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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 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)  

== 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).   

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).   

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. <blockquote>एकं वृणीते । द्वौ वृणीते । त्रीन्वृणीते । न चतुरो वृणीते । न पञ्चातिवृणीत इति विज्ञायते ७ (Apas. Shrau. Sutr. 24.6.7)</blockquote>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. <blockquote>एकं वृणीते । द्वौ वृणीते । त्रीन्वृणीते । न चतुरो वृणीते । न पञ्चातिवृणीत इति विज्ञायते ७ (Apas. Shrau. Sutr. 24.6.7)</blockquote>

 

The Aitareya Brahmana, deals with the question of what is the gotra of Kshatriyas and Vaishyas.

 

अथातो दीक्षाया आवेदनस्यैव तदाहुर्यद्ब्राह्मणस्य दीक्षितस्य ब्राह्मणोऽदीक्षिष्टेति दीक्षामावेदयन्ति कथं क्षत्रियस्यावेदयेदिति ..... यज्ञमुपावर्तत तस्मात्तस्य पुरोहितस्यार्षेयेण दीक्षामावेदयेयुः पुरोहितस्यार्षेयेण प्रवरम्प्रवृणीरन् २५ ॥ (Ait. Brah. 34.7.25)<ref>Aitareya Brahmana ([https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%90%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%87%E0%A4%AF_%E0%A4%AC%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B9%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%A3%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D/%E0%A4%AA%E0%A4%9E%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%9A%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%BE_%E0%A5%AD_(%E0%A4%B8%E0 Panjika 7])</ref>

 

Summary - When a Brahmana is initiated for a yajna, that fact is announced in these words 'a brahmana has been initiated for a yajna' and the pravara is recited. How is the initiation of the Kshatriya to be announced? According to the above given Aiteraya Brahmana reference, even in the case of the kshatriya the announcement is to be in the same form but with the pravara of his purohita. They should proclaim the kshatriya's deeksha (initiation) as a yajama with the Arsheya (pravara) of his family purohita.  

== Where is gotra and pravara used? ==

== Where is gotra and pravara used? ==