRADITIONAL SCIENCES OF INDIA. I am also trying to procure

information

relating to the Gothra in respect of different castes in India and IT IS TO BE

NOTICED THAT EACH FAMILY IN INDIA HAS A GOTHRA IRRESPECTIVE OF THEIR CASTE.

1. Bharadwaja : Angirasa, Baaryhaspatya, ,

Bharadwaja

2. Rathitara : Angirasa, Baaryhaspatya,

Rathitara

3. Vathula or Vathulasa : Bhargava,Vaitahavya ,

Saavedasa

4. Srivasta or Srivastasa : Bhargava, Chyaavana,

Aapnavaana, Aurva, Jaamadaghneya

5. Salankayana : Viswaamitra, Aghamarshana, Devarata

6. Shatamarshana: Angirasa, Powrukutsa,

Traasatasya

7. Atreya: Atreya, Aarchanaasa, Syaavaasva

8. Kowsika: Vishwamitra, Aghamarshana, Kowsika

9. Kalabodhana/ Kalabhavasa (3 variations)

1. Kalabodhana: Viswaamitra, Agamarshana,

Kalabodhana

2. Kalabodhana: Viswaamitra, Agamarshana,

Kalabodhana

3. Kalabhavasa: Viswaamitra, Agamarshana,

Kalabhavasa

10. Viswaamitra: Viswaamitra, Devarata, Owtala

11. Kaundinya: Vaasishta, Maitraavaruna,

Kaundinya

12. Haritasa: Angirasa, Ambarisha, Yuvanasva,

Haritasa

13. Gautamasa : Angirasa, Aayasya, Ausidyasa,

Kaakshivata, Vamadeva, Grihadugda, Gautamasa – seven rishis

14. Mowdgalya (3 Variations)

1. Angirasa, Bharmyasva, Mowdgalya

2. Tarkshya, Bharmyasva, Mowdgalya

3. Angirasa, Dhavya, Mowdgalya

15. Sandilya (3 Variations)

1. Kasyapa, Aavatsaara, Daivala

2. Kasyapa, Aavatsaara, Sandilya

3. Kasyapa, Daivala, Asitha

16. Naitruvakaasyapa: Kasyapa, Aavatsara,

Naitruva

17. Kutsa: Angirasa, Maandhatra, Kowtsa

18. Kanva (2 Variations)

1. Angirasa, Ajameeda, Kanva

2. Angirasa, Kowra, Kanva

19. Paraasara: Vaasishta, Saaktya, Paraasara

20. Aagastya: Aagastya, Tardhachyuta, Sowmavaha

21. Gargi (2 Variations)

1. Angirasa, Barhaspatya, Bharadwaja, upadhyay

2. Angirasa, Sainya, Gaargya

22. Badarayana: Angirasa, Paarshadaswa, Raatitara

23. Kasyapa (3 Variations)

1. Kasyapa, Aavatsaara, Daivala

2. Kasyapa, Aavatsaara, Naidruva (Naitruva)

3. Kasyapa, Aavatsaara, Naidruva (Naitruva),

Rebha, Raibha , Sandila, Saandilya

24. Sunkriti (2 Variations) or Saankritya

Gothra

1. Angirasa, Kowravidha, Saankritya

2. Sadhya ,Kowravidha, Saankritya

25. Angirasa, Pourukutsya, Thraasadasya

26. Goutam/Gowtamasa Aangeerasa, Ayasya, Gowtamasa

27. AgniVaiwaswatha: Angirasa, Barhaspthya,

Bharadwaja, Srukva, Agnivaiwaswatha

28. Sankhyayana: Vishwamitra, Aghamarshana,

Devaratha

29. Vishwamitra, Shraumita, Kaamakayana,

Devatarasa, Devaraata,

30. Kapi: Angirsa, Amahaiya, Orukshaya,

This may not be

just taken only Brahmin sect, the Vysya or the Agarwal community is still more

perfection as they take a bride out of their gothra as well out of the maternal

side gothra too.

 

Perhaps this may

be the reason; the Agarwal community is still maintaining their tradition almost

nearer to perfection.

 

The Kshatriya

too, more particular of observing Gothra while one among the four caste system

in the name of

Sudra also rely upon the same system of observing

Gothra or identifying themselves to a particular Gothra. Unfortunately the

“Sudra†is mistaken as

an inferior set of human beings in the society, but they are not

so, surely

they are the backbone of the entire society. A king should have soldiers, a

Brahmin

should have students, a Vysya should have demand for their trade and therefore

all sects like the so called Brahmin, Kshtriya, Vysya and Sudra are all inter

dependant and can never be isolated.

 

The caste system was solely on

their individual professions and there is no superiority or inferiority amongst

each of themand this is the basic

fact. Unfortunately this concept is

misconceived and misinterpreted for the mean individual reasons of a few select

individuals which have caused damage to the entire system and to speak further

to HINDUISM itself.

 

Well, the topic

is not a point of discussion for this paper, but the learned scholars, who are

receiving this mail, may contribute still better on the Gothra system and they

can upload their individual comments to the aforementioned blog so that the

viewers of future years will have all types of information on this

subject.

 

Thanking you all

for your patient reading.

I shall be back

again soon.

Yours affly

HARA HARA

MAHADEVA

DR P V SESHA SAI

ASWAMEDHAYAAJI