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== Definitions of Gotra and Pravara ==

== Definitions of Gotra and Pravara ==

As mentioned above, Pravara rshis belonged to same lineage as the Gotra rshis among their children, grandchildren and students. Among the Pravara rshis, notably we find the mantra-drashtas. Pravara means recalling the lineage of a person and reciting the names of the descendants of the mula-rshi or the founding father along with the ancient rshis of that lineage. Pravara not only includes the father-son relationships in the descendants but also recalls the students of the founding rshi. They are said to be shreshta (well-known) among the lineage.  

Baudhayana says that though there are innumerable Gotras, the number of their Pravaras is forty-nine only. The Baudhayana srauta sutra defines that Vishvamitra, Jamadagni, Bharadvaja, Gautama, Atri, Vasishtha, Kashyapa, are the Saptarshis. Saptarshis and Agasthya along with their progeny is declared to be Gotra.<ref>Nandi, R. (1970). GOTRA AND SOCIAL MOBILITY IN THE DECCAN. Proceedings of the Indian History Congress, Vol 32, Pages 118-124. Retrieved August 24, 2021, from <nowiki>http://www.jstor.org/stable/44141057</nowiki></ref><ref>Caland, W (1913) The  ''Baudhayana Srauta Sutra belonging to Taittriya Samhita, Vol 3'' Calcutta: Asiatic Society (Page 467)</ref><blockquote>विश्वामित्रो जमदनिर्भरद्वाजोऽथ गौतमः । अत्रिर्वसिष्ठः कश्यप इत्येते सप्त ऋषयः । तेषां सप्तर्षीणामगस्त्याष्टमानां यदपत्यं तद्गोत्रमुच्यते। (बौ. श्रौ. प्रवराध्याय)</blockquote><blockquote>गोत्राणां तु सहस्राणि प्रयुतान्यर्बुदानि च। ऊनपञ्चाशदेवैषां प्रवरा ऋषिदर्शनात् ।</blockquote>In the Matsya Purana we find an anecdote about the origin of the Saptarshis from Brahma as follows

 

 

The Pravara rshis belonged to same lineage as the Gotra rshis among their children, grandchildren and students. Among the Pravara rshis, notably we find the mantra-drashtas. Pravara means recalling the lineage of a person and reciting the names of the descendants of the mula-rshi or the founding father along with the ancient rshis of that lineage. Pravara not only includes the father-son relationships in the descendants but also recalls the students of the founding rshi. They are said to be shreshta (well-known) among the lineage.  

The system of Gotras and Pravaras has been given in the ancient past and cannot be changed in any way. Neither the rshis mentioned in the Pravara nor the sequence in which they are to pronounce their names can never be changed by anyone. Pravara includes the Gotra rshi, either at the beginning, middle or at the end and in some instances may not be included. (Telugu Book)

The system of Gotras and Pravaras has been given in the ancient past and cannot be changed in any way. Neither the rshis mentioned in the Pravara nor the sequence in which they are to pronounce their names can never be changed by anyone. Pravara includes the Gotra rshi, either at the beginning, middle or at the end and in some instances may not be included. (Telugu Book)

== Number of Gotras and Pravaras ==

== Number of Gotras and Pravaras ==

In the Rigveda, mantra drashta rshis are said to be 403 in number. They are classified into two viz., those who are independent called as Ekaki (केवल/एकाकी) and others who are supported by other members in the family (lineage) hence called Parivarika (पारिवारिक). Baudhayana says that though there are innumerable Gotras, the number of their Pravaras is forty-nine only. The Saptarshis have a special place as Gotrakaras.

In the Rigveda, mantra drashta rshis are said to be 403 in number. They are classified into two viz., those who are independent called as Ekaki (केवल/एकाकी) and others who are supported by other members in the family (lineage) hence called Parivarika (पारिवारिक).  

Regarding the number of the Rishis in a Pravara, the Man. S. S. and Apastamba lay down that '''one rshi, or two, or three, or five rshis''' may be included in a Pravara; and Apastamba imposes the restriction that four or more than five Rishis should never be chosen for inclusion in the specific formula to to recited at the yajna. However, the Sankhayana shrautasutra (1,4,10) does not subscribe to this view and prescribes six  Arsheyas (the names of Rishis) for a yajamana belonging to two Gotras, e.g., a man who has gone as adopted son to another Gotra will have the Gotra of his adopted father as well as of his natural father.<ref name=":02" />

The Saptarshis have a special place as Gotrakaras. Regarding the number of the Rishis in a Pravara, the Man. S. S. and Apastamba lay down that '''one rshi, or two, or three, or five rshis''' may be included in a Pravara; and Apastamba imposes the restriction that four or more than five Rishis should never be chosen for inclusion in the specific formula to to recited at the yajna. However, the Sankhayana shrautasutra (1,4,10) does not subscribe to this view and prescribes six  Arsheyas (the names of Rishis) for a yajamana belonging to two Gotras, e.g., a man who has gone as adopted son to another Gotra will have the Gotra of his adopted father as well as of his natural father.<ref name=":02" />

== Where is gotra used? ==

== Where is gotra and pravara used? ==

=== Nityakarma ===

=== Nityakarma ===

# In the activities such as in sandhyavandana, person's gotra is recited in the sankalpa.

# In the activities such as in sandhyavandana, person's gotra is recited in the sankalpa. A person has to repeat his gotra, pravara, Vedashaka and Sutra which one studies, during the sandhyavandana.<ref name=":0" />

# Sankalpa of the nitya devata puja at home or any puja in a temple involves taking the gotra of the couple or persons performing the puja.

# Sankalpa of the nitya devata puja at home or any puja in a temple involves taking the gotra of the couple or persons performing the puja.

# The sankalpa while taking a bath at home or in a teertha, or in sacred rivers such as Ganga, Godavari etc or while taking a bath in the sea (during Amavasya and Purnima) involves saying the gotra of the person.  

# The sankalpa while taking a bath at home or in a teertha, or in sacred rivers such as Ganga, Godavari etc or while taking a bath in the sea (during Amavasya and Purnima) involves saying the gotra of the person.<ref name=":02" />

# While performing a dana, the names and gotras of both the donor and the acceptor are recited. A dana is usually not given to members of the same family, say a son and father.  

# While performing a dana, the names and gotras of both the donor and the acceptor are recited. A dana is usually not given to members of the same family, say a son and father.  

=== Samskaras ===

=== Samskaras ===

# A person has to know his veda, sakha, and sutra according to his gotra. All the samksaras are to be performed according to the sutras (Dharmasutras) and vedas followed for that gotra. For example, if a person's gotra is Kaushika, and his Veda is Yajurveda, he has to follow the rituals as given in the Dharmasutras associated with Yajurveda, such as Baudhayana, Apastamba etc. He cannot perform the rituals according to Ashvalayana Dharmasutras which are sutra granthas of Rigveda.  

# A person has to know his veda, sakha, and sutra according to his gotra. All the samksaras are to be performed according to the sutras (Dharmasutras) and vedas followed for that gotra. For example, if a person's gotra is Kaushika, and his Veda is Yajurveda, he has to follow the rituals as given in the Dharmasutras associated with Yajurveda, such as Baudhayana, Apastamba etc. He cannot perform the rituals according to Ashvalayana Dharmasutras which are sutra granthas of Rigveda.<ref name=":1">Devalal, Rajendra. ''Brahmana Gotravali, Utpatti, Vamsh, Pravar - Gotra sahit.'' Delhi: Swasthik Publications (Pages 5 - 20)</ref>

# The knots in the yajopaveeta are based on the number of rshis in the pravara. (Brah. Gotra. Page 17)<ref>Devalal, Rajendra. ''Brahmana Gotravali, Utpatti, Vamsh, Pravar - Gotra sahit.'' Delhi: Swasthik Publications (Pages 5 - 20)</ref>

# In the Upanayana samskara, the knots in the yajopaveeta are based on the number of rshis in the pravara. (Brah. Gotra. Page 17).<ref name=":1" /> The girdle (mekhala) was to have one, three, or five knots according to the number of rshis constituting the boy's pravara. (Sankhyayana. Gr. 2.2)<ref name=":0" />

#  

#  

=== Special Rules in Vivaha Samskara ===

=== Special Rules in Vivaha Samskara ===

* The brahmanas (bhoktas) invited in Shraddha karmas should not be a sagotra to the person performing the karma. (Apas. Dhar. Sutr. 2.7.17.4)<ref name=":0" />

* The brahmanas (bhoktas) invited in Shraddha karmas should not be a sagotra to the person performing the karma. (Apas. Dhar. Sutr. 2.7.17.4)<ref name=":0" />

* In offering water to a preta (a recently dead person for whom the 10-day karma is being performed) his gotra and name were to be repeated (Ashv. Gr. 4.4.10)<ref name=":0" />

* In offering water to a preta (a recently dead person for whom the 10-day karma is being performed) his gotra and name were to be repeated (Ashv. Gr. 4.4.10)<ref name=":0" />

 

== References ==

== References ==

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