Gotras

Gotra is the way brahmans identify each other and trace their basic origins. Brahmans, were, in a manner of speaking, custodians of the Vedas and followed a Vedic lifestyle. However, over time, sages interpreted the four main Vedas their way and laid down precepts and laws. In the process they generated a set of adherents. This led to the development of well defined castes among brahmans with further sub-classification into pravaras, ganas and gotras. You can tell which part of India a brahman comes from simply by knowing his gotra, gana and pravara.

Gotra is Sanskrit. It indicates tracing descent in an unbroken male line to a common male ancestor. Daughters are not considered for continuation of the gotra line; when they marry they assume the gotra of their husbands. The eight primary gotras considered by most brahmans are those tracing bloodlines to Vishwamitra, Jamadagni, Bharadvaja, Atri, Vashishta, Gautam, Kashyap and Agastya.

Except for a few select gotras, majority follow the Yajur Veda. The exceptions are:
• the Bhargaus, Sankritas, Gargas, Saunaks and Bhrigus who follow the Rig Veda;
• the Bharadvajas, Angiras, Upamanyus and Gautam follow Yajur Veda;
• the Vatsas, Sandilas, Dhananjays and Kashyaps follow the Sama Veda;
• the Galawas, Vashishts, Mudhgalas, gritakaushikas and Kaushikas follow the Atharva Veda.

The major gotras were further subdivided into ganas and each gana was further divided into groups. In time gotra came to be applied to gana and sub-gana. Each Brahman traces lineage to a founder sage of a gana. Gotras increased in number since descendents of the original sages started new lineages and intermarriages gave rise to further sub-groups. Some groups adopted the names of sages for their gotra. While gotra refers to a founding father, the pravara system refers to eminent sages of the same gotra, mentioned invariably during rituals and ceremonies. The gotra is the root identifier with the pravaras, sutra and shakha making it more precise.

Marriage within the same gotra is forbidden if there is commonality of founder sages either in the boy’s or girl’s gotra. Even there is a single ancestral match of ancestral gotras, marriages are prohibited. The ancients seemingly knew about iinbreeding and genetics before modern science “rediscovered” it.

In normal progression, there should not have been more than the basic eight gotras. However, during the period 10000 BC and 200 BC brahmans were divided into branches as each sage developed his interpretation of the Vedas and laid down laws. The major sages are Apasthambha, Baudhayana, Brihaspati, Gautama, Harita, Katyayana, Manu, Narada, Vashishta, Vishnu and Yajnavalkya. They propounded their sutras and obtained a staunch following. This led to further subdivisions and redefinition of gotras such as a few listed below:
• Arela
• Ashri
• Agastya
• Atreya/Atri
• Angad
• Angirasa
• Bharadwaj
• Bhargava
• Charora
• Chivukula
• Chyavana
• Dadhichi
• Dalabhya
• Gargas/garga
• Gautam/Gautama
• Harita/ Haritasa/Haritsa
• Jaabaali/ Jabali
• Jamadagni
• Jaimini
• Kapisa
• Kanva
• Kapil
• Kapinjala
• Kashyapasa/Kaashyapasa/Kashyapa
• Kaundinya/kowndinya
• Kaushik/Koshik/Koushik,Kushika,Kausikasa/Ghrit kaushika
• Katyayana
• Krishnatreya
• Kush[disambiguation needed]
• Mandavya
• Marichi
• Markandeya
• Mauna Bhargava
• Maudgalya (Moudgil, Mudgal)
• Mudgal
• Niveriya
• Paluvoi
• Parashara
• Parthivasa
• Pautamarshi
• Polistasa
• Ramanuja
• Savarna
• Salankayana
• Sankrithi(Sankrityayan)
• Shandilya
• Shamryan
• Sharma
• Shiva(Shiv-adi)
• Soral
• Srivatsa
• Suryadhwaja
• Shaunaka
• Srivatsa
• Upamanyu
• Upadhyay
• Upreti
• Vadula
• Vashista
• Vatsa
• Vatsyayan
• Vishnuvriddha
• Vishnuvardhana
• Vishvamitra
• Vartantu
• Valasha
• Yaska

The gotra system indicates that members can trace their lineage to a common ancestor. However, due to the matrimonial laws and the fact that the wife takes on the gotra of her spouse, there may be little in common and it cannot be a reliable way of knowing their exact origins unless mention is made of sutra, pravara and sakha at the same time.