Gotra

Gotra : 

In Hindu society, the term gotra means clan. It broadly refers to people who are descendants in an unbroken male line from a common male ancestor or patriline. Gotra can be used as a surname but it is different from a surname and is strictly maintained because of its importance in marriages among Hindus and especially among the high Hindu-castes. Pāṇini 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 Kashyapa-gotra," he means that he traces his descent from the ancient sage Kashyapa by unbroken male descent. 

According to the Brihadaranyaka Upanishad 2.2.6, Gautama and Bharadvāja, Viśvāmitra and Jamadagni, Vashishtha and Kaśhyapa, and Atri are seven sages (also known as Saptarishi); the progeny of these eight sages is declared to be gotras. This enumeration of eight primary gotras seems to have been known to Pāṇini. The offspring (apatya) of these eight are gotras and others than these are called gotrâvayava. There exists another theory about gotra: sons of Rishi and disciples of the gurukul would have the same gotra. It is believed that they possess similar thought and philosophy. People of the same gotra can be found in different castes.

As a Rigvedic term, gotra simply means "cow shelter" or "herd of cows". The narrowed meaning "family, lineage kin" (as it were "herd within an enclosure") is younger, first recorded around the mid 1st millennium BCE (e.g., Chandogya Upanishad).

These "lineages" as they developed among the Brahmins of that time meant patrilineal descent. The Brahmanic system was later adopted by other communities, such as the Kshatriyas and Vaisyas

All members of a particular gotra are believed to possess certain common characteristics by way of nature or profession. Many theories have been propounded to explain this system. 

According to the brahminical theory, the Brahmins are the direct descendants of seven or eight sages who are believed to be the mind-born sons of Brahma. They are Gautama, Bharadwaja, Vishvamitra, Jamadagni, Vashista, Kashyapa and Atri. To this list, Agasthya is also sometimes added. These eight sages are called gotrakarins from whom all the 49 gotras (especially of the Brahmins) have evolved. For instance, from Atri sprang the Atreya and Gavisthiras gotras.

A gotra must be distinguished from a kula. A kula is a set of people following similar cultural rituals, often worshiping the same divinity (the Kula-Devata, god of the clan). Kula does not relate to lineage or caste. In fact, it is possible to change one's kula, based on one's faith or Iṣṭa-devatā.

These eight rishis, called Gotrakarins created all the 49 Gotras.The members of a Gotra may not be blood relations but can be the spiritual inheritors or descendants of a Guru or his followers.

The members of a particular Gotra are believed to possess certain common characteristics by way of nature, skills, and profession.

In the ancient times the members of the brahminical Gotras had certain characteristic features to distinguish from the others.like- the Bhargavas used to shave their heads, while the Angirasas had five braids.

As the time elapsed, the number of Gotras increased due to following reasons-

a) The Descendants of original Rishi gave rise to a new family lineage ie new Gotras, 

b) By intermarriage with other sub-groups of the same caste,

c) Following a new rishi and adopting his Gotra.

A common mistake is to consider gotra to be synonymous with cult 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 cult). 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 devata.

It is common practice in Hindu marriage enquire about the Kula-Gotra meaning Cult-Clan of the bride and bridegroom before approving the marriage. In almost all Hindu families, marriages within the same gotra are prohibited. But marriage within the kula is allowed and even preferred.

The word "Gotra" means "lineage" in the Sanskrit gotra, as given names may reflect the traditional occupation, place of residence or other important family characteristic rather than gotra. Language. While it is somewhat akin to a family name, the given name of a family is often different from its gotra, as given names may reflect the traditional occupation, place of residence or other important family characteristic rather than gotra.

People belonging to the same gotra also belong to the same caste in the Hindu social system.

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.

Marriages and gotras

In a patri-lineal Hindu society (most common), bride and groom both belong to their father's gotra. The children of couple would have their father's gotra throughout his life.

Marriages within the gotra ('sagotra' marriages) are not permitted under the rule of exogamy in the traditional matrimonial system. The word 'sagotra' is union the words 'sa' + gotra, where 'sa' means same or similar. It is common practice in preparation for Hindu marriage to inquire about the kula-gotra (meaning clan lineage) of the bride and groom before approving the marriage. People within the gotra are regarded as kin and marrying such a person would be thought of as incest. In almost all Hindu families, marriage within the same gotra is prohibited, since people with the same gotra are considered to be siblings or cousins. But marriage within the jaati is allowed and even preferred. In Jatt and Gujjar caste marriage within people from the same gotra as self, mother and grandmother are not practiced. Also, if two persons whose mothers are from the same gotra don't prefer to marry because they consider themselves maternal cousins because their mothers are siblings/cousins because of same gotra.

For example, Jats and Rajputs have 3000 Gotras and Mudirajas of Andhra Pradesh & Tamil Nadu have 2600 Gotras. Gotra is always passed on from father to children among most Hindus. However, among Malayalis and Tulus it is passed on from mother to children.

The Kannada words 'sahodara' (brother) and 'sahodari' (sister) derive their roots from the Sanskrit word 'saha udara' (सहोदर) meaning co-uterine or born of the same womb. In communities where gotra membership passed from father to children, marriages were allowed between maternal uncle and niece, while such marriages were forbidden inmatrilineal communities, like Nairs and Tuluvas, where gotra membership was passed down from the mother.

A much more common characteristic of South Indian, Hindu society is permission for marriage between cross-cousins (children of brother and sister) as they are of different gotras. Thus, a man is allowed to marry his maternal uncle's daughter or his paternal aunt's daughter, but is not allowed to marry his father's brother's daughter. She would be considered a parallel cousin who is treated as a sister as she would be of same gotra.

North Indian, Hindu society, not only follows the rules of gotra for marriages, but also had many regulations which went beyond the basic definition of gotra and had a broader definition of incestuousness. Some communities in North India do not allow marriage with some other communities on the lines that both the communities are brotherhoods.

An acceptable social workaround for sagotra marriages is to perform a 'Dathu' (adoption) of the bride to a family of different gotra (usually dathu is given to the bride's maternal uncle who belongs to different gotra by the same rule) and let them perform the ' kanniyadhanam' ('kanniya' (girl) + 'dhanam' (to donate)).

Main Hindu gotras

Mudgal

Aamat

Aatreya

Agastya

Ahabhunasa / Abnavana

Ainakula

Akshinthala

Alambain

Angirasa

Atri

Audala

Bachchas

Baghwar

Bajju Rajput]

Basistha

Bharadwaj

Bhargava

Bhaskar

Bhrigu

Brihadbala

Chandratre

Dadeya

Dammiwal

Dharnasya

Dhananjaya

Dubey

Gangsahay

Garg Brahmin

Gaur

Gautam

Goyal

Guntur (Ananataneni Harish)

Harinama

Haritasya

Jadaun

Jamadagni

Jilakara

Kadam Pandit

Kadian

Kadiyan

Kaim

Kapisa

Kalhansh

Kashav

Kashyapa

Katyayan

Kaundinya

Kaushal

Kaushik

Khanagalu

Khilaivar

Kini

Krishnatrey

Kottanolla-lokeshwari's gotra

Lohithyasa

Madhukalya

Manu

Marichi

Mithunakula

Nageswar

Nanda

Narsingh

Neem

Pachori

Palendra

Parasar

Pikhur

Polisthya

Pourugutsa

Rushipala Kapu caste

Sabarniya

Sanakula

Sandilya

Saroha

Shiva (Shiv-adi)

Shringi

Soukalin

Siwal

Singhal

Srivatsa

Sisotiya(Yadav)

Tayal

Thalluru

Toppo

Udityagautama

Upamanyu

Upreti

Uttam

Vaid

Vainya

Vashista

Vats

Vishnu

Vishrava

Vishvamitra

Chelligara

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