Fw: Fwd: SAGES AND GOTRAMS

[Guest guest]

SrI:

 

Dear All : There is a wealth of Infromation in this article assembled by Sri Chandar. We are indebted to him for sharing this huge assembly of information on GotrAs.

 

NamO SrI NrisimhAya,

V.Sadagopan

 

 

 

Chandar

Tuesday, December 22, 2009 4:38 AM

undisclosed-recipients:

Fwd: SAGES AND GOTRAMS

Warm regardsChandarAir: +91-98450-27685chandarchandar

 

 

 

 

*GOTHRA and SAGES. *

 

Introduction.

 

*There are 49 established Lead Hindu Gothras (or Gothram). All membersof a particular Gothra are believed to possess certain commoncharacteristics by way of nature or profession.* * ** *

 

*The term Gothra was used in its present sense for the first time in theBrahmanas. It was systematised by about the 4th century BC toaccommodate changed social rules and laws and by the time of the Sutras,it was a well-established system*.* *

 

*Gothras have their orgination to saptharshies who change withManvanthara. We are in the seventh Manvanthara now.* * ** *

 

Many of the seven sages have been repeated and replaced. In the firstmanvanthara the saptharshies were Marichi, Atri, Angeerasa,Pulasthia,Pulaha Kratu and Vasistha. They are believed to be themind-born sons of Brahma.

 

According to the Baudhâyanas'rauta-sûtra Vishvâmitra, Jamadagni,Bharadvâja, Gautama, Atri, Vasishtha, Kashyapa and Agastya are 8 sages;the progeny of these eight sages is declared to be Gothras.

 

*Index *

 

*Section I)* * 1. Gouthama Gothra 2. Garga Gothra 3. Agasthia Gothra4. Bhargava Gothra 5. Bharadwaja & 6. Atri Gothra.*

 

* Section II) **1. Haritha Gothra. 2. viswamithra Gothra 3. VasisthaGothra 4. Vadula Gothra 5. Upamanyu Gothra 6. Shounaka Gothra & 7.Sankrithi Gothra. *

 

*Section III) 1. Moudgalya Gothra 2. Sandilya Gothra 3. SalakhyanaGothra 4. Raivata Gothra 5. Koundinya Gothra 6. Mandaya Gothra 7.Maitreya Gothra & 8. Katayana Gothra. *

 

*Section IV) 1. Dhanwantari Gothra 2. Jamadagni Gothra 3. Kanva Gothra & 4. Ko?y?yana Gothra. *

 

* **Section I*

 

* **1**. Gouthama Gothra 2. Garga Gothra 3. Agasthia Gothra 4. BhargavaGothra 5. Bharadwaja & 6. Atri Gothra.*

 

*1. Gouthama Gothra. *

 

*Gautama Maharishi is one of the Saptarishis of the current Manvantara(seventh). He was one of the Maharishis of Vedic times, known to havebeen the discoverer of Mantras -- 'Mantra-drashtaa', in Sanskrit* * ** *

 

*The Rig Veda has several suktas that go with his name. He was the sonof Rahugana, belonging to the line of Angiras. The Devi Bhagavatam saysthat the river Godavari is so named because of its association withGautama. He had two sons by name Vamadeva and Nodhas, both themselvesdiscoverers of Mantras* * ** *

 

There is a hymn called Bhadra in the Sama Veda which again is ascribedto Gautama Maharishi. His wife is Ahalya,

 

The Puranas speak of the story wherein it is described how Gautama wonthe hand of Ahalya by perambulating the divine cow.

 

*The Chief priest of King Janaka of Mithila, by name Shatananda, was theson of Gautama and Ahalya. Gautama's sixty-year long penance ismentioned in the Shanti parva of the Mahabharata* * ** *

 

The Narada purana describes the story of the 12-year famine during whichGautama fed all the Rishis and saved them.

 

The Brahmaanda-purana mentions that this Gautama initiated one of thesub-branches of the Raanaayani branch of Sama Veda.

 

Some famous disciples of Gautama were Praachina-yogya, Shaandilya,Gaargya, and Bharadwaja.

 

*According to the Ramayana, Rishi Gautama once went to take bath in theriver Ganges early morning. The king of the devas, Indra, was fascinatedwith Gautam's wife, Ahalya. Indra came in the form of Gautam and madelove to Ahalya ?.* * ** *

 

Gauatama was also the author of Dharma-sutra known as Gautama Dharmasutra [2] [3]. It is in fact the earliest Dharma Sutra

 

*Sage Gautama was the most ancient sage of all Brahmin lawgivers. Hewas quoted by Baudhayana and belonged to Samaveda School. Gautama?steachings are called Gautamasutra or Gautamasmriti.* * ** *

 

*Gautamas Brahmins are originally settled in Brij region of North India** ** *

 

*2. Garga Gothra*

 

Garga is the son of Rishi Bharadwaja and Suseela . Gargya (son ofGarga) is the author of some of the Sukthas of the Atharvana Veda. Sagegarga was the family priest of the family of Nanda (the foster-father ofKrishna). He named child as "Krishna" after receiving the name bymeditation. Garga is the author of Garga Samhita.

 

The Brihat Parasara Hora Sastra In this sastra in chapter 21, Parasaraquotes Garga and Brahma on the effects of the 10th bhava (house).

 

*Sri Prasanna Parvathi Sametha Gargeshwari temple near Mysore is namedafter the Garga where Ardhanareeswara appeared before him.* * ** *

 

*3. Agsthaia Gothram *

 

*Agastya was a Vedic sage. Agastya and his clan are also credited tohave "authored" many mantras of the Rig Veda Agastya is also the authorof Agastya Samhita In some reckonings, Agastya is the greatest of theSeven Sages or Saptarshis. The word is also written as Agasti. A-gameans a mountain, Asti, thrower* * ** *

 

*Agastya the Rishi, was born of Gods Varuna, from Urvashi .Anotherreference to him is in the Mahabharata in Sauptikaparva as the teacherof Guru Drona.* * ** *

 

*As with all other Hindus, it was necessary for Agastya to marry andsire a son, in order to fulfill his duties to the Manus. Once heresolved upon doing this, Agastya pursued an unusual course of action.* * *

 

*By his yogic powers, he created a female infant who possessed all thespecial qualities of character and personality that would be appropriatein the wife of a renunciate. At this time, the noble and virtuous kingof Vidarbha was* *childless and was undergoing penances and prayers forthe gift of a child. Agastya arranged for the child he had created to beborn the daughter of that noble king of Vidarbha. *

 

*The child was named "Lopamudra" by her parents. Agastya approached theking and sought the hand of his daughter when she was grown up. She wasutterly intent upon exchanging the palace of her father the king for theforest-hermitage of Agastya. Lopamudra and Agastya were duly married andlived a life of extraordinary felicity*. *It is believed that they hadtwo sons - Bringi & Achuthan. In Mahabharata (Vana Parva: Tirtha-yatraParva), there is mention of his penance at Gangadwara (Haridwar), withthe help of his wife, Lopamudra (the princess of Vidharba) [1].* * *

 

*Agastya is famous for being the first siddhar in the siddharstradition. He created many medicines, and jadhakam( Agasthia nadi?),mandhrikam and he said all of them.* * *

 

*Two of his students and disciples were Therayar and Tholkappiar*.* *

 

According to Akilattirattu Ammanai, the religious book of Ayyavazhi,Agastya was created from the mind of lord Siva in order to offer boonsto Kaliyan (See:Boons offered to Kaliyan). As per the order of Siva,Agastya offered many boons including all worldly knowledge to him.

 

Sage Agastya appeared to Rama when he was despondent at the impendingwar with Ravana and instructed him in the use of Aditya Hridayam, a hymnpraising the Sun God. Agastya also composed Saraswati Stotram. * ** *

 

*4. Bhargava Gothram *

 

Maharishi Bhrigu was one of the seven great sages, one of the Saptarshisin ancient India, one of many Prajapatis (the facilitators of Creation)created by Brahma (The God of Creation), the first compiler ofpredictive astrology, and also the author of Bhrigu Samhita, theastrological (Jyotish) classic written during the Vedic period, Tretayuga, most probably around 3000 BC.

 

Bhrigu is a ManasaPutra (wish-born-son) of Lord Brahma, who simplywished him into existence, to assist in the process of creation, forthis reason he is also considered one of the Prajapatis.

 

He is married to Khyati, the daughter of Daksha. He has two sons by her,named Dhata and Vidhata.

 

He had one more son, who is better known than Bhrigu himself - Shukra.The sage Chyavana coming in the pravara of Srivatsa Gothra is also hisson.

 

Sage Bhrigu finds mention in the Vayu Purana, where he shown presentduring the great Yagna of Daksha Prajapati (his father-in-law).

 

The Bhrigus, also known as Bhargavas, are a clan of sages descendingfrom the ancient fire-priest Bhrigu. They instituted the ritual ofoffering the juice of the Soma plant to the old deities This treatise issaid to contain over 5 million horoscopes, in which he wrote down thefate of every being in the universe.

 

Bhrgu lineage: Bhrgu was the son of Brahma. (Mahabharata, Pauloma Parva)

 

*Bhrgu descendants: Bhargavas: Bhrugu was the father of Sukracharya, thegrandfather of Devayani and the great-grandfather of Yayati and thegreat-great-grandfather of Yadu. Indra?s daughter Jayanti was married toBhrgu?s son Sukracharya (who also called Kavya). (Devi Bhagavatham)*.* *

 

Bhrgu was the grandfather Rchka (Richika), great-grandfather ofJamadagni, great-great-grandfather of Parasurama. Rchka was the son ofCyavana. (Mahabharata).

 

Cyavana was the son of Bhrgu? through wife Pauloma, who married Sukanya.

 

Bhrgu and Bharadwaja had discussions on many subjects. (Mahabharata).

 

*5. Bharadwaja Gothra *

 

*The Marut Devatas found sage Bharadwaja near ganga river, raised himand taught him about the Vedas. He was adopted by Bharata, the son ofSakuntala and Dushyanta*.* ** *

 

*He performed a yajna so that his foster father Bharata would haveanother son (Bhumanyu) and handed that kingdom back to him. *

 

*He was a disciple of Gauthama Maharshi as well as of Valmiki. He was afirst hand witness to the incident of the Krauncha birds*.* *

 

He married Suseela and had a son called Garga. His son Dronacharya wasborn as a result of his attraction to an Apsara Ghrtaci. He trainedDrona in use of weapons. Drona also learnt the use of weapons fromAgnivesha, Parasurama?s student and from Parasurama himself.

 

Bharadwaja had a daughter called Devavarnini. She was given in marriageto Visravas and was the mother of Kubera.

 

Yajnavalkya, the author of the Satapatha Brahmana was a descendant ofBharadwaja.

 

*Bharadwaja was a host to Dasaratha?s son Bharata when he was en routeto meeting Sri Rama, to persuade him to return to Ayodhya*.* ** *

 

Bharadwaja had a debate with Bhrugu about the caste system and he saidthat physiologically there was no difference between members of anycaste. He performed the Putrakameshti yajnam for Divodasa, so that hecould get a son.

 

Bharadwaja?s Vedic mantras were placed in the sixth Mandala of the RigVeda by Veda Vyasa.

 

Dharmasutra and Srautasutra were written by Bharadwaja. The manuscriptof the latter was in Pandu script and is available with theVisvavidyalaya of Bombay(Mumbai).

 

As per the Rktantra, pratisakhya of the samaveda, Brahma taught grammarto Brhaspati who taught it to Indra, who in turn taught it to Bharadwaja.

 

He was one of the great sages (rishis) descendant of rishi Angirasa,whose accomplishments are detailed in the Puranas.

 

*6. Atri Gothra.*

 

In Hinduism, Attri is a legendary bard and scholar, and a son of Brahma,and one of the Saptarishis in the seventh, i.e the present Manvantara .

 

*Attri is also a rishi present in all manvantras. He was among thethree main seers who propounded the sacred thread (after Brihaspati)which has three strands symbolising Creation (Brahma and the letter A),sustenance (Vishnu and the letter U) and Dissolution (Shiva{m} and theletter M).* * *

 

*Atri Gothra is from the lineage of Brahmarsi Atri and Anusuya Devi.Brahmarsi Atri is the seer of the fifth mandala (book) of the Rigveda.He had many sons, including Soma, Datta, and Durvasa. *

 

Atri's wife is Anasuya or Anusiya devi, a daughter of Kardama Prajapatiand an embodiment of chastity.

 

*Rama, the son of Dasaratha, visited Atri Maharishi's Ashram during hisfourteen years of stay in the forest. It was Atri who showed the way toDandakaranya forest to Rama, after showering his hospitality on him.* * ** *

 

There were also other great Rishis in that line: Mudgala, Uddaalaki,Shaakalaayani, Chaandogya, etc.Attri-samhita and Attri-smriti are twoworks attributed to Attri.

 

a. Haritha Gothra. b. viswamithra Gothra c.Vasistha Gothra d.VadulaGothra e. Upamanyu Gothra f.shounaka Gothra g. sankrithi Gothra.

 

 

 

*Section II*

 

*1. Haritha Gothra. 2. viswamithra Gothra 3. Vasistha Gothra 4.Vadula Gothra 5. Upamanyu Gothra 6. Shounaka Gothra & 7. SankrithiGothra. *

 

*1. HARITHA GOTHRA.*

 

Harit/Harita was one of the great kings of Suryavansha. Brahmins withHarita Gothra are the descendants of Harit The Pravara of this Gothra isAngiras, Ambarisha, Yuvanaswa. Ambarisha and Yuvanaswa were also greatkings of Suryavansha and ancestors of Lord Rama.

 

In the Vishnu Purana it is said, "The son of Ambarísha, the son ofMándhátri, was Yuvaná?wa; his son was Harita, from whom the AngirasaHáritas were descended"[1].

 

Sri Ramanuja was also of Harita Gothra.

 

*2. VISWAMITHRA GOTHRA*

 

Brahmarshi Vishvamitra is one of the most venerated rishis or sages ofancient times in India. He is also credited as the author of most ofMandala 3 of the Rigveda

 

The story of Vishvamitra is narrated in the Balakanda of ValmikiRamayana[1]. The Mahabharata adds that Vishvamitra's relationship withMenaka resulted in a daughter, Shakuntala whose story is narrated in theAdi Parva of the Mahabharata.

 

Vishvamitra was a king in ancient India, also called Kaushika ("thedescendant of Kusha"). He was a valiant warrior and the great-grandsonof a great king named Kusha. The Valmiki Ramayana, prose 51 of BalaKanda, starts the legend of Vishvamitra, Gaadhi's son is thisgreat-saint of great resplendence, Vishvamitra.

 

Regarding sage viswamithra not much familiar points are only told. Itis taken for granted readers are familiar to viwamithra much than othersages.

 

The Vishnu Purana and Harivamsha chapter 27 (dynasty of Amaavasu) ofMahabharatha narrates the birth of Vishwamitra.

 

*3. Birth of Viswamithra*

 

According to Vishnu Purana[2], kushika married a damsel belonging toPuru-kutsa dynasty and had a son by name Gadhi who had a daughter namedSatyavati(not to be confused with Satyavati of Mahabharata).

 

Satyavati was married to an old Brahman known as Richika who wasforemost among the race of Bhrigu. Richika desired a son having thequalities of a Brahman, and so he gave Satyavati a sacrificial offering(charu) which he had prepared to achieve this objective. He also gaveSatyavati's mother another charu to make her conceive a son with thecharacter of a Kshatriya at her request. But Satyavati's motherprivately asked Satyavati to exchange her charu with her. This resultedin Satyavati's mother giving birth to Vishvamitra, the son of aKshatriya Gadhi with the qualities of a Brahman; and Satyavati gavebirth to Jamadagni, the father of Parasurama, a Brahman with qualitiesof a Kshatriya.

 

After many trials and undergoing many austerities, Vishvamitra at lastobtained the title of Brahmarishi from Vasishta himself

 

During this time he had a daughter named Shakuntala (who appears in theMahabharata) with Menaka, an apsara in the court of Indra. Son ofShakuntala became a great emperor. He came to be known as EmperorBharata and it is in his name that the land of India got its name Bharat.

 

*Menaka episode and bith of Sakunthala. *

 

Viswamithra earlier name was Kousika. Kaushika knows that Menakagenuinely loves him, so with great sorrow he curses her just to beparted from him forever. Kaushika's love of Menaka is considered to havebeen intense and passionate beyond estimation.

 

*Rambha episode.*

 

This is brought to light to Kaushika when he angrily curses Rambha, anapsara sent by Indra to seduce Kaushika again, to become a stone for athousand years.

 

*Trisanku episode*

 

When a proud King Trisanku asked his guru, Vasishta, to send him toheaven in his own body, the guru responded that the body cannot ascendto heaven.

 

King Trisanku then asked Vasishta's seven sons to send him to heaven.The sons, outraged that Trisanku should not come to them when theirfather had refused, cursed him to be a chandala, or untouchable.

 

Having taken pity on Trishanku, he willingly exhausted all the punya hegained from his tapas, to enable him to ascend to the heavens. Angered,Visvamitra used his yogic powers and ordered Trisanku to rise to heaven.Miraculously, Trisanku rose into the sky until he reached heaven, wherehe was pushed back down by Indra.

 

Enraged even more by this, the powerful Visvamitra then commenced thecreation of another heaven for Trisanku.

 

Trisanku, however, did not enjoy Trisanku Svarga, he remained fixed inthe sky and was transformed into a constellation.

 

In the process of forming a new universe, Vishvamitra used up all thetapas he had gained from his austerities. Therefore after the Trisankuepisode, Vishvamitra had to start his prayers again to attain the statusof a Brahma Rishi, to equal Vashistha.

 

*Harishchandra's Sacrifice( not much known).*

 

While undertaking a penance, Kaushika helps a boy named Shunashepa whohas been sold by his parents to be sacrificed at Harishchandra's yagnato please Varuna, the God of the Oceans. The king's son Rohit does notwant to be the one sacrificed, as was originally promised to Varuna, soyoung Sunashep is being taken. A devastated and terrified Sunashepafalls at the feet of Kaushika, who is deep in meditation, and begs forhis help.

 

Kaushika teaches secret mantras to Sunashepa. The boy sings thesemantras at the ceremony, and is blessed by Indra and Varuna, andHarishchandra's ceremony is also completed.

 

In the Indian epic Ramayana, Vishvamitra is the preceptor of Rama,prince of Ayodhya and the seventh Avatara of Vishnu, and his brotherLakshmana.

 

There are two Gothras, or lineages, bearing the name of Visvamitra.

 

*Visvamitra Gothra off shoots*

 

People belonging to the Visvamitra Gothra consider BrahmarishiVisvamitra as their ancestor.

 

There is an off-shoot of "Vishvamitra Gothra" called "ChakitaVishvamitra Gothra more likely, explanation, is that a group ofdescendants decided to split from the main group and started their ownbranch of this line.

 

People belonging to Kaushika (Kaushik/Kousika/Kousikasa/Koushika/Kausika) Gothra take Rajarishi Kausika astheir root.

 

Kausika was one of the names of Visvamitra.11 Royal clans of 96 clan ofMarathas belong to Kaushik Gothra including the illustrious house ofShivaji and Rashtrakutas

 

Some brahmins in South Gujarat, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh also haveKaushik/Koushik as a family Gothra. Some of the kumauni region brahminlike Bhatt also belongs to Kaushik Gothra.

 

*4. VASISTHA GOTHRA *

 

Vasistha, in Hindu mythology was one of the Saptarishis (Seven GreatSages Rishi) in the seventh, i.e the present Manvantara,[1] and theRajpurohit / Rajguru of the Suryavamsha or Solar Dynasty. He was themanasaputra of Brahma. He had in his possession the divine cowKamadhenu, and Nandini her child, who could grant anything to their owners.

 

Arundhati is the name of the wife of Vashisht Vashisht is credited asthe chief author of Mandala 7 of the Rigveda. Vashisht and his familyare glorified in RV 7.33.

 

Sage Vashishtha was Ram's guru and the Rajpurohit of "Ikshwaku" dynasty.He was a peace loving, selfless, intelligent and great Rishi. He hadestablished Gurukula (residential college) on the banks of river"Saraswati", where he and his wife "Arundhati" were taking care ofthousands of students stayed there and studied there and VashishthaRishi was the chief principal.

 

Regarding sage VASISTHA not much familiar points are only told. It istaken for granted readers are familiar to VASISTHA too much than othersages.

 

*DILEEPA EPISODE*

 

King Dileepa was a king of the Raghuvamsha dynasty. He had a wife namedSudakshina, but they had no children. For this reason, Dileepa visitedthe sage Vashisht in his ashram, and asked him for his advice. Vashishtreplied that they should serve the cow Nandini, child of Kamadhenu, andperhaps if Nandini was happy with their service, she would grant themwith a child .after worship he got a son.

 

*YOGAVASISTHA*

 

Members seeing the serial ?Engae brahminan? in Jeya TV may berecollecting the compliment of book Yogavasistha to Ashok during hisupanayanam. Yoga Vasistha is an ancient scripture narrated by sageVasistha to Rama. A unique and an extremely profound discourse, thatprovides innumerable insights and secrets to the inner world ofconsciousness. This extremely huge scripture (English translation about6.5 Mb) covers all the topics that relate to the spiritual study of aseeker.

 

Rama, the eldest son of Dasaratha, after completing a pilgrimage of holyplaces returns to the palace. After his return, he is constantly foundwandering lost in thought and completely disenchanted with the worldlylife and the pleasures of the kingdom Vasistha asks for Rama to bebrought before him.

 

Rama is then brought to the palace and Dasaratha asks him what isbothering him. Rama then explains his disenchantment with worldly thingsand expresses sadness at the miserable life as a worldly man.

 

The ensuing answer to Rama's questions forms the entire scripture thatis Yoga Vasistha.

 

After the flood of the matsya avataram, Vasishtha and his wifeArundhati may have had a hermitage on the banks of the river Saraswati,but they spent a lot of time at Ayodhya, the capital of the Kosalakingdom .

 

Arundhati was a lot younger than Vasishtha. While at Ayodhya, Vasishthanot only taught Sri Rama, but was an advisor to his father, Dasaratha aswell. Vasishtha was a contemporary of King Nimi (Janaka?s Poorvaja(previous born)) and Gautama Mahrashi.

 

*5. VADULA GOTHRA *

 

Vadula was a Rishi who gave his name to a Gothra, or a line of descent,commonly amongst Brahmins. Vadula Maharishi was reportedly prone togreat distraction, which some ascribe to deep, consciousness-expandingmeditation.

 

_NOTE:- Nothing more than this I could collect of this sage. I requestlearnt members to add to my write up . _

 

*6. UPAMANYU GOTHRA *

 

The Kambojas are a very ancient Kshatriya tribe of the north-westernparts of the Indian subcontinent, of what now forms north-easternAfghanistan and southern parts of Tajikstan. Upamanyu was one such Rsiof Kamboja lineage who finds frequent mention in ancient Indian textslike Rig Veda, several Puranas and the epic Mahabharata.

 

Upamanyu is the name of a Vedic Rsi who finds reference in Book I, Hymn102. 9 of the Rig Veda [4], Siva Purana, Linga Purana, Kurma Purana andalso in Adi Parava [7] as well as in Anushasana Parava of epicMahabharata [8] [9].

 

Upamanyu?s Guru was so pleased with him that he blessed him withinstant memory and told him that he will know the Vedas andDharamshashtras (other religious texts) automatically without any effort.

 

Scholars including S. K. De, N. Chaudhury write that 'Upamanyu was alsothe epic promulgator of the Shaivism.

 

His hermitage was in the mountains of Himalayas [13]. His father was thesage Vyaghrapada [14 Upamanyu, a pupil of Ayoda Dhaumya also receivedhis Vedic education at Taksasila.

 

Upamanyu had heard of Shiva in several forms from his mother andafterward, recited to Krsna the thousand and eight names of Shiva [33].

 

The people with Upamanyu Gothra live in far western part of Nepal andeastern Parts of Jammu & Kashmir. They are basically present just belowthe Mount Kailash as they pray to Lord Shiva only. However, according toDr D. C. Sircar, Upamanyu Gothra is not found in early Sanskritliterature and it is difficult to determine at this time whether it is amistake for Aupamanyava Gothra [46].

 

Upamanya Gothra is said to be an offshoot of the Vrigu (Parasara)Gothras. This means that a Rishi hailing from the Kamboja tribe was alsofounder of a Brahmanical class....... People staying just below or theSouth (Eastern & Weastern) parts of Mount Kailash (Nepal & India) arethe descendants of Upamanyu/Upamanyu Gothra.

 

The Kambhojas (Upamanyu Gothra) can be easily identified as they arefair and have colorful eyes (Yellow, light blue, light brown) with a bitbroader Forehead & nose, possibly due to admixture.

 

Praying to Lord Shiva every Monday is a routine for allKambhoja/Upamanyu Gothra (all clans). A visit to Lord Shiva's Templeevery Monday is a must for every Upamanyu Gothra. Kambhojas/UpamanayuGothra pray to Lord Shiva and Durga Maa is their Kula Devi.

 

The earliest mention of Kambojas occurs in Vamsa Brahamana of Samavedawhere a teacher Kamboja Aupamanyava is referred to. The sage Upamanyumentioned in the Rigveda (i.102,9) is in all probability the father ofthis Kamboja teacher .

 

*7. SHAUNAKA GOTHRA *

 

Shaunaka is the name applied to teachers, and to a Shakha of theAtharvaveda He is claimed as the teacher of Katyayana and especially ofAshvalayana, and is said to have united the Bashkala and Shakala Shakhasof the Rigveda. In legend, he is sometimes identified with Gritsamada, aVedic Rishi.

 

According to the Vishnu Purana, Shaunaka was the son of Gritsamada, andinvented the system of the four levels of human life.

 

Shaunaka had a prominent role in the epic Mah?bh?rata. The epicMah?bh?rata was narrated to Shaunaka by a story teller named UgrasravaSauti during a conclave of sages headed by Shaunaka in a forest namedNaimisha.

 

*8. SANKRITHI GOTHRA*

 

Sankrithi is the Grandson of Sage Vashishta, and the son of SageShakthi. Incidentally, Sage Shakthi is the father of Sage Parashara (thefather of Sage Veda Vyasa.)

 

There is not much known about Sage Sankrithi except that his namefigures in the Avadhuta Upanishad, where Lord Dattatreya explains thenature of an Avadhuta to Sage Sankrithi., founder Rishi of the SankrithiGothra.

 

The lineage of Sankrithi's is given as Shakthya, Sankrithya, andGauriveetha. i.e. lineage of Shakthi, Sankrithi, and Gauriveethi.

 

_NOTE:- Nothing more than this I could collect of this sage. I requestlearnt members to add to my write up._

 

_ _

 

*Section III*

 

*1. Moudgalya Gothra 2. Sandilya Gothra 3. Salakhyana Gothra 4. RaivataGothra 5. Koundinya Gothra 6. Mandaya Gothra 7. Maitreya Gothra & 8.Katayana Gothra. *

 

*1. Moudgalya Gothra *

 

NALAYANI was the young wife of very old sage, Mudgala, but she was agreat Pativrata. Even when Mudgala Rshi became afflicted by leprosy andstarted stinking, she continued to serve him. Once, when he wasconsuming food, one of his fingers fell of from his hands and fell intothe food. Nalayani removed it and partook the remaining food. The sagewas extremely pleased.

 

In order to please he took five bodily forms corresponding to the five(Panchabhootas) elements and satisfied her in all respects. Afterthousands of years, he wanted to retire from family life and wanted tolive the life of a sage. But, Nalayani tried to prevent him and keep himin the material pleasures. Mudgala Rshi cursed her that she will beborne as the daughter of Drupada and will marry five men. (source : AdiParva of Mahabharata verses 197 to 204).

 

Sages belonging to the Maudgalya Gothra are well known for theirpatience and forbearance. One such rshi was living through Bhikshatana(alms) at Kurukshetra.

 

Once Rshi Durvasa came to his Ashram (hermitage) as his guest, in adigambara (naked) form and Mudgala gave him, whatever food he obtainedas alms. Durvasa consumed some food from the same. The remaining food,he massaged on his own body. Yet, Mudgala did not become angry. Thefollowing days also Durvasa came to Mudgalas Ashram before the lattercould quench his hunger and repeated the same behaviour. Mudgala gaveall the food to Durvasa and remained hungry for several days. Finally,Durvasa said that he was extremely pleased with Mudgalas patience andforbearance and blessed Mudgala with an offer to take him the Heaven inhis physical body. Immediately the Devas came with their plane. Mudgalaenquired Durvasa about the pleasures available in the Heaven and then inthe end he refused to be drawn to such pleasures. (source : Vana Parvaof Mahabharata Ch. 261).

 

There was a great Vedic Scholar from Maudgalya Gothra, who participatedin the sarpa yaga (serpent sacrifice) of Janame Jaya. (source : AdiParva of Mahabharata Ch. 53).

 

Mudgalas were rigvedies and might have continued to be so till theywere in the Northern part of India and might have shifted to KrishnaYajur Veda, much after they established themselves in the Southern partof India.

 

This may be the reason why Mudgalas follow the Chandramana calendarwhile all the other Krishna Yajur Vedis follows the Sauramana calendar.Persons belonging to Maudgalya gothara celebrate their birthdaysaccording to their nakshatras falling in the solar months in which theywere born, while they perform the shrardhams (death anniversary) in thethithies of the lunar months in which the deaths took place.

 

The route through which Maudgalyas would have traveled might beBaluchistan - Punjab - Kashmir - Orissa - Andhra - Tamil Nadu & Kerala.

 

*Mudgala and Ganapathi*

 

Ganesha Purana speaks of Rshi Mudgala, who was an ardent devotee of LordGanapathi, who was so pleased with him that he gave his devotee powersto give boons to other bhaktas (devotees).

 

Daksha became an ardent devotee of Ganapathi. On Ganapathis advice, hemet Rshi Mudgala, who taught him the one lettered mantra OM. This,Daksha chanted relentlessly.

 

*Mudgala Purana *

 

Perhaps no other Rshi in the human world has a purana named after himself.

 

This Purana does not give any information about Rshi Mudgala, but is outand out exposition of the grandeur of Lord Ganapathi. This shows thehumility of the author, Rshi Mudgala. This Purana has 9 khandas (cantos)and gives details about all facets of Ganesha worship.

 

*Maudgalyas of Recent Times. *

 

Of the persons belonging to Maudgalya Gothra, who have made a name forthemselves, the most popular one is Upanyasa Chakravarthy, SengalipuramAnantarama Deekshithar.

 

His upanyasams (discourses) on Ramayana and Bhagavatham andMahabharatham moulded the characters of many of us during our childhood.His rendering of the shlokas from the epics had a majestic tone whichstill ringing in our ears.

 

*2. Sandilya. *

 

Sandilya is one of the great sages of ancient India and a Vedic scholar.Among Brahmins there is a Gothram named after him, specifying that thegenerations of people belonged to Sandilya as the paternal root.

 

In Hinduism, it is believed that Hindu goddess Parvathi, bride of Shiva,also belonged to the Sandilya's generation and is a daughter ofHimavantha the lord or king of the Himalayas.

 

It is believed that Sandilya had six more ancestors, namely Kaashyapa,Avatsaara, Naidhruva, Rebha, Raibha, Sandila and Sandilya[1] .

 

*3. **Salankayana. *

 

The Salankayanas were an ancient dynasty that ruled the Vengi region ofIndia's eastern coast from 300 to 440 AD. They were Brahmins and theirname is derived from their symbol and Gothra name, which stood for Nandi(the bull of Shiva).

 

The Salankayanas succeeded the Andhra Ikshvaku dynasty and were vassalsof the Pallava kings of southern India. During their time the script forTelugu and Kannada began to clearly separating from that of the otherSouth Indian and North Indian languages.

 

In the late 400s, the Salankayanas were conquered by Madhavarma II ofthe Vishnukundinas (a Kshatriya Raju dynasty).

 

*4.Raivata Kakudmin *

 

Raivata Kakudmin was the king of Kusasthali. Raivata?s father was Revataand his father was Anarta. Anarta?s sister was Sukanya (Cyavana?s wife)and their father was Saryati, whose father was Vaivaswatha Manu.Vaiwaswatha is/was the son of Vivaswan. Vivaswan is another name forSurya Deva. (In the Bhagavad Gita, Sri Krishna says that He taughtVivaswan, in a previous).

 

Raivata Kakudmin had a daughter called Revati. On Brahma?s advice, hegave his daughter Revati in marriage to Balarama, the elder brother ofSri Krishna. Raivata was also called Kakudmi.

 

*5. Kaundinya *

 

Kaundinya was a brahmin who first came to prominence as a youth due tohis mastery of the vedas and was later appointed as a royal courtscholar of King Suddhodana of the Sakyas in Kapilavastu. There Kaundinyawas the only scholar who unequivocally predicted upon the birth ofPrince Siddhartha that the prince would become an enlightened Buddha,and vowed to become his disciple.

 

Kaundinya and four colleagues followed Siddhartha in six years ofascetic practice, but abandoned him in disgust after Siddhartha gave upthe practice of self mortification.

 

Upon enlightenment, Siddartha gave his first dharma talk to Kaundinya'sgroup. Kaundinya was the first to comprehend the teaching and thusbecame the first bhikkhu and arahant.

 

Following the formation of the sangha, Kaundinya and the other monkstravelled with the Buddha by foot through the Gangetic plains area ofwhat is now Bihar and Uttar Pradesh to spread the dharma.

 

*6. Mandavya. *

 

Mandavya was a sage wrongly punished by the king by being impaled asthe chief of robbers who had clandestinely hidden their stolen goods ina corner of his hermitage when he was in deep contemplation. Lord Dharmagave him this punishment for having tortured birds and bees in hischildhood. At this Mandavya cursed Dharma who was born as Vidura, thewise, to the servant maid of Ambalika, wife of King Vichitravirya, whooffered her to Sage Vyasa in place of Ambalika.

 

*7. Maitreya. *

 

The Brihat Parasara Hora Sastra, a treatise on astrology was expoundedby Rishi Parasara (the father of Veda Vyasa) to Rishi Maitreya.

 

Rishi Maitreya explained parts of the Bhagavatham to Vidura, a son ofVeda Vyasa.(Authorship and Copyright Notice : :Satya Sarada Kandula)

 

*8. K?ty?yana *

 

K?ty?yana (c. 3rd century BC) was a Sanskrit grammarian, mathematicianand Vedic priest who lived in ancient India.

 

He is known for two works:The Varttika, an elaboration on P??inigrammar. Along with the Mah?bh?sya of Patañjali, this text became a corepart of the vy?karana (grammar) canon. This was one of the six Vedangas,and constituted compulsory education for Brahmin students in thefollowing twelve centuries.

 

He also composed one of the later Sulba Sutras, a series of nine textson the geometry of altar constructions, dealing with rectangles,right-sided triangles, rhombuses, etc.

 

K?ty?yana's views on the word-meaning connection tended towardsnaturalism. K?ty?yana believed, like Plato, that the word-meaningrelationship was not a result of human convention. For K?ty?yana,word-meaning relations were siddha, given to us, eternal.

 

* **Section IV*

 

* 1. Dhanwantari Gothra 2. Jamadagni Gothra 3. Kanva Gothra & 4.K?ty?yana Gothra. *

 

Most of the details are compilation from Wikipedia.

 

*1. Dhanwantari Gothra *

 

Dhanvantari is an avatar of Vishnu from the Hindu tradition. He appearsin the Vedas and Puranas as the physician of the Gods (devas), and theGod of Ayurvedic medicine. It is common practice in Hinduism forworshipers to pray to Lord Dhanvantari seeking his blessings for soundhealth for themselves and/or others.

 

Dhanvantari was an early Indian medical practitioner and one of theworld?s first surgeons. Based on Hindu traditions, he is regarded as thesource of Ayurveda. He perfected many herbal based cures and naturalremedies and was credited with the discovery of the antisepticproperties of turmeric and the preservative properties of salt which heincorporated in his cures.

 

Being a very skilled surgeon according to the standards of his time, heis widely believed to be the pioneer of modern medical practices likeplastic surgery [1].

 

Albeit his methods were a lot cruder and more painful and were used onlyin emergencies, such as on the injuries of war victims.

 

All his surgeries were performed without anesthetic, however in spite ofhis crude methods he was reported to have had a very high success rate.As a result of the brilliance and achievements he displayed in the fieldof medicine he was chosen as one of the Nine Gems in early Indian rulerVikramaditya?s court.

 

According to traditions, he taught surgery methods and procedures toSusrutha, the Father of Ayurvedic Surgeon.

 

*The Legend *

 

Dhanvantari is depicted as Vishnu with four hands, holding medical herbsin one hand and a pot containing rejuvenating nectar called amrita inanother. The Puranas state that Dhanavantari emerged from the 'Ocean ofMilk'.

 

*Birthday celebration *

 

Birth day celebration of Lord Dhanvantari, the God of health, healingand cure, is celebrated with great enthuiasm and happy environment, bythe practitioners of the Ayurveda every year, on Dhan Teras, two daysbefore Deepwali, the Hindu festival of Lights. In the Samudra Manthan,Lord Dhanvantari appeared with the keeping Amrit Pot, Shankha, Chakrraand Jalauka each one in his four hands.

 

*Temples in India *

 

In Northern India no permanent temple is established for LordDhanvantari. The reason is not yet known, but in Varanasey SanssakritVishvavidyalaya, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh state, one statue of LordDhanvantari is present in the Museum of the University.

 

However there are few dedicated temples to the Lord Dhanwantri, in SouthIndia especially in Kerala and Tamil Nadu, where Ayurvedic medicine ishighly practised and patronised.

 

In Tamil Nadu, in the courtyard of Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple(Srirangam), is the Dhanvantari Temple where daily worshipping of thedeity is performed. In the front of this temple there is an engravedstone believed to date around the 12th Century. The writing on the stonecontains the details that Garud Vahan Bhattar, who was a great ayurvedicphysician , established the statue inside the temple. As a 'Prasad' or'Teerth', a decoction of the herbs is given to the visitors.

 

Though not known to many, there is a temple dedicated to LordDhanvantari in Kerala. It is in a village called Nelluvaya, 20kilometers from guruvayur and trissur, located exactly midway betweenthe two towns. The temple is believed to be as old as the temple ofGuruvayur. Many ayurvedic doctors from kerala visit this temple beforethey start practicing medicine.

 

About 10 km from the railway station is the ages old, very powerfulDhanvantari Temple, Kannur (Cannanore), Kerala.

 

A not so well known temple in its humble environs has a sereneatmosphere. Dhanvantari pooja is performed here for the good health ofanyone, of any faith, from any corner of the world. Added attraction isthe Huge Temple pond with water lilies!

 

Similarly, there's a Dhanvantri Kshetram (i.e.temple) in the outskirtsof Calicut, in Kerala. This temple is gaining prominence, as people comefrom far off places to offer their prayers to the Lord, to cure them oftheir ailing diseases, or to be blessed with a healthy life ahead.

 

There is an exclusive very big temple for Lord Dhanwantari in CherthalaMaruthorvattom village in the Alleppy district. I have visited and madeprayers in the temple.

 

In All India Ayurvedic practitioners worship Lord Dhanavantary.

 

*Ashta Vaidya of Kerala *

 

In Kerala, the family of "Ashta Vaidya" is famous and traditionallyprovide Ayurvedic and Siddha treatment to the sick. The forefathers ofthese Asta vaidyas are still today serving in the same manner ascenturies ago. This family worships Lord Dhanvantari. Some familymembers have built temples inside their houses while others have builtproper temples in his honour.

 

Near Kotakkalat Pulamantol village, here is a family of Ashta Vaidya.This family has a temple of Lord Dhanvantari. Vaidya Madam is nearVadakkancheri. Here the Ashta Vaidya Matra dattan have a statue ofDhanvantri, made of a mixture of five metals. In trishura's Perungva, abig temple is here built by Ashta vaidya. The Ashta Vaidya families arein the following places:

 

Aalyittur

 

 

 

Cannanore (Kannur)

 

Kuttancheri

 

 

 

Taikkad

 

Vayaskara

 

 

 

Vellod

 

Chirattaman

 

 

 

Pulamanthole

 

Olassa

 

 

 

 

 

It seems that tradition of Lord Dhanwantri worshipping is regularlypersisting in the families to families in Kerala.

 

While all the ashtavaidayan families (They are all Pushpaka Brahmins.)worship Dhanwantari it is felt they may be of Dhanwantari Gothra. Learntmembers may wirite to me who belong to Pushpaka Brahmins group.

 

References:

 

Dhanavantari - the God of Ayurveda

 

Kalyan Hindi monthly magazine, March 2001 issue, Geeta Press, Gorakhpur, UP

 

Source of References:

 

Lord Dhanvantari

 

Hindu God Dhanwantari: The promulgator of Ayurveda.

 

Does Ayurveda begin with Dhanvantari, the ancient physician? By D.P.Agrawal Dhanvantari in the Bhagavata Purana.

 

 

 

*2. JamadagniGothra *

 

Jamadagni is one of the Saptarishis (Seven Great Sages Rishi) in theseventh, i.e. the present Manvantara [1]. He is a descendant of the sageBhrigu, one of the Prajapatis cretaed by Brahma, the God of Creation.

 

Jamadagni had several children with wife Renuka, the youngest of whomwas Parashurama, an Avatara of Lord Vishnu.

 

*Execution of Renuka *

 

Renuka was such very devoted wife and the power of her chastity wasmanifest. Such was this power, that she used to fetch water from theriver in a pot made of unbaked clay every day. The pot would holdtogether because of her devotion to her husband.

 

One day, when she was at the river, a handsome Gandharva happened to bepassing by in the sky, in his chariot. Smitten with desire for thishandsome youth, for merely an instant, the damage to her powers wasdone. The unbaked pot that she was carrying, dissolved into the river.She was no longer chaste of mind. Afraid to go back to her husband, shewaited at the river bank.

 

Meanwhile Jamadagni, who was waiting for fresh water to begin hismorning sacrifices, noticed that his wife had not yet returned from theriver. By his yogic powers, he divined all that had taken place.

 

Exceedingly angry with his wife, he called his eldest son, told him whathad happened and asked him to execute his mother. Horror-stricken, hisson refused to perform this deed. He then asked all of his sons, in theorder of their seniority, to execute their mother. While all the eldersons refused (and so Sage Jamadagni turned them to stone), only hisyoungest son, Parashurama, ever-obedient and righteous, at once beheadedhis mother with his axe.

 

Jamadagni, pleased, offered to grant two boons to Parashurama, who atonce asked that his mother be restored to life and his brothers to beunturned from stone and accepted into the family again. Impressed by hisson's devotion and affection for his family, Jamadagni granted this boonand many others.

 

Jamadagni was later killed by a Kshatriya king Kartavirya Arjuna, over adispute over a divine calf named kamadhenu.

 

References:

 

Inhabitants of the Worlds Mahanirvana Tantra, translated by ArthurAvalon, (Sir John Woodroffe), 1913, Introduction and Preface.

 

*3. Kanva Gothra. *

 

Kanva is a renowned rishi, author of several hymns of the Rigveda,called a son of Ghora and one of the Angirasas. The Kanvas are thedescendants of Kanva. Kanva is also the name of a founder of a Vedicshakha, of several princes and founders of dynasties and severalauthors. The Kanvas are also a class of evil spirits, against whom hymn2.25 of the Atharvaveda is used as a charm.

 

Sahunthala daughter of Viswamithra and Menaka was brought up by sageKanva.The child born to Shakunthala is Bharat from whom our country gotthe name so.

 

*4. K?ty?yana Gothra.*

 

K?ty?yana (c. 3rd century BC) was a Sanskrit grammarian, mathematicianand Vedic priest who lived in ancient India.

 

He is known for two works: The Varttika, an elaboration on P?ninigrammar. Along with the Mah?bh?sya of Patañjali, this text became a corepart of the vy?karana (grammar) canon. This was one of the six Vedangas,and constituted compulsory education for Brahmin students in thefollowing twelve centuries.

 

He also composed one of the later Sulba Sutras, a series of nine textson the geometry of altar constructions, dealing with rectangles,right-sided triangles, rhombuses, etc.

 

K?ty?yana's views on the word-meaning connection tended towardsnaturalism. K?ty?yana believed, like Plato, that the word-meaningrelationship was not a result of human convention. For K?ty?yana,word-meaning relations were siddha, given to us, eternal. Though theobject a word is referring to is non-eternal, the substance of itsmeaning, like a lump of gold used to make different ornaments, remainsundestroyed, and is therefore permanent.

 

This view may have been the nucleus of the Sphora doctrine enunciated byBhartu hari in the 5th c., in which he elaborates the word-universal asthe superposition of two structures ? the meaning-universal or thesemantic structure (artha-j?ti) is superposed on the sound-universal orthe phonological structure (?abda-j?ti).

 

In the tradition of scholars like Pingala, K?ty?yana was also interestedin mathematics. Here his text on the sulvasutras dealt with geometry,and extended the treatment of the Pythagorean theorem as first presentedin 800 BC by Baudhayana.

 

K?ty?yana belonged to the Aindra School of grammarians and may havelived towards the North west of the Indian subcontinent.

 

 

*Compiled by Sri Gopalakrishna Ramaiyer, (Retired AGM, BSNL) Tambaram,Chennai. *

 

*Links </id05.shtml>* *Privacy Policy*<http://www.trsiyengar.com/privacypolicy.shtml> *Terms & Conditions*<http://www.trsiyengar.com/termsandConditions.shtml> *Disclaimer*<http://www.trsiyengar.com/disclaimer.shtml> *E-mail*<webmaster *Contact*<http://www.trsiyengar.com/contact.shtml> *Support* </support.shtml>*Site Map* <http://www.trsiyengar.com/sitemap.shtml>

 

trsiyengar.com 2004-2009Page updated on 29-Jul-09